Our country, India received independence 67 years ago. Since then this part of the world has grown and developed, it has seen its shares of ups and downs and today we call ourselves the world’s largest democracy. Known for its integrity, non-violent beliefs and the oh! so famous ‘culture’.
But behind the veils of ‘culture’ and ‘peace’, is a dark and growing truth; our women are still not free. Bound by shackles of patriarchy and condemnable misogynistic ideologies and values that the society holds, half the population of this great nation walks in fear of being molested on the roads, in fear of being raped by god knows who, in fear of sending their little girls to school because “it’s not safe, you never know what will happen.” This is the harsh reality that men and women alike have to deal with every single day.
Our dwindling faith in the system was completely broken down after the rape of a 6 year old girl in the school premises by the same people that the parents put their trust in and send their children to. The whole city was outraged by the incident, silent protests were carried out and candlelight vigils were organized, the media left no stone unturned, trying its level best to bring these happenings in public view, unmasking the evils of society. The country wept and an urge for change grew in everybody but on the other part of the land, our wise Chief Minister, running the political helm said the most unforgettable words to the media, “'Is this the only news you can cover?” This question left us all in a state of shock, do we laugh at his stupidity or do we cry that the system we so hopefully look towards is filled with wise old people like him.
But come to think of it there is no political savior with a box of pills to cure all the perverted men in the world. While other more fortunate countries have better punishments for rape like public beheading in Saudi Arabia, death penalty and castration in some cases in China and death by the firing squad in North Korea, we have a highly vigilant human rights system that saves almost every criminal but is never present to look at the bloody incidents that marks the lives of the victims. A frustrated, pessimistic rant holds no cure either. So who really is our knight in shining armour?
The answer is pretty simple, everyone of you reading this is that knight. Social experiments have proven that we are all active in silent protests and candle light vigils but all we do is keep mum when it’s really necessary, we are all mute spectators. It’s time to act! You may wonder, “How can I bring the change?” believe it or not, only and only you can bring about this change. Start looking at a woman as an equal, treat her as one, stop blaming her for her clothes, her smile, her habits! I bet a six year old wasn’t revealing too much. First of all men and women get this straight! THERE ARE NO REASONS TO RAPE! PERVERTED MEN WHO WANT TO RAPE WILL RAPE! Look beyond these meaningless reasons, this only justifies their act and does not serve in helping anybody. Join hands and act when it is most needed.
While our opinions may differ and you may see other solutions to the problem I a common individual walking the streets, outraged by the recent happenings and horrified by the state of the nation can see only you and me as the difference. This is the voice of a girl looking for a ray of hope amidst darkness, knowing that no knight is going to change this ugly truth of rapes and molestations overnight yet she hopes, hopes for change.
The opinions here may spark debates, have people bawling over the internet about the greatness of this vast nation and in all honesty I am no less patriotic, but a place that cannot keep me and my sisters and all the other women out there safe, a place that has turned hostile to our existence just because we are the ‘other’ sex, we are female, is a place I hold a dubious love for.
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