Singer Chinmayi Sripada shared an incident where her husband, actor Rahul Ravindran, asked their two-year-old daughter for a hug. When she refused, Ravindran respected her decision and didn’t force her.
Well, Chinmayi’s post is a wake-up call we can’t ignore. What her husband did was not just okay—it’s absolutely essential. Young girls must be taught about consent. And, fathers must do it.
For those blaming the singer for supposedly damaging the father-daughter relationship, I hate to break it to you, but the damage was already done.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, over 96 per cent rapes in India are committed by people known by the victims: a friend, a date, an acquaintance, a relative, a husband or a partner.
In a recent incident from Madhya Pradesh’s Rewa district, a 13-year-old boy allegedly raped and killed his nine-year-old sister after watching a pornographic video on his phone.
A man, aged 40, was arrested earlier in May for raping his minor daughter for several months and impregnating her.
Meanwhile, a special court in Jagtial, Telangana, convicted a 66-year-old man for raping a six-year-old girl. The culprit has been given rigorous imprisonment of 25 years.
Child abuse cases, encompassing all forms of penetrative assaults, have witnessed a rise of 96 per cent from 2016 to 2022, according to an analysis of the NCRB data by child rights NGO CRY.
When Ravindran respected his daughter’s refusal for a hug, he set a vital precedent for consent.
It’s essential to drill into our girls the importance of maintaining safe boundaries—whether it’s with fathers, brothers, or anyone else—from a young age. The small acts that Chinmayi talks about —such as asking for permission before pulling their cheeks or hugging them —are non-negotiable.
By instilling these values early, we help them recognise their right to say no, ensuring they grow up knowing their worth and the importance of mutual respect in relationships.
Understand and react
Chinmayi’s post met with mixed reactions. While some lauded the singer for teaching her children about consent early on, others said Chinmayi failed as a “human being” and that she has “mental problems.” A user even called her “worse than whores”.
These people, who have the urge to comment first and think later, fail to understand the intention and message behind her post.
Chinmayi never questioned her husband’s intentions or sexualised her baby. Her point was simple: if Ravindran had forced a hug on their daughter, it could have negatively impacted her mindset.
In the future, she might not recognise or resist when someone forces themselves on her, which is undeniably wrong.
Ultimately, fathers need to teach their daughters by setting the right example, and Ravindran did just that. And that should be the same with every relative, every neighbour.
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The sacred bond
Don’t get me wrong. I am in no way questioning every father on this planet. For many daughters, their fathers are superheroes and protectors.
However, we can’t ignore the fact that some men, who don’t deserve to be called fathers, do turn out to be perpetrators.
So, if someone is calling out this issue, don’t take it personally—it needs to be addressed.
This grim truth underscores the need for educating girls about consent and boundaries within the family setting. Girls must learn to identify inappropriate behaviour and feel confident in seeking help, even if the perpetrator is a family member.
And let’s drop the #notallmen nonsense—it’s frustrating. Instead of dismissing Chinmayi’s valid points, acknowledge the problem. Not every man on this planet is an abuser, but nearly every abuser is a man.
Views are personal.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)
Ms. Triya Gulati, please do some real journalism. Stop hyping up things unnecessarily.
Nobody really cares about Chinmayi Sripada – I heard her name today for the first time.
There are much more important issues to be covered and written about.
For example, the utter lawlessness prevailing in Meghalaya where the xenophobic organisation KSU is subjecting non-tribal residents of the state to large scale violence and intimidation. Kindly report on such important issues.