I open Times of India's website and search for the word 'rape'. Since I live in a very well connected society, I get many hits. In every search the word rape remains same, what changes is the place, time and age of the survivor. While I am writing this post, I see three news - 23 year old girl gang raped and dangerously injured in Delhi, 5 year old girl stolen and raped in Bidar and 25 year old girl raped and set on fire in Siliguri. I close those browser windows, try to imagine what kind of ordeals these girls must have been through, close my eyes in utter shame, sometime shed a tear or two. Thinking "There is a lot of shit out there on Internet", I try to move on.
I walk from my house to the bus stop. There is a huge school ground in front of my house where school kids play during break time. While passing through, I hear a wayward kid playing sleazy Bollywood item number on his expensive phone. He and three of his friends follow a group of four girls. Unable to resist their hormonal power surge, they decide "Teri wali woh, meri wali yeh". I imagine myself being a shy kid in school, thereby forgetting and ignoring everything that is happening around me, I try to move on.
Bus stop is very close, a few stretches away. After a while, I am on the bus. Some gentlemen give their seats to ladies and I see a ray of hope somewhere. "Respect, is still there, my friend" I tell myself. On one stop, I see a bunch of hooligans getting on the bus. After a series of long stares, they pass some nasty but discernible comments about a girl in the crowd.The girl, being wise and experienced, ignores them and tries to find some place so that she can't be seen face to face. Someone from the group moves closer to her, accidentally drops coins on the floor and makes illicit contacts while picking them up. "Why did the conductor allow such people to board the bus?" Unable to answer this question, pretending this as a normal act, I try to move on.
I reach office. The only sane and sophisticated place where I always wanted to spend my day. One of those rare places where I could see educated, well behaved individuals. I work for some time. After a while, I feel like taking a leak, so I go to the restroom. I and my colleagues wait while a girl cleans up the toilet. Totally aware of our per hour wages and importance of time, she tries to wrap things up as soon as possible. But while leaving, she makes a mistake. She drops her detergent bottle on floor and hastily picks it up and leaves. Within a flash of a second I see gentlemen reacting over her cleavage while she was correcting herself. Some whisper "Kya maal hain!" while they are answering the nature's call. "Come on, this is just a lighthearted moment, why make a fuss?" my inner voice tells me. Calculating how much work is left to be finished and how much time is remaining, I try to move on.
I am home after a tiring and frustrating day at work.I turn on the TV and choose some random channel. It runs an advertisement with a disclaimer - Do not attempt this at home. A handsome dude drives his car recklessly. Enamored by his manliness, an extremely beautiful seductress gives him lusty looks. The dude, apparently confounded, has to go through the painful task of choosing between the car and this mystery girl. "This must have doubled their sales!" appreciating the mastermind behind this ad, I surf channels again. There is a discussion going on about violence against women. Interesting, I think to myself. One of the participants is this woman who has been gang raped last year, and yet seeking justice. Two of the perpetrators are still on the loose and nobody seems to be interested in further investigation. In the meanwhile, she looses her job, social life, relatives and all but a very few friends. "Rape is not just a physical trauma, it's mental, social, psychological stigma", says one of the participants in discussion. "Absolutely! look at her, she has two kids to take care of, this is going to be extremely difficult". I say it out loud. Confirming the last conclusion - rape is equally bad as death, I try to move on.
I see myself as a father of this most beautiful and loving daughter. I see my life, full of light and joy, away from all black shadows. She grows up very fast and one day I had to drop her to the school. I suddenly remember everything that happened throughout the day and my dream breaks down. "This must be because of all stupid thoughts around me" I say this and try to move on.
Castration followed by 10 hours of porn followed by capital punishment? I am all for it. Just like all of my knee-jerk reactions, I think this will solve everything. Stricter laws, sweeping reforms on violence against women will be a great start. What about the good old sanskar we had? It's up to us, isn't it?
Oscar Wilde, one of the wisest men, once said "Women are meant to be loved, not to be understood". It is for us to find out - "can there be love without respect?"
That was my dream, and what's yours ?
Amen.
I walk from my house to the bus stop. There is a huge school ground in front of my house where school kids play during break time. While passing through, I hear a wayward kid playing sleazy Bollywood item number on his expensive phone. He and three of his friends follow a group of four girls. Unable to resist their hormonal power surge, they decide "Teri wali woh, meri wali yeh". I imagine myself being a shy kid in school, thereby forgetting and ignoring everything that is happening around me, I try to move on.
Bus stop is very close, a few stretches away. After a while, I am on the bus. Some gentlemen give their seats to ladies and I see a ray of hope somewhere. "Respect, is still there, my friend" I tell myself. On one stop, I see a bunch of hooligans getting on the bus. After a series of long stares, they pass some nasty but discernible comments about a girl in the crowd.The girl, being wise and experienced, ignores them and tries to find some place so that she can't be seen face to face. Someone from the group moves closer to her, accidentally drops coins on the floor and makes illicit contacts while picking them up. "Why did the conductor allow such people to board the bus?" Unable to answer this question, pretending this as a normal act, I try to move on.
I reach office. The only sane and sophisticated place where I always wanted to spend my day. One of those rare places where I could see educated, well behaved individuals. I work for some time. After a while, I feel like taking a leak, so I go to the restroom. I and my colleagues wait while a girl cleans up the toilet. Totally aware of our per hour wages and importance of time, she tries to wrap things up as soon as possible. But while leaving, she makes a mistake. She drops her detergent bottle on floor and hastily picks it up and leaves. Within a flash of a second I see gentlemen reacting over her cleavage while she was correcting herself. Some whisper "Kya maal hain!" while they are answering the nature's call. "Come on, this is just a lighthearted moment, why make a fuss?" my inner voice tells me. Calculating how much work is left to be finished and how much time is remaining, I try to move on.
I am home after a tiring and frustrating day at work.I turn on the TV and choose some random channel. It runs an advertisement with a disclaimer - Do not attempt this at home. A handsome dude drives his car recklessly. Enamored by his manliness, an extremely beautiful seductress gives him lusty looks. The dude, apparently confounded, has to go through the painful task of choosing between the car and this mystery girl. "This must have doubled their sales!" appreciating the mastermind behind this ad, I surf channels again. There is a discussion going on about violence against women. Interesting, I think to myself. One of the participants is this woman who has been gang raped last year, and yet seeking justice. Two of the perpetrators are still on the loose and nobody seems to be interested in further investigation. In the meanwhile, she looses her job, social life, relatives and all but a very few friends. "Rape is not just a physical trauma, it's mental, social, psychological stigma", says one of the participants in discussion. "Absolutely! look at her, she has two kids to take care of, this is going to be extremely difficult". I say it out loud. Confirming the last conclusion - rape is equally bad as death, I try to move on.
I see myself as a father of this most beautiful and loving daughter. I see my life, full of light and joy, away from all black shadows. She grows up very fast and one day I had to drop her to the school. I suddenly remember everything that happened throughout the day and my dream breaks down. "This must be because of all stupid thoughts around me" I say this and try to move on.
Castration followed by 10 hours of porn followed by capital punishment? I am all for it. Just like all of my knee-jerk reactions, I think this will solve everything. Stricter laws, sweeping reforms on violence against women will be a great start. What about the good old sanskar we had? It's up to us, isn't it?
Oscar Wilde, one of the wisest men, once said "Women are meant to be loved, not to be understood". It is for us to find out - "can there be love without respect?"
That was my dream, and what's yours ?
Amen.
