Kab Tak ?

Of what use is development, when half of your population cannot walk late in the night, all alone, without fear in mind? This country is no longer safe for child / old / young / any women.

So, the inevitable has happened. Nirbhaya / Amaanat / Damini or whatever name you wish to call, the victim of Delhi Gang Rape has died. While the nation mourns and the condolences messages keep pouring in, we need to introspect and ask ourselves what has been the cause of such brutality. As the Chief Minister of Delhi and Police Commissioner try in vain to pass on the buck, the serious question in-front of everyone is who is to be blamed?

Is it the incompetent and powerless police force? Either they don’t have the will or they are under too much political pressure to act against criminals.

Is it the government? They have become so apathetic and detached from the reality that have tried all possible means to stop people from protesting peacefully. The insecurity has resulted in the cremation of the girl in a hush-hush manner. They have stopped so low by ridiculing the activists them names.

Is it the rapists? Think of their mind degenerating to such an extent to commit such a heinous crime.  because they very well know that the law isn’t strong enough to punish them.

Is it the people? We have become so immune to such incidents that we are not bothered if the person is not known to us. One should realize that if these things don’t end then someday, someone we know might end up as victim.

People are out on the street, there is a silent uprising and this time it is directed towards the establishment. Didn’t the government see it coming? This ticking time bomb had to explode and time has come. The government, so detached from the ground reality, is busy trying to silent the peaceful protestors. Had the government spent half the energy, they spent on controlling the protest, on tightening the security, Delhi would have been much safer place.

There is a demand for stricter laws and fast tracking of cases but do we expect our politicians to frame stricter laws and setting an example when these are the very people who makes sexist comments like “dented-painted women”, “paison ke liye national television par thumke lagana”, “women wearing skirts invites trouble”. Even some of the elected MPs have rape charges leveled against them.

While we discuss the pros and cons of capital punishment, rights and wrongs of protests taking place across the country; the question that needs to be asked is what has led to her death? Why the women don’t feel secure even in the national / political capital? I am sure laws will be made, culprits will be punished but the bigger question is what we are doing about it? It is one thing to blame the law, criminals, government; police or even the establishment but we should ask ourselves how much we are above the sins? Even today, in majority of the homes, the birth of male child is more welcomed than a female child, girl fetus is killed in the womb and newly born girl child is thrown in the dustbin. Heroines still gets objectified in the movies and the trend is on the rise in the past few years. Women gets blamed for inviting rape by wearing provocative dresses and going out late in the night and conveniently we pardon our sons / male child. Still there are many houses where women have to be in pardah, can’t go out for work and even not allowed basic fundamental education. How can we expect this society to improve when the very mindset, of treating both girl and boy child equal, is missing. Indian society as a whole has degenerated to such an extent that we view women as an object. They say charity begins at home; so shouldn’t we make the beginning. Shouldn’t we be the catalyst of the change we want to bring? Until we cure this disease, till we do something about it, I am afraid nothing is going to change and women will be on the receiving end.

Because the sad part is, while you are reading this article, there will be some gal / women / child getting molested in some part of the country. And we are doing nothing about it!