https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA105IeqmGc
Summary
in English of Koppium Raj TV programme on Sri Aurobindo Ashram on 23 December,
2014:
The compère says that when a girl or
lady walks free at night without facing trouble, it is a sign of good life.
Till now however this is not in place. Despite the advance of modern
civilization, this continues to be a problem as girls become targets of sexual
assault.
The video mentions that due to sex
related complaints, there is decadence in Aurobindo Ashram. Whoever questions the
wrongdoings there is made a victim and asked to go out of its fold. This is a
pathetic situation.
While people go to Ashrams for peace
and spirituality, Pondicherry Ashram seems embroiled in sexual harassment – a case
in point is the Bihar sisters who are the victims. All of them belong to the
same family which came nearly thirty years back to stay in the Ashram for peace.
But since they complained against the executives of the Ashram, and since no
action was taken but instead action was initiated against the complainants,
they became frustrated. These people from north India had given everything to
the Ashram and had been staying in Ashram quarters. They had complained that
they were being sexually harassed. The Ashram Trust complained to the police
against the sisters; the matter went to Madras High Court and the sisters
without slackening went to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court asked the
sisters to vacate the Ashram quarters in six months, which was over by 15 December,
2014. As if they had waited only for this, the Ashram management forced the
sisters out.
One of the sisters weeps and tells
that they received in Pondicherry the notice of the Supreme Court at 4 pm on
8th December, requiring them to appear in the Supreme Court on 9th December at
10 am. She sobs and says as to how it is possible for them to go to Delhi since
even travelling to Madras takes 5 hours! How could they be present in the Supreme
Court at Delhi the next morning?
The sisters refused to vacate Ashram
accommodation since they had nowhere
else to go. They also stated that, if forced, their only alternative was to
sacrifice their lives by suicide. Hemlata, one of the sisters who climbed on to
the terrace of a building in a bid to commit suicide, says that the Ashram
management should give them food, shelter and medical facilities as hitherto,
since they had no other go. She also says the Ashram Trustees should stop their
illegal activities.
Police brought her down and
apparently counseled the sisters that obeying court orders was essential and that
they have to get out of Ashram premises; otherwise penal action may be taken
against them. Thereupon the sisters went to their parents, and all of them went
to the sea the next morning to commit suicide.
The fishermen saw the group and
tried to rescue them and were able to save four of them while two sisters and
their mother vanished and could not be located. The fisherman alerted the Police
who arranged for the treatment of the survivors at the Govt. hospital. Then the
three dead bodies got washed ashore. Hemlata also mentioned that she was
molested by four people on the seashore
Mr. Sugumaran, Human Rights Activist,
recounts the sordid event. Worried by complaints of sexual assaults on women
and the illegal activities of the Trust, the public and politicians are angry
about the events. It would be therefore proper for the Puducherry Govt. to
appoint an IAS officer for administering the activities of the Ashram and a
retired High Court Judge be appointed to look into the various charges leveled
against the Trust.
A lady leading the agitation by
women says that when ladies from North India have come and settled here, where
would they go if they are suddenly thrown out? The Ashram should have provided
and arranged alternate arrangements for the sisters.
Lady students in large number are seen
agitating and demand that a CBI enquiry should be ordered. There is a need to
stop the nefarious activities of so-called spiritual outfits and institutions.
Mr. Nehru, an NR Congress leader,
expresses his opinion and says that the wealth of Puducherry is being
misutilised and that the Govt. should put a seal on the activities of the
Ashram Trust. Mr. Anbalagan, an AIADMK MLA says the Ashram Trust is misusing its
properties. The Union Govt. (Ministry of Home Affairs) should initiate
necessary action to set things right. Mr. Narayanaswami of the Congress [former MP of Puducherry] says that the
status will be presented by him and taken up with the Ministry of Home Affairs
for remedial action.
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