The growing rape culture is devastating. Every time a mishap happens, we have shaken the core. We are compelled to question the politics behind it, the safety of our women, and largely about the disturbing psyche developing in men of our democratic nation. Well democracy bestows freedom, but not of this sort! There have been a series of cases that shook us; Nirbhaya, Badaun, Unnao case, recent Kathua mishap and many more reported in the newspaper and news channels. We are compelled to make peace with whatever is happening around us. And as we get over one incident, the second case strikes and our heart bleeds.
Are we a progressive nation? How are we expected to carry out living normally when tiny babies in diapers are being raped and brutally murdered? After every rape, there are regressive comments on women dressing boldly, and we like to claim that India is a global star. We talk about gender equality in the 21st century, when the female gender is constantly being oppressed mentally and emotionally by such incidents.
This is an ironical article on rape and the messages that we take home (sadly).
What messages are we forced to take?
Humanity first – this is sad, but true. Our society is biased and chooses religion over humanity. Whether it was religiously motivated rape and with political intentions, is not the question. Did an eight-year-old girl deserve this?
Girls need protection 24X7 – the female contribute to 50% of the population. Such incidents leave a deep impact on parents to daughters. Do we have to stop living, working and only look after our daughters because they are unsafe (?) Why this bias?
Chalta hai Attitude – when are we going to get rid of this attitude? The rape happened. And then after a few days and months, it is kind of okay. Chalta hai…in a big democratic country, such incidents occur. Bade Bade deshon mein aisi choti choti baatein hoti rehti hain na Senorita? So accept the depravity and go ahead? Isn’t this casual attitude killing our fundamentals? Who cares? At least my daughter and wife and mother and sister is safe. So Chalta hai ..!
Empower the girls – with every cruel incident that happens to a girl/wome(a)n hundreds of messages with ’empower the daughters’ float on Whatsapp and Facebook. Why? Don’t boys/men need to be taught to respect girls/wome(a)n. But how are we supposed to empower our tiny defenseless girls in diapers?
Daughters are a burden and liability – I am sorry to say, but with such incidents, parents from the rural background who cannot afford education and a decent lifestyle for their daughter(s) conclude that girls are a burden. Many also state that having a daughter is a punishment due to the sins of their previous life.
It is a Man’s world – unfortunately, based on the physical power that rape is all about, Men have proved their dominance. We will have to tell our women in our society that it is a Man’s world, and Men are always correct.
Women should dress decently – behind every rape, it is always the woman’s fault. She should dress decently covering every inch of her body. Avoiding revealing and provocative outfit should be remembered. But how does a baby in diaper provoke the demons is still a big question?
What did mothers across the country do? They all must have hugged their respective daughters, kissed her forehead, prayed to the almighty for her safety and sobbed without their daughters knowing it!
What else is done to seek justice? Walk with lighted candles, update Facebook profile pictures with a photo of the rape victim, change the Whatsapp profile picture to a black spot. But no candle(s), profile picture will bring back the life of the victim. Nothing is going to erase the pain of loss that struck the family. None of this will reassure the safety of our women.
Various articles have named our country as ‘rape capital,’ and unfortunately, our country ‘men’ are proving it right. Not our daughters, but our sons need to understand a lot about respect and dignity, when it comes to woma(e)n. The Men of India must certainly be ashamed of creating an insecure nation for Women of India.
