Awnindra Pandey the surviving victim of the 2012 Delhi gang rape incident is unhappy with the documentary filmmaker for sidelining him.
While the world is talking about the documentary India’s Daughter made by Leslee Udwin, one person missing from the entire scene is Awnindra Pratap Pandey, the surviving victim of Delhi gangrape. This documentary is about a gruesome incident that occurred to a young 23-year old medical aspirant on 16th December 2012 and what entails the following two years. There are TV debates, social media outrage and support but no one has bothered to talk about the second victim who was accompanying Jyoti Singh “Nirbhaya” that night. He was beaten, bruised and brutally attacked by rapists just for attempting to save the girl from abusers.
When Afternoon Voice spoke to Awnindra Pandey, he said, “I was contacted by a TV journalist Mr Dibang in 2013. During that time, I was very busy as I was working on some important project and had not time to indulge in taking part in this documentary inspite of repeated persuasions. Moreover, I want to come out of those dark memories and live for my family. More than we victims our families suffered a lot.”
All of us have to undergo several problems in life; especially weaker sections don’t receive any help when they need them the most. When Jyoti was alive and her parents were helpless, no one helped them. Today everyone is coming forward to issue statements. What is the point in participating in documentary, can anyone assure the change? We understand how our society, educational system and poverty are responsible for these crimes. Earlier too many documentaries were made for exposing the mindset of people, but nothing has changed.
Awnindra was saddened with the media reports; he believes even the parents and Jail authorities may not have given clear picture about what this BBC journalist is trying to project. He said “No one really knows or remembers when the film Tara, The Journey of Love and Passion was released. The movie has sunk without a trace. However, back in 2013, when the film was being promoted, it was touted as one based on the Delhi gang-rape incident. Not just that, the filmmakers roped in me too, being sole witness in the case. Later, I slammed the filmmakers for misleading me into believing that the film was based on and dedicated to Nirbhaya, but the truth turned out to be far from the makers’ claims. Everyone is using this sad incidence for pursuing their own selfish interests.
Pramesh Jain a journalist for Bangalore said, “Such documentary never helps in preventing these types of crimes. A question which arises here is who gave permission to the film maker for interviewing the criminals. Is the BBC special? Why can’t Indian media make such documentaries instead of helping foreigners for filming it? Amidst the media coverage of 2012 Delhi gang rape, protests and outrage, the media did miss something very important, the genesis of the rape. Whether, the mindsets of the rapists documented by Leslee sensationalise them or not are debatable. Nevertheless, it does make us prompt ‘how one can think like this’?
Vipin Gaur president of Newspapers Association of India said “What was particularly horrifying was the attitude of ML Sharma and AP Singh – the two defence lawyers. They are educated men holding senior positions in India’s judiciary. “We have the best society. There is no place for women”. India is promoting itself as a part of the global economy and has no place for attitude like this. The government should not be trying to sweep this under the carpet by banning the documentary.”
TV actor Omkar Karve said, “I am shocked to know that the convicted rapist Mukesh Singh was paid Rs 40,000 by the makers of the documentary film India’s Daughter. What was the need to pay everyone to seek their participation in such documentary? Tomorrow the accused will use the same money to seek bail or reduce his death sentence to life imprisonment. I do not doubt the content but have issues with the intention of making it and broadcasting at the wrong time.”
Rupal Mistry an art director said, “Can these leaders who have been elected to the Rajya Sabha do some productive work and contribute to the nation’s growth? It seems disrupting the proceedings of the house and taking an off day is more important for these people. A rapist was interviewed and he gave his opinion. Why is the NDA government now trying to pass the buck on to the previous government? Could we all behave like grownups? A criminal awarded a death penalty, his mindset made him the criminal that he is. So why are we expecting him to become a good man all of a sudden?”
