-Ramphal Kataria
“When institutions chase songs instead of confronting violence, outrage becomes performance and justice becomes a spectator.”
Policing Songs While Women Suffer: The Selective Outrage of Haryana’s Women Commission
The Spectacle of Outrage
In contemporary politics, outrage travels faster than justice. A controversial lyric, a viral video, or a political remark can ignite instant institutional responses. Yet the deeper crises that shape women’s everyday lives—violence, discrimination, and systemic inequality—often struggle to receive the same urgency.
The recent controversy surrounding rapper Badshah’s withdrawn Haryanvi song “Tateeree” illustrates this paradox vividly. Within days of its release, the Haryana State Commission for Women (HSCW) stepped in forcefully. Its chairperson, Renu Bhatia, called for strict action, multiple FIRs were registered, and the episode quickly transformed into a high-profile moral debate.
Yet the intensity of the response has left many observers asking a larger question: Is the commission confronting the real problems facing women in Haryana, or merely policing symbolic controversies?
This question becomes even sharper when viewed against the backdrop of Haryana’s troubling record of gender violence.
The Reality: Crimes Against Women in Haryana
Haryana has long struggled with high rates of crimes against women. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the state consistently records one of the highest crime rates per lakh women in India.
Recent Data
Year | Total Cases | Rape Cases | Dowry Deaths |
2023 | ~15,758 | 1,772 | 207 |
2024 | 9,488 | ~1,431 | Decline reported |
2025 | Further ~16% decline | ~1,025 | Continuing decline |
The Haryana Police attributes the decline partly to improved policing, faster response through the 112 emergency system, and special monitoring initiatives.
However, statistics alone do not capture the entire picture.
Several structural realities persist:
domestic violence remains the most common crime
cruelty by husbands and relatives accounts for a major share of cases
honour killings continue to surface periodically
dowry harassment remains entrenched
Thus, the real challenge is not simply crime numbers but the deeper structures of patriarchy embedded within society.
The Mandate of the Women Commission
The Haryana State Commission for Women was established to perform crucial functions:
investigate violations of women’s rights
recommend policy reforms
monitor implementation of protective laws
assist victims of violence
inspect custodial institutions housing women
In theory, the commission functions as a quasi-judicial watchdog over the state’s gender justice framework.
Its credibility therefore depends on sustained engagement with systemic issues rather than episodic interventions.
Culture, Ragni and the Language of Suggestion
The debate around “Tateeree” cannot be separated from the cultural landscape of Haryana.
For centuries, folk traditions like ragni and saang have been central to the region’s cultural life. Performances often include humour laced with double meanings, flirtatious metaphors, and playful banter between characters.
Legendary ragni poet Pandit Lakhmi Chand frequently used rustic imagery drawn from agrarian life. His performances reflected the earthy idiom of rural Haryana, where humour, satire, and social commentary blended freely.
Over time, these traditions evolved into modern Haryanvi pop music and stage shows that continue to attract massive audiences.
Suggestive metaphors and double-meaning lyrics have therefore long existed within the cultural fabric of the region.
As feminist philosopher Simone de Beauvoir observed:
“Representation of women in culture often reveals more about the anxieties of society than about women themselves.”
This insight reminds us that cultural debates about morality frequently reflect deeper struggles over power and control rather than genuine concern for women’s dignity.
The Hall of Hypocrisy: Songs That Shaped the Debate
The controversy around “Tateeree” becomes difficult to understand without acknowledging the wider ecosystem of Haryanvi entertainment.
Numerous songs with suggestive lyrics circulate widely across social media, weddings, and stage performances.
Yet few have faced the kind of institutional backlash directed at rapper Badshah.
Comparative Snapshot
Song Title | Artist | Lyricist | Nature of Content |
Solid Body | Raju Punjabi | Ajay Hooda | Flirtatious metaphors focused on female physical beauty |
Kharbuje Si Teri Jawani | Raju Punjabi | Ajay Hooda | Suggestive comparison of youth and body |
Jalebi | Sapna Choudhary (stage performance) | Traditional | Double-meaning folk humour |
Khol De Ghaghra | Various artists | Traditional | Explicitly suggestive folk banter |
Gaddya Mein Ek Luhari | Masoom Sharma | Sunil Dujaniya | Sensual imagery in rustic metaphor |
Tateeree | Badshah | Badshah | Controversial lyrics leading to FIRs and legal action |
Many of these songs have accumulated hundreds of millions of views and are widely performed in public spaces.
If cultural reform is truly the objective, critics argue, interventions must address the entire ecosystem rather than a single artist.
Otherwise, the campaign risks appearing selective.
The American feminist thinker bell hooks once noted:
“Patriarchy has no gender. It is a system that shapes the thinking and actions of everyone in society.”
Her observation suggests that cultural policing alone cannot dismantle patriarchal structures unless deeper social inequalities are addressed.
The Tateeree Episode: From Cultural Debate to Legal Spectacle
After criticism emerged, Badshah removed the song from digital platforms and issued an unconditional apology.
However, the controversy escalated rather than subsided.
Multiple FIRs were filed, and the issue was framed as a serious moral threat to society.
Reports indicated that when the artist’s legal counsel appeared before the commission, the chairperson insisted that the rapper himself must appear personally.
Under Indian legal norms, individuals are entitled to representation through counsel before quasi-judicial bodies. Insisting on personal appearance raises questions about procedural fairness.
The result was an episode that appeared less like institutional justice and more like a public spectacle of moral authority.
Political philosopher Martha Nussbaum argues:
“A healthy democracy must allow uncomfortable expressions while confronting injustice through law and reason.”
This principle becomes relevant when cultural controversies escalate into legal action.
Pattern of High-Profile Interventions
The Tateeree controversy is not the first time the commission has entered headline-generating disputes.
Previous notices issued by the commission included:
action against Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala over remarks concerning BJP MP Hema Malini
summoning political scientist Ali Khan Mahmudabad over social media commentary
While defending women’s dignity is important, critics argue that such interventions sometimes blur the line between institutional responsibility and political theatre.
Cases That Demand Institutional Attention
While controversies over songs dominate headlines, several disturbing crimes continue to emerge across the state.
One such case involved the brutal murder of a young woman in Bhiwani, now under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Haryana also continues to confront:
honour killings
dowry deaths
trafficking of minor girls
sexual violence in rural areas
These are the issues where sustained institutional intervention is most urgently required.
Institutional Challenges Within the Commission
Another issue concerns the internal functioning of the commission itself.
The HSCW is meant to function as a multi-member body, yet reports indicate that two member positions remain vacant. She continues to hold the position even after the expiry of her term, despite the fact that the notification constituting the Haryana Women Commission contains no provision permitting continuation in office beyond the prescribed tenure.
An incomplete commission weakens the institution by:
limiting investigative capacity
reducing diversity of viewpoints
centralizing authority around a single individual
For a body meant to represent women across Haryana, such institutional gaps raise concerns about effectiveness.
Feminist scholar Nivedita Menon writes:
“The question is not simply whether women are protected, but who defines protection and whose power that definition serves.”
This perspective highlights why institutions must constantly examine whether their actions empower women or merely regulate public behaviour.
Ten Hard Questions for the Women Commission
If the Haryana State Commission for Women is to function as a credible institution rather than a platform for episodic outrage, several difficult questions must be addressed.
These questions are not directed merely at personalities but at the institutional functioning of the commission under its chairperson Renu Bhatia.
1. Has the Commission Conducted Any Statewide Study on Crimes Against Women?
Haryana consistently records one of the highest crime rates against women according to the National Crime Records Bureau. Has the commission undertaken a comprehensive study to identify root causes?
2. What Policy Reforms Has the Commission Recommended?
A key mandate of women’s commissions is to suggest legal and policy reforms. What concrete recommendations has the HSCW submitted to the Haryana government in the past three years?
3. How Many Suo Motu Investigations Have Been Conducted in Serious Crimes?
Beyond issuing notices in public controversies, how many serious cases of rape, murder, or trafficking have been investigated by the commission on its own initiative?
4. What Follow-up Has Been Done in High-Profile Cases?
In several disturbing incidents, including the Bhiwani murder case now investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation, what sustained role has the commission played in ensuring justice?
5. Why Are Vacancies in the Commission Still Unfilled?
If two member positions remain vacant, has the chairperson formally urged the government to complete the commission’s composition?
6. Has the Commission Audited the Functioning of One-Stop Crisis Centres?
One-Stop Centres are meant to provide legal and psychological support to victims of violence. Has the commission conducted inspections and publicized their findings?
7. What Steps Have Been Taken to Improve Conviction Rates?
Low conviction rates remain a major challenge in crimes against women. Has the commission engaged with prosecutors and police to improve investigation quality?
8. What Has Been Done to Address Honour Killings?
Haryana continues to witness honour killings driven by caste and patriarchal norms. Has the commission initiated any statewide dialogue or research on this issue?
9. Is Cultural Policing the Primary Role of the Commission?
Should a statutory body devote its energy to policing song lyrics, or should it focus on structural gender violence?
10. Can Institutions Maintain Credibility Without Political Neutrality?
If the commission intervenes selectively in controversies involving public figures, how does it maintain the perception of independence and neutrality?
These questions do not diminish the importance of protecting women’s dignity in public discourse. Rather, they seek to ensure that the commission fulfills its larger institutional responsibility toward the women of Haryana.
These questions are essential not for criticism alone but for strengthening the institution itself.
Conclusion: Beyond Headlines
Institutions created to protect women must resist the temptation of headline politics.
Cultural debates will come and go. Songs will be released, criticised, and forgotten.
But the deeper struggle for gender justice—against violence, discrimination, and inequality—requires sustained commitment.
Indian feminist activist Kamla Bhasin often reminded audiences:
“Patriarchy survives not because of culture alone, but because power protects it.”
This observation underlines the central argument of the article: real change requires confronting structures of power rather than symbolic targets.
The real test for the Haryana State Commission for Women is not how loudly it reacts to cultural controversies but how effectively it addresses the everyday realities faced by women across the state.
Because cultures do not change through the prosecution of one song.
And patriarchy does not collapse through the arrest of one artist.
Real change begins when institutions choose substance over spectacle.
Footnote
1. NCRB Crime in India Reports (2022–2023).
2. Haryana Assembly Budget Session Statements (2025–2026).
3. State crime statistics shared by Haryana Police.
4. Media reports from national newspapers including The Tribune, The Hindu, and Times of India.
No comments:
Post a Comment