We could call it yet another tempest in a Twitter teacup – silly, inconsequential stories that create a veritable firestorm on social media. Or we could call this a symptom of the ingrained class and caste divide that exists at all levels of our society. The incident involving actress Munmun Dutta seems to be either or both depending upon one's point of view. #ArrestMunmunDutta was trending and then #WeSupportMunmunDutta was trending. Here’s what it was all about:
Writer and social-political activist Hansraj Meena tweeted this video and asked for the arrest of Munmun Dutta, a popular TV actor and a YouTube personality with over 5 lakh subscribers. In the video, Dutta can be seen casually using a casteist slur, clearly oblivious to what she has said
After the furious backlash and calls for her arrest, the actor edited out portion of her video and issued this statement by way of apology. As is the case with most such ‘apologies’, it spoke about being ‘misinterpreted’ and about it not being her intent to ‘insult, intimidate, humiliate or hurt’ anyone's feelings. Also presented as a defence was her supposed ignorance: according to Dutta she did not know the ‘meaning of the word’.
As prominent writer and journalist Dilip Mandal tweeted, her ‘defence’ is rather weak and difficult to swallow.
The day after #ArrestMunmunDutta trended on Twitter, #WeSupportMunmunDutta started to trend. Those who supported the actor possibly felt that her transgressions, if any, ought to be overlooked because she is ‘the sweetest girl'; that she is and kindhearted and loving etc.
Many came out in support of Dutta – because they felt defensive about their own caste privilege. Or perhaps it was because they felt Dutta is ‘nice’ or ‘pretty’ or ‘famous’ or whatever factor they felt was relevant here.
She is kind to animals, so of course, she is entitled to have her crimes/mistakes against humans overlooked and forgiven. This seems to be the view of this commentator.
There were (presumably) sawarnas or forward caste handles that appeared to be supporting Dutta and celebrating their caste privilege as well.
No matter what the dominant castes would like to believe about themselves and about caste in India, caste-based inequity is still very much present in our society. Those from forward castes who claim to be ‘caste-blind’ are so because of their own privilege. The fact that their caste has never been an issue in their life is itself proof of that privilege. If one is a Dalit – in India or anywhere else in the world – it is most likely that they have been made to be aware of that fact at some or other point.
Not only is Dutta privileged, but she is also ignorant of that privilege. Her video displays a breathtaking lack of awareness. Such is her level of ignorance, that she casually uses a caste slur – completely oblivious to its meaning and its implications for so many people. The fact that she used it so conversationally points to the normalisation of the caste hierarchy and the social inequity we still live with.
One could argue that asking for her arrest is over the top. But is it? Note how many people came to the defence of Munmun Dutta. The trends and tweets in her support demonstrate how many people don’t see the casual use of casteist slurs as an issue at all. So how do we draw attention to entrenched casteism all around us - the fact that this is very much a systemic problem? How do we make dominant castes aware of the injustice and humiliation that some communities routinely have to deal with even today? Maybe #ArrestMunmunDutta is the sort of shock treatment that our society needs – and deserves.
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