While still coming to grips with the fact that in our
National Capital a woman was inhumanly brutalized and feeling shaken at the utter
shamelessness of the deed, I was further shocked to read an article in a
leading publication that the number of rapes in Chennai and Kolkatta were ONLY
half of the rapes in Delhi.
Since when have rapes become ONLY? Is there is no semblance
of human dignity anymore? How can any rape be classified as ONLY?
Why has our country turned so insensitive and callous?
It numbs the senses to see the way we Indians treat our women
and GIRLS. It is as if it is the right of the man to rape and role of the woman
to accept.
It is as if we question the very right of the women to exist,
to do what she wants to do, to earn her livelihood or in this case just have
the pleasure of watching a movie and going home.
How can the country progress if half the population is afraid
to step out at night, to wear the clothes it deems fine or just be alone in a
group of men whether in solitude or in a public place at any time of the day?
And, while the citizens of Delhi fight for speedy justice, the crimes against women continue unabated. A 40 year old woman, a 17 year old girl, a 3 year old girl... 3 years????
And, while the citizens of Delhi fight for speedy justice, the crimes against women continue unabated. A 40 year old woman, a 17 year old girl, a 3 year old girl... 3 years????
Is there any justice in the system?
Why is it that the media, the POWERFUL media always report crimes
against women in a most helpless tone? Why is it that we are almost resigned to
the fact that these crimes are bound to happen? Why is it that the news only
carries the gory details of the crime with no hint of the punishment? Will articles
highlighting helplessness not embolden the perpetrator and/ or the future
perpetrator that brutalization can be done without any fear?
What about our cinema? Where is the sensitivity? How casually
is the inhuman, gruesome crime of brutalizing a woman depicted and spoken
about? How casually is the word uttered? How callous on Bollywood’s part to
call a dance an item song? Is Bollywood
not subtly and not so subtly hinting that a woman is an item? An easy pick?
What about our feudal, casteist and hierarchical society? How
is it that the brutalization in small villages does not stir our conscience?
Why is the dignity of a woman in some small town lower than the dignity of a
woman in Delhi? Why do we accept the diktats of the some supposed village
elders banning women from wearing good clothes just because it can arouse some
despicable man’s libido? How is it that the same men absolve the rapists of any
crime by citing youthful impetuosity?
How can the perpetrators of the heinous crimes, the scum of
the earth roam around with impunity?
Is there a way out? Or is the Indian woman doomed to live with fear because of these psychopaths, the social
terrorists?
No, I’m not a pessimist. The situation can be changed from hopeless to hopeful.
It can change when the tables are turned and the Hunter
becomes the Hunted and the prey becomes the predator.
It will change the day the headlines scream “Man shot dead by
Police for trying to molest a woman” or “Man castrated for raping a 5 year old
girl”.
The change can show the world and ourselves that we care, for
our women.
I hope and pray that the country that boasts of some of the
most powerful women in modern history quickly finds a way to end the
perpetuation of this brutal behavior. I hope they make laws that spell out very clearly that when it comes to respecting women, it is non-negotiable. I hope they act with swiftness when women are made to feel powerless. I hope for a day when they show that a crime against woman will spell death.
