Saritha Nair: Vamp or whistleblower?

The phenomenon called Saritha Nair means different things to different people. The initial reaction, after the solar scam broke out in 2013 and Lakshmi alias Saritha hogged headlines and dominated prime time debates, was one of surprise that a woman could be the ‘king’pin of a fraudulent syndicate. Surprise soon gave way to scorn and abuse as the sordid details of how the ‘seductress in a sari’ lured men in power tumbled out.Of late, the image of Saritha has evolved further, with many considering her as more sinned against than sinning. The woman who took the system for a ride decided to take on the system, perhaps emboldened by the realisation that she had no reputation left to lose. As she positioned herself as a crusader, she has found many takers including prominent intellectuals. Can the main accused in a case also be the whistleblower in chief? We talk to a few opinion-makers:
A woman’s war needn’t be rooted on morality: S Saradakutty, Writer
We have certain expectations about women that they should always be role models and embodiments of purity. No matter what struggles she goes through, she should be always the immaculate figure. Why should we expect this when we see a woman fighting all alone against polluted and corrupted men? Why should a woman’s war be always rooted on morality? Here, she is fighting against men who used her and later acted as strangers, and to prove her point, she used her body. I do not find anything wrong in it.
The whole world is only looking at the sexuality part of it and the men who abused her are going around wearing spotless white attires and enjoying the luxuries of elected representatives. Saritha is open and she explains when, where and why she met these men and what happened. Corruption is what should have been highlighted but unfortunately, the focus is on her body and the tickling details. The state would not care so much if a woman is attacked. Saritha has been attacked in many ways — emotionally, physically and financially. She has only come out against those, with whom she slept with for reasons of her own. She also says she has no problems about the one with whom she slept out of love. Here, all she has done is to hit back with the same stones that were thrown at her and she has created a revolution just the way Kuriyedathi Thathri did ages ago. There are no rules in war. Her war is against corruption and ours too should be about Kerala’s coffers, not the moral consciousness.
Glorifying her is an insult to women: Leela Menon, Journalist
I believe that she is misusing womanhood. The entire drama created by Saritha Nair is nothing but a highly motivated campaign to target all the influential political figures. Everything she says seems fabricated and I believe glorifying her is an insult to women across the globe as we have many among us who have bitterly fought against their assaulters, even after being subjected to brutal rapes. And here, we see a lady happily sleeping with those in power and then coming out and terming it abuse. How can it be justified? She should be charged with corruption. All that she did was to use her body to get things done instead of paying money. So it is equal to paying bribe. It is a deliberate, planned move from which she is now reaping benefit. It cannot be encouraged.
She is a victim of grave atrocities: A Jayashankar, Advocate
She is a powerful personality who vehemently fought until she could convince the Justice Shivarajan Commission about her arguments. She isn’t like Rejina or actress Shwetha Menon who initially came out against politicians but later gave up the fight. She isn’t a fraud but a victim of grave atrocities. Her crime is not bigger than those whom she has exposed.
She is a product of corruption: Devendranath Shankaranarayanan, Theatre activist
For centuries, we are accustomed to a system that encourages backdoor moves than the proper route. To get things done, we either need recommendations or bribe. Saritha Nair is a product of this degraded and corrupt system. Like anybody who pays and accepts bribe, Saritha too is a criminal and she should not be glorified in any other way. Just because she is a woman, she also used her body to achieve her purpose.