-Janani

Harassment can happen in many different ways. One subtle yet  dangerous and disturbing way is through SMSs. Though women in general do not report such incidents in the hope that they would stop one day or another, some persist. Thus ignoring obscene SMSs does not put an end to the offence in itself. It is to be remembered that sending vulgar, obscene and defaming messages on mobile phones amounts to sexual harassment. In India, it is a non-bailable offence and is punishable with imprisonment for a period of two years.

Harassment through SMSs is an offence which seems very easy to commit, with the offenders’ identity being hidden behind a mere 10 digit number. Thus the cell phone is increasingly used commit variations of sexual harassment offences such as accosting, stalking, defamation etc. The most interesting aspect of this practice is that most offenders are fully aware that it is an offence, and that they continue to commit it in a fond hope that their victim wouldn’t report them. The motive of sending such SMSs could be even something as inconsequential as a teacher admonishing her students for coming late to the class as I did on one occasion. The next day, I received a couple of vulgar and defaming hate messages from an unknown number in the name of a woman student who I also taught. Not only were the messages filthy and insulting but they had an intimidating tone asking me to either  stop scolding students for coming late or face dire consequences . I was disgusted with the SMSs and shocked by the sender’s nerve in shirking anonymity. I did not delay reporting the incident to the university authorities.  The girl, under whose name these messages were sent, was gently given notice.  She was dismayed and shocked that her name was used to send these SMSs  and she, in turn, complained to the University authorities to initiate action against  defamation and misuse of her name. Therefore, our culprit was guilty of two offences: sending obscene SMSs and defaming another person by adopting her identity to commit the offence. The messages continued for a few days afterwards while the University contacted the Cyber Crime Cell. A week later, the culprit was identified and the mobile phone and SIM card used to send the messages were confiscated. To my disbelief and shock it happened to be indeed a student of mine and the girl’s classmate: A 17/18 year old boy! He confessed to the offence in the presence of the Cyber Crime Police as well as the University authorities. The University then decided to expel the student on grounds of misconduct.
Assuming that my admonition was what provoked the SMSs , I would , in the least have expected the student in question to have come late to the class. The student concerned was usually on time for his classes including the day on which I showed annoyance that a few of his classmates turned up very late. In fact, the student had never been unpleasant or difficult.  I am puzzled by the motive behind the obscene messages this student sent me. I cannot expect anyone to go to such lengths to show displeasure/ disrespect to a teacher who was just doing her job. The tragic moment for me was coming to terms with the fact that young men are very early imbued with stereotypes about women: be it that working women in general are promiscuous or that women would rather suffer in silence than make public the insult and seek redressal.  I am inferring these stereotypes from the content of the SMSs, which I would not like to disclose in this public discussion.
In a society known for harassment and victim blaming, even educated colleagues are indifferent to the pain of receiving vulgar messages. Honestly, this was the hard hitting reality for me when I received many direct and indirect, unpleasant comments relating to age and appearance. One teacher went to the extent of saying that the cause of the SMSs was that the boy was terribly infatuated with me and that it was wrong of me to take it so personally.  Another teacher in effect justified sexual harassment by suggested that it was an occupational hazard I needed to take cognizance of (aspiring women teachers beware!). Yet others suggested that I take leave, go home and get the whole episode out of my system.  There were also a few who felt that reporting of such an incident and its getting publicized might not be in my best interest! Such comments just bowled me over and made me realize how the community of educationists actually throws a protective blanket over the culprit and justifies the offence. The seriousness and the extent of sexual harassment are written off with these pat answers and responses thus endorsing a sexist society which harasses women.
Janani teaches at English and Foreign Languages University