He is asked about the neurological basis for psychiatric disorders and the psychological manifestations of neurological disorders with specific reference to perpetrators of Child Sexual Abuse in India. Dr Rajesh Parikh replies ruefully, ‘As a neuro-psychiatrist I would really like to believe that all these men are disturbed. I would like to think that all of them have personality disorders, that they are deviants or that they have low self-esteem. But this would not be right on my part because it is simply not true for all cases. Most adult males who sexually abuse children are . . .’ Dr Parikh searches for the word, ‘They are . . .’

Bastards?

Dr Rajesh Parikh nods in agreement, ‘I do not approve of the usage of strong language but yes, grown-up men who sexually molest children are . . .’

Bastards?

‘Definitely.’

Dr Shekhar Seshadri’s is a well-known name in the field of the Indian child’s mental health, particularly in connection with Child Sexual Abuse. Working from Asia’s premier institute, the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Science (Nimhans) in Bangalore as his base, he is the first doctor in the country, and the Indian subcontinent, to work on the subject of Child Sexual Abuse. He has conducted several studies and workshops all over India apart from one-to-one counselling with both child and adult victims of Child Sexual Abuse. Ask him about perpetrators and he replies, ‘There are those who have been sexually abused themselves as children although this should not be used as the reason for perpetuation. There are a few who are genuinely mentally ill. There are the paedophiles and it would be a mistake to think that all paedophiles are mentally sick. There are those who have been misinformed that sex with a virgin or a child is the treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, Aids or impotence. And then there are the . . .’

He pauses, looking for a word which would describe such men.

Bastards?

‘There is a reason why I would hesitate to use that word. It should not be seen as a categorization for someone to either keep perpetrating or stop himself from coming for psychiatric help so that he can desist.’

These bastards would form an overwhelming percentage of the males who sexually abuse children?

‘Yes, these otherwise “normal” types who lead seemingly casual lives would form the largest chunk of adults who sexually abuse little bodies and minds. And most of them do it for no other reason than sex. That is really the basic thing. All the other stuff may, or may not, be present like power and domination, sexuality and its abuse, gender and patriarchy, class and caste. In my experience, the other issues do come up but sex takes the prominent form. This sex element is the least discoursed phenomenon because it is the least understood.’

It is expected that when a man is plainly a bastard he will be honest about it and do everything for the wrong reasons. But perpetrators do not fit into any pattern; this is perhaps the most difficult thing to prove in court when he is a doting grandfather, an elderly gent, an ancient elder who prays with his wife and plays with his grandchildren. To the presiding judge this accusation is then an aberration, the alleged act a cooked up one since such behaviour would be inconsistent with the man’s general behaviour. The benefit of the doubt is given to the perpetrator because he has his good reputation and social standing which must be protected at all cost. Including against the interests of the child; for this child there is nothing more damaging than the bastard’s inconsistency.