Words fail to express my anger and anguish for the inhuman incident of gang rape and death threatening assault of the young 23 year old girl in Delhi last Sunday. Episodes of women being subjected to acts of sexual perversion, abuse, kidnapping, rape, burning, acid attacks, incest, dowry deaths and many such gruesome acts of oppression across all categories and class, are becoming so rampant that these shocking events have become very "routine" and after a while, are conveniently forgotten!
The incident of gang rape in Delhi has received lot of media attention resulting in huge protests, causing law and order situation. When such event is blown to this proportion, sometimes the genuine protesters get sidelined and many other people jump in to claim every possible bit of media attention and recognition for their brand of politics or interests. I hope and pray this anger, media attention, candle lighting and non-stop debates on the issue would result in Indian government taking deterrent action for those involved in such spine chilling crimes.
The protest, as I write this has reached a point where demand for death penalty for the guilty of this heinous crime is increasing. I understand the anguish and shudder to think about plight of the girl who had to suffer this nightmare. However, after witnessing brouhaha in media post this tragic incident I can't stop thinking, who all do we hang for such crimes committed against women in India?
The incident of gang rape in Delhi has received lot of media attention resulting in huge protests, causing law and order situation. When such event is blown to this proportion, sometimes the genuine protesters get sidelined and many other people jump in to claim every possible bit of media attention and recognition for their brand of politics or interests. I hope and pray this anger, media attention, candle lighting and non-stop debates on the issue would result in Indian government taking deterrent action for those involved in such spine chilling crimes.
The protest, as I write this has reached a point where demand for death penalty for the guilty of this heinous crime is increasing. I understand the anguish and shudder to think about plight of the girl who had to suffer this nightmare. However, after witnessing brouhaha in media post this tragic incident I can't stop thinking, who all do we hang for such crimes committed against women in India?
Rapists don't belong to any
particular city, caste or community. This is a kind of breed which is product of environment that treats women as commodity ; to be used, abused and treat
inhumanly without iota of any guilt or
shame. Such mindset gets nurtured from very formative years that deeply ingrain the message that men are superior to women.
The first few books a first grader in India reads discriminating lines like, "Ram, paathshala ja. Geeta, paani bharkar la." (Ram, go to school. Geeta, fetch water (from well)). I am sure all of us have experienced/seen how boys get special treatment in Indian homes compared to girls. Sex determination tests are illegal in India yet they are still practised rampantly even in metro cities. Do I need to even discuss depiction of women and the derogatory terms used for them in our advertisements and most of our Bollywood movies and its vulgar songs?
What is the real issue here?
The first few books a first grader in India reads discriminating lines like, "Ram, paathshala ja. Geeta, paani bharkar la." (Ram, go to school. Geeta, fetch water (from well)). I am sure all of us have experienced/seen how boys get special treatment in Indian homes compared to girls. Sex determination tests are illegal in India yet they are still practised rampantly even in metro cities. Do I need to even discuss depiction of women and the derogatory terms used for them in our advertisements and most of our Bollywood movies and its vulgar songs?
What is the real issue here?
Our real issue is sick mindset towards women. The real issue is painfully disturbing, rotting stench of female foetuses that are being devoured by sewage from rural as well as our global metro cities. Our real issue is charred bodies in dowry and tandoor deaths. Our real issue is hanged bodies in "honour killings". Our real issue is society blaming women for "inviting" trouble with the way they dress! Our real issue is us expecting the government to "fix" every possible problem without taking our responsibility seriously.
Our real need is to change our thinking, mindset and attitude towards women. Death penalty is not a permanent solution. It might help proving a point to some extent but we need to address the issue strongly from core level in our education, in our homes and society in general. Our real need is that our law and order machinery take action against pettiest of the crime so that nobody dares to play with law and order.
Expressing anger, giving speeches, posting angry messages on social networking sites, demanding death penalty or castration for the guilty of rape case, lighting candles won't lead us to any concrete solution. The solution lies in understanding that we need to educate ourselves on being a civilized society and we have to participate actively in the change.
Being a woman, mother and responsible citizen of this country, I feel ashamed that such dreadful events happen in democracy like India that is boasting to be great power to watch for in future! I feel great to see so many young people protesting on the street of Delhi for demanding justice for the gang rape case. The onus is on media and us to not let the opportunistic activists hijack the whole issue and use it to their own advantage.
I bemoan lack of will and vigilance that any civilized society should display and be accountable for. It is sad that we lack basic education in humanity and forget that education starts from home. Sad, we forget it conveniently and remain silent when we should not!
Its time for some deep reflection and finding answers for some very disturbing questions.
Our real need is to change our thinking, mindset and attitude towards women. Death penalty is not a permanent solution. It might help proving a point to some extent but we need to address the issue strongly from core level in our education, in our homes and society in general. Our real need is that our law and order machinery take action against pettiest of the crime so that nobody dares to play with law and order.
Expressing anger, giving speeches, posting angry messages on social networking sites, demanding death penalty or castration for the guilty of rape case, lighting candles won't lead us to any concrete solution. The solution lies in understanding that we need to educate ourselves on being a civilized society and we have to participate actively in the change.
Being a woman, mother and responsible citizen of this country, I feel ashamed that such dreadful events happen in democracy like India that is boasting to be great power to watch for in future! I feel great to see so many young people protesting on the street of Delhi for demanding justice for the gang rape case. The onus is on media and us to not let the opportunistic activists hijack the whole issue and use it to their own advantage.
I bemoan lack of will and vigilance that any civilized society should display and be accountable for. It is sad that we lack basic education in humanity and forget that education starts from home. Sad, we forget it conveniently and remain silent when we should not!
Its time for some deep reflection and finding answers for some very disturbing questions.
