Oh, so we're attaching labels now?

CEO of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, arrived in India and allowed himself to be photographed holding a placard that said “Smash Brahmanical Patriarchy”. w, I’m t sure wher it was intentional or can be simply attributed to igrance or incompetence. Irrespective of reason, re’s denying that it was terrible corporate PR.

I can understand problem with patriarchy. Most human civilisations, as well as religions, have been guilty of it. Even Code of Hammurabi emphasised inferiority of women. Our own Manusmriti minced words in this regard. Even hero of one of my vels, Chanakya, was utterly guilty of it. And so are many current religions including Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Thus to brand it “Brahmanical patriarchy” seems a bit rich. 

According to Oxford Dictionary, word “Brahmanical” means “of or belonging to highest Hindu caste, originally that of priesthood.” So what’s point of attaching label Brahmanical as an jective? Does patriarchy solely exist in Hindu society? Is re patriarchy in or religions, regions or cultures? Why didn’t Jack Dorsey simply hold up a “Smash Patriarchy” signboard inste of one that said “Smash Brahmanical Patriarchy”.

When world was busy bandying about terms “Islamic Terror” and “Hindu Terror” our collective response, and rightly so, was “Why labels?” But doesn’t that same logic apply to patriarchy too?

RE: As An Indian I Am Disappointed At Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey's 'Smash Brahminical Patriarchy' Placard

one disputes existence of Brahmanical patriarchy over centuries. question is wher CEO of a platform whose largest growing market is India should be holding up a signboard that reflects a single point of view. And if he is truly concerned about patriarchy, should he t be talking about all forms of patriarchy without exclusions? Worse still, even if he was misled into holding up that sign, shouldn’t his organisation have clarified that he was misled and offer an unconditional apology? After all, aren’t those very standards that Twitter holds users up to?

I truly wonder wher Jack Dorsey of Twitter would have h cour to hold an anti-semitic signboard in US, an anti-Islam poster in Saudi Arabia or a pro-democracy placard in China. Unfortunately, this terrible episode has exposed inherent biases that exist in a platform that is supposed to remain largely neutral.

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