Carrying the torch of Solidarity

India' grieving hour

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan came out in a statement a few days back that Delhi Gang rape culprits should be hanged.  But it would be better, if he would have added same punishment for crimes such as ‘poaching Black Bucks’ and ‘ running down car on pavement sleepers’. It is not uncommon habit among our utopian B-Town superstars and contaminated politicians to spit out un-remarkable statements during crisis hours, just to mount their image and expand their fan base.

Leaving Salman Khan’s abhorrent stink behind and moving on to the substance of this essay. Last week has been one of the grieving moments for the entire nation.  A Twenty three  year old girl and her male friend were savagely beaten and the female victim was gang raped by four men in the evening hours in the busy streets of India’s Capital. As the victim of this horrifying crime battles for life, the nation’s youth have barged into the streets holding placards and candlelight’s seeking death penalty for the culprits. The woman of this country is feeling threatened and petrified in these days, like never before. The patience is finally running out among the youth, as atrocities on women have become routine in the country for the last two years.

In a Country where Mythical Gods are worshipped and glorified, the real living women are mistreated, abused and harassed everyday in open public. The hypocrisy lies within the hearts and mind of the society that watches such cruelty and remains silent.

Did we react Late?

Earlier in July at a resort in Mangalore, When Boys and girls were brutally attacked at their homes, while celebrating a private party, the incident hardly made headlines in the country.  There was protest among some sections, but it never amplified to the national level. A large number of Dakshina Kannada’s population didn’t bother to take part. This is precisely because of society of southern pockets of Karnataka, which is highly polarized and self-indulgent. Going by the Video footages, the girls were horrendously beaten, dragged and sexually assaulted by a gang of twenty odd drunken men. It makes one wonder, why this particular case of mass sexual assault on women didn’t pour the same outrage, the one in Delhi resulted in.

It is in human behavior to react in outburst, when something of high scale takes place. India’s dishonourable capital city, New Delhi accounts 35% of total rape cases in the country and over 25% of other crimes like human trafficking, murder, extortion, kidnapping etc. Making it the most dangerous city for women in the country.  Upsettingly, barely within 24 hours after the heinous gang rape incident, two other girls were raped in the city.  That tells the whole story on how disastrous this city has turned into.  Since, the beginning of this year alone, there have been increased assaults on women in Delhi, but all of the cases have simmered without a trace, because the youth of Delhi didn’t have the time and courage to stand up and raise their voices. And at last, they had to wait for such distressing event, which could never happen, if there was earlier outcry.

It is not the question, on what kind of punishment do the criminals of this heinous crime deserve, a Question which the entire nation is madly debating.  The Social network, blog world and SMS is buzz with examples emanating out from theocratic inhuman states like Saudi, Iran and Afghanistan. Some have posted images of torture, amputation, beheading, hanging and public flogging as the best punishment for rapists. But hello, wait a minute you Bigot. Have you seen the way women in those countries have been punished? They receive the same punishment, as the one you posted, for eloping, conversing to males and going to school (Malala Youzafzazi).

We won’t allow such barbaric practices here. The Country that as civilized and sane as ours, should be thinking critically about the prospects of Women. There is an urgent need to strengthen the security of women and to bring in a strict code of law against assaults on women.  Many experts  point that, the problem lies in the mind of a man, from a earlier age due to the social background and lack of education his attitude towards opposite sex remains immature. Our country needs massive rehabilitation and education programs with earnest, that can possibly eradicate such wretchedly crimes. After  last week’s tragic incident and those that have been following since last few years in metro-towns, both men and women have been increasingly insecure, Resulting in breakdown of pluralism and open societal norms that had always existed in our country. The youth that has paraded into the streets in disgust and emotions should convey just three magical words to the women of this country ‘ Do not Fear’.

Time to rise and show solidarity

It is in human nature to express personal connection to a tragic episode with solidarity. Soon after the 26/11 Bombay terror attack, a large portion of nation’s Muslim population went out in streets demonstrating and condemning terrorism and demanded war with Pakistan. It was a remarkable gesture displayed by the country’s largest and most fruitful minority. This was also followed by a very low profile and less pompous’ Eid’ celebrations, in order to commemorate the victims of the attack and stand by the grieving nation.

This time it’s the middle class population’s term to display such gesture and curtsy to the Delhi assault victim.  It is certainly not a time for usual celebrations this time, as the entire nation is up in arms demanding justice. The spark has spiraled into flames, and there is no better time than now, to carry the torch of solidarity along with the nation.  A less joyful newyear would be more substantive at this hour. Mass, Carols, Cakes, Joy and Merry will follow only when women and children