Kerala: After actresses, now a Dalit poetess has raised her voice against sexual harassment – told how the PuKaSa secretary used to cross the limits!

The victim is currently doing PhD on Dalit Studies. She said- I am considering the legal aspects. I am afraid that if I take legal steps, it may put me in danger and my studies may also be affected.

Geetha Sunil Pillai

Thiruvananthapuram – The Dalit poetess who has accused a senior member of Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham (PuKaSa) of sexual harassment says that when a leading Malayalam actress is currently struggling in a high-profile sexual harassment case, how much will a woman coming from a marginalized community have to struggle for justice.

The victim poetess said, “When someone has the privileges of popularity, caste and class and still they are struggling for justice, what can I expect? I only have my education. This whole situation disappoints me”.

It is worth noting that the poetess had first revealed her #MeToo experience in 2021. Recently she again highlighted her allegations when she came to know that A. Gokulendran, whom she had accused, has been re-elected as the secretary of Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham (PuKaSa). The organization, known for its progressive outlook, is associated with the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist). The poetess said that this incident reopened her wounds, due to which she decided to raise her voice once again.

The victim is currently doing her PhD on Dalit Studies.

In February 2017, an incident of sexual abuse of an actress in a moving car came to light in the Malayalam film industry. Actor Dileep’s name came to the fore in this incident. After which the government formed the Hema Committee to investigate it. This committee submitted its report to the government in December 2019, which has now been made public after five years. This report has raised serious questions about the mistreatment of women in the Malayalam film industry.

Posted in 2021 but no action

The victim first posted about the sexual harassment incident on social media on 25 February 2021. PuKaSa then formed an informal committee, which included Sulekha, A.G. Oleena, and P.N. Saraswathi. However, the committee only reported the damage to the organization’s image without contacting the victim.

According to a TNIE report, a committee member, on condition of anonymity, said that they were only asked to assess the damage. Gokulendran was removed from the organization for some time, but he was re-elected as secretary in the state conference held in August. PuKaSa general secretary KP Mohanan said that the complaint was neither formally submitted nor reported. He said that if the issue arises formally, it will be investigated. When questioned about the committee not including the victim’s statement, Mohanan said that it was an informal committee and they could not find the victim.

The victim first posted on social media on February 25, 2021 about the incident of sexual assault on her by Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham secretary A. Gokulendran.

Speaking with The Mooknayak, the poet said, “When I shared my post publicly, my best friend quarreled with me saying that it might affect her too. At that time my family was against my posts except my brother. Even now my family does not like me to talk about it as they consider it a shame on the family. Many people suggested to me that I should have suppressed it. As a Dalit woman, without any money and support, I find it very difficult to fight alone.”

The poet expressed her disappointment in expecting justice from PuKaSa, she said, “I am not a member of the organisation and CPM party members are hesitant to talk to me after the incident. Efforts are being made to suppress the news,” she said.

She added, “I am considering legal options. I have faced pressure from family, especially my relatives. I am not a member of PuKaSa, and I have been gaslighted, manipulated, blamed and ostracised since the incident.”

Accusations of sexual comments to inappropriate physical contact

Recounting her ordeal to The Mooknayak, the victim said, “These incidents took place between 2009 and 2011-2012, when I was a minor. During this time, he made sexually suggestive comments and touched me inappropriately on several occasions.

I met him at a camp in Pukasa. Initially, he was a fatherly figure, but after my father’s death, his behaviour changed. I had published a collection of poems at the age of 14, but due to the fear and trauma caused by his behaviour, I had to stay away from writing for a long time. Now I am writing again, but have not published anything after that. When I was pursuing higher secondary studies, I attended a camp in Ambalapuzha. ‘He’ was also there. I had gone with a friend. He asked me to let my friend go aside and I would go with him. But I refused, as I was waiting for my mother who was coming to pick us up. He offered to drop us to the bus stand, and taking advantage of the crowd on the way, he touched me inappropriately.” The victim further says, “Another incident happened during a book fair in Pathanamthitta. He told me that he had sex with a nun in his childhood and that sex is not a crime. He then cited the example of famous author Sarah Joseph and said that women hesitate to write about the female body and sexual organs, such as ‘mula’ (breasts), in their writings. After this, I was invited to read poetry at a book fair organised by the Library Council the next year. I went there and I tried my best to avoid him, but he found me while I was reading poetry. There was a live event in which I read lines like ‘Though you took everything valuable from me, you left me’ (translated). Then he asked in a sexual context if they took everything valuable. I was ashamed, so I could not share it with anyone. A few months later I was forced to go to his book store. I asked my younger sibling to accompany me. When we reached there, he said that if my sister was not there, he would have sexually assaulted me. He could give me books on the subject. He asked me if I recognised him, I broke down in tears and left the restaurant where we had gone for dinner. After that I stopped going to the camps until 2016, where I had to meet him again. These incidents left long lasting scars on my mind.” “I am looking into the legal aspects,” the victim told The Mooknayak. I fear that if I take legal steps, it may put me in danger and also impact my research/study.”

According to a TNM report, when Gokulendran was contacted for comment, he said that he was temporarily removed from PuKaSa’s activities following the 2021 allegations, and an investigation was conducted. He was later informed that the case was closed due to lack of evidence. Gokulendran said that the woman misinterpreted his actions or conversations, but he denied any improper intent. He said that he never approached the victim in a private space and stopped freely interacting with others after the allegations surfaced. He expressed that his current explanation would not be believed and would be seen as a mere excuse.

Courtesy : Hindi News