Well begun is half done. This saying, credited to the Greek philosopher Aristotle, means that starting a project well makes it easier to complete. However, the saying that suits the present Left Democratic Front (LDF) government seems to be “Well begun, not done.” Or, worse, “Well begun, left undone,” meaning that having made a good beginning, the government kills it before completion.
The latest in the government's filicide (killing one’s own progeny) relates to what has happened to the Justice K Hema Committee. The previous LDF government had won wide praise when, in 2017, it appointed a three-member committee to study the problems faced by women in the Malayalam cinema industry. This committee was the first of its kind in the country, although such nefarious patriarchal practices have been going on for a long time everywhere. Indeed, this was a progressive decision by the last Pinarayi Vijayan government, and it also owed to Kerala’s long tradition of pioneering and enlightening steps in many realms. The few brave and conscientious women from the film industry who formed the Women in Cinema Collective in the aftermath of the shocking assault on an actor and demanded the government's immediate intervention also deserve much credit.
However, all the goodwill the government gained was lost with its deeds after the Hema Committee submitted its report in 2019. The previous and present governments’ sitting on the report for about five years despite the spate of severe and cognisable crimes it revealed, its pathetic attempts to keep it from reaching the public and now to evade its duty to initiate actions against the offenders have grievously marred their image. It took a huge media outcry and two women coming out accusing top director Ranjith, Chairman of Kerala Chalachitra Academy and actor Siddique, General Secretary, Association of Malayalam Movies Artists, of sexual abuse for the government to act.
Both of them quit their positions following the allegations. Subsequently, the government constituted a seven-member special police team that included four women IPS officers to investigate the five complaints filed by women. Wisdom dawning late seems to be another hallmark of the government. In the wake of the developments, charges made by women against actor and CPI(M) legislator Mukesh and actor Alencier also have since resurfaced.
However, the government has yet to announce any action based specifically........