A few weeks ago, I was walking with my ten year old cousin to the pet store to buy some cat food. And it is during these moments of solitude, that him and I have our heart-to-hearts. It started with comics, moved on to movies based on said comics, his very dumb cat and hyper baby brother, Top Gear (He's an amazing little fellow), and then about when I would start working.
He asked me how I was going to get to and back from work and I said "Well maybe Ma and Ta (My parents) will let me take the car." and he asked me why I couldn't just use public transport. I replied, saying that some days, I may be late, and it won't be that safe for me to travel alone, using public transport. Why, he asked, and I said, I don't want to get hurt, or even worse, killed. He looked at me dead in the eyes and said "Dee dee, That stuff only happens in the West. It's so much more safer here."
In a way, I am both happy, and disappointed with this revelation. Happy, because my baby brother is shielded from the harsh violence committed by and against our fellow citizens everyday, and disappointed, for the very same reason.
After the horror of the infamous Delhi rape case in December 2012, one would think that the attitude of this nation would soon change. There would be a grand epiphany that would lift our fellow Indians from the darkness and show them that this one case isn't the only crime that has been committed against women over the years.
Oh boy was I wrong.
It makes my blood boil, to see that the number of cases, instead of going down, has shot up. And what's even more shocking, is the fact that these monsters are now targeting young girls. Girls as young as four years old.
I am speechless. I look around me and see so much danger now, lurking in every nook and cranny. Honestly, I'm beginning to get a little too paranoid to do simple things like stepping out of my home and running errands for my mother.
What happened to all those protesting crowds? Those outraged youth of the nation, holding demonstrations in the name of women's rights? What happened to all those laws that were passed so gallantly so that the women feel more protected? Please don't tell me that it was a phase or a passing fad. This isn't a fucking fashion statement or a 'happening thing' that the popular kids are participating in. Has it honestly affected a portion of our vast nation?
I think most of my angry outbursts were spent on a very long telephone call with my friend. I kept telling her how I just wanted to get out there, and defend all of us. We expressed our shock and fear about how we will never feel safe out on open streets, even when we're wearing our baggiest jeans and T-shirts.
And hey! Now we don't even need to fucking worry because the focus has moved on to little kids! I mean, c'mon man, easier targets, a breeze to handle, and they probably won't tell a soul. What's next, little boys? Special needs kids? Oh wait that ALSO happens. Because it's a ruthless world out there that just doesn't care anymore.
I've typed this out before, and I will type it out again. We NEED to fight back, because I want to be able to walk down the streets in my city, and feel at ease. I don't want to constantly look over my shoulder to check if I'm being followed, or hit groping perverts in crowded streets. My friend fears that my anger and short fuse will get the best of me and will prove to be fatal at the end of the day. But I'd rather go down fighting than letting some creepy asshole get away with it easily.
But seriously tell me, why is this situation getting harder to understand? WAKE. UP. NOW. Or anarchy will prevail.
He asked me how I was going to get to and back from work and I said "Well maybe Ma and Ta (My parents) will let me take the car." and he asked me why I couldn't just use public transport. I replied, saying that some days, I may be late, and it won't be that safe for me to travel alone, using public transport. Why, he asked, and I said, I don't want to get hurt, or even worse, killed. He looked at me dead in the eyes and said "Dee dee, That stuff only happens in the West. It's so much more safer here."
In a way, I am both happy, and disappointed with this revelation. Happy, because my baby brother is shielded from the harsh violence committed by and against our fellow citizens everyday, and disappointed, for the very same reason.
After the horror of the infamous Delhi rape case in December 2012, one would think that the attitude of this nation would soon change. There would be a grand epiphany that would lift our fellow Indians from the darkness and show them that this one case isn't the only crime that has been committed against women over the years.
Oh boy was I wrong.
It makes my blood boil, to see that the number of cases, instead of going down, has shot up. And what's even more shocking, is the fact that these monsters are now targeting young girls. Girls as young as four years old.
I am speechless. I look around me and see so much danger now, lurking in every nook and cranny. Honestly, I'm beginning to get a little too paranoid to do simple things like stepping out of my home and running errands for my mother.
What happened to all those protesting crowds? Those outraged youth of the nation, holding demonstrations in the name of women's rights? What happened to all those laws that were passed so gallantly so that the women feel more protected? Please don't tell me that it was a phase or a passing fad. This isn't a fucking fashion statement or a 'happening thing' that the popular kids are participating in. Has it honestly affected a portion of our vast nation?
I think most of my angry outbursts were spent on a very long telephone call with my friend. I kept telling her how I just wanted to get out there, and defend all of us. We expressed our shock and fear about how we will never feel safe out on open streets, even when we're wearing our baggiest jeans and T-shirts.
And hey! Now we don't even need to fucking worry because the focus has moved on to little kids! I mean, c'mon man, easier targets, a breeze to handle, and they probably won't tell a soul. What's next, little boys? Special needs kids? Oh wait that ALSO happens. Because it's a ruthless world out there that just doesn't care anymore.
I've typed this out before, and I will type it out again. We NEED to fight back, because I want to be able to walk down the streets in my city, and feel at ease. I don't want to constantly look over my shoulder to check if I'm being followed, or hit groping perverts in crowded streets. My friend fears that my anger and short fuse will get the best of me and will prove to be fatal at the end of the day. But I'd rather go down fighting than letting some creepy asshole get away with it easily.
But seriously tell me, why is this situation getting harder to understand? WAKE. UP. NOW. Or anarchy will prevail.
I think you might be seeing very different side of India as compared to what I see. The people around me are extremely paranoid. There isn't much public talk about it but they are extremely paranoid. there is social awakening but there isn't any fruit to it. its lying there..... idly..... in our houses
ReplyDeleteAction: Reaction.
DeleteSit at home and protest: Oh you're being so hypocritical.
Go out there and protest: Stop making all that noise, it's no use.
Take matters into your own hands: Do you want to get yourself killed?!
Sit idly at home pretending to not know the reality of the outside world: Oh she's too daft to understand what's going on.
What to do.
What I personally believe is the main problem is that there is a lack of accountability in India today. There is no fear of the law, because it's really inefficient and ineffective at the moment. Sadly, even the justice system is corrupt in most scenarios, thus people feel they can get away with anything.
DeleteThere's so much red tape-ism, that it takes years for rightful justice to be served. By that time, most people don't even care even more.
It's about time we changed that. Apart from educating our generation to respect our fellow members and making them see their not just objects to satisfy their twisted sexual whims, but actual PEOPLE (in this scenario), we need to strengthen the accountability system in our country. It's important for them to know that they will NOT be able to get away with anything and everything their depraved heart fancies.
Then our protests will see effects. Otherwise they will fall on deaf ears and make our efforts seem worthless. We need a change in our entire system, and maybe then we'll see the difference.
I suppose we'll all go down fighting. I don't think their bad attitude will ever stop. But I'll go down with you and I'll die fighting any number of times. I think we all need our own minor victories to teach some creeps a lesson.
ReplyDelete