Is It Really Feminism To Outrage On What Hardik Pandya Said On Koffee With Karan?

Hardik Pandya and K L Rahul on Koffee with Karan

Ever since Hardik Pandya appeared on Koffee with Karan, the opinion outlets have overflowed with opinions on feminism and social patenting. The cricketer's unrestrained confessions of his own life have tingled the debate on morality for celebrities.

Why talk about it?

While most outraged social warriors find Pandya's comments sexist, they don't have much issue with what he does in his private life. In fact, they appreciate the "all-rounder" for having safe sex. Their isn't even a problem with him having multiple sexual partners as long as it is consensual. The hidden sneaky sexism lies in talking about it.

This is bizarre. Weren't we fighting for movies like Lipstick Under My Burka just last year which  showcased women owning and expressing their sexuality? Can we not see the social parenting that prohibited women from expressing themselves is at work here? Or is it because we can't empower women so we must cut on man's privileges?

Morals for celebrity

But hold on a second. Hardik Pandya is a celebrity. A star cricketer. Are you suggesting that his millions of young fans be inspired by him and talk about girls like he does? This going unpunished sends a wrong message.

Well, hate to break it to you. Boys talk like this. Forget boys. Young people all talk like this. Where do you think the race for "likes" and "followers" stems from? It shouldn't be like that, of course. But punishing an individual for talking about it, just talking about it, will surely push the conversation back.

Is social media the new parent?

And yes, the message to youngsters. What message does it send to the young girls? If a well-to-do influential male is not allowed to own his sexuality despite his gender being "the sexually liberated", what chance does an unknown female possess? And what is this different-rules-for-celebrity thing we have? We fight for rich and powerful to be under the same laws as common people but judge them with different sets of morality.

To do whatever Hardik Pandya wishes (with consent of his women) is his personal choice. To talk about it or not is also his personal choice. Weather a 14-year old boy takes inspiration from him or not is that boy's choice. Pandya might not fit into our idea of morality but he still has all the rights to co-exist.

But the concept of choice is quite alien to our culture.

Still, I feel BCCI is justified in reprimanding the Hardik Pandya and his teammate K L Rahul, who actually didn't even say anything. The players were boasting about being a pain for the captain on field, which calls for disciplinary actions.

If you have anything to add to the debate, do comment below.