'Men just can't be insular'

Farhan Akhtar says the biggest change will happen only when boys and girls are educated to “look at each other as human beings and not as objects”

H e wears multiple hats — of being a director, producer, actor, musician and many more things. But still, five years ago, Farhan Akhtar started a special initiative. He launched a social campaign, MARD (Men Against Rape and Discrimination) that aims to raise social awareness against rape and discrimination of women. Now, as the initiative completes five years, we catch up with him for a quick chat. How do you feel about MARD completing five years? Honestly, I am not thinking of it as an anniversary. Ever since we started — at the end of 2012 and beginning of 2013, a lot of learning has happened on the way. What’s been most important is our commitment that we started with, a hope to accomplish, achieve and inspire people to think about this cause. For us, it’s about reaching out to the youth and motivating and inspiring them. It’s an ongoing process. Despite initiatives like MARD etc., violence against women is taking place. But, do you feel things are changing, albeit slowly? I don’t know whether things are changing very fast or not but what’s happening rapidly is that there is a growth in awareness vis-à-vis the magnitude of the problem. Also, there’s a growing feeling among people about being tired of coming across such news day in, day out. The media also has an important role to play. The more you confront an ugly truth, which is staring us in the face, the more you will try to figure out a way of putting an end to it. Also, do you feel people have become sensitive to such things? I feel all those conversations and myths about women bringing it onto themselves are slowly being dispelled. So, now if anybody says, ‘a woman shouldn’t have...’, that person is shut down immediately which may have not been the case 10 years ago. To an extent, there has been a movement forward. The practice of shaming or blaming the victim has kind of reduced. Do you feel it’s of paramount importance that people’s mentality needs to be changed? It is absolutely a question of mentality. The largest possible change will happen only if you educate boys and girls to look at each other as human beings and not as objects or property. It’s important especially for men — since they will become fathers to sons and daughters — to comprehend that you just can’t be insular or individualistic and say, ‘as long as me and my family are safe, nothing else matters’. You have to understand all of us are connected in some way.