We are fast approaching 15th August, India's Independence Day. It's that day of the year when everyone dresses up in orange, green and white to show national pride. Schools and college and institutions organize functions to sing patriotic songs and think about the wars we fought to gain this independence.
I memorized Jawaharlal Nehru's speech for a recitation competition in 5th grade, and I still remember the lines,
"At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes which comes rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance."
10 years back, I did not realize what these words meant. I memorized them because I wanted that gold medal. Oftentimes when I repeat the speech to myself after all these years, I find significance in every word.
66 years and what do we have to show for it? A society where a woman cannot do as she pleases? A society where political organizations interpret religion in a way that supports whatever they do? Or a society where men hit women because it is "against our culture" to wear skirts and jeans but it is in our culture to slap a woman ?
I say this again and again, what is the point of a society where men become animals with each day that we move forward. A society whose male population consists of people who do not have a conscience because it is perfectly acceptable for a group of 15-20 men to molest one woman in public. Men like these have tarnished the reputation of a country known for its rich culture, history and diversity. From a country where people from all over the world came to visit famous ashrams and to experience it's mysteries, we have become a country where no woman is safe. That same woman who is said to be the "shakti" that keeps the universe going. That same woman who we worship during Durga Puja, Navratri, Diwali and numerous other Indian festivals.
I watched the video "No country for women" some 3 days back. It disturbed me so much I couldn't sleep that night. After I finished watching the video, that if I felt helpless after a 14 minute video, what must these women have gone through! If a video shook me up so much, what would this one incident have done to these women.
We live in a country where the police couldn't care less. The rationale that men will be men and women should be more careful is so ridiculous that if anyone ever uses that argument with me, it would incite me to hit them. Often people make fun of me because I talk too much like a feminist and have extreme views. At least I have the confidence to say it out loud. What are you doing about it? Either you support the issue or you don't. Your silence shows that you are like the India police, because you couldn't care less.
To the people who don't care, god forbid something like this happens to someone close to you, are you going to not care then too? Then you will be the first one to get up and declare that you will go and kill those people. Stop being a hypocrite.
Kennan and Reuben were killed because they wanted to protect the girls with them from eve teasers. The parents of a girl were killed because they wanted to protect their 13-year old daughter from men "wanting her for the night only". 16 year old Ansh was killed because he told a classmate to stop bothering his friend. Women were hit and practically molested in a pub in Mangalore because certain men thought it was inappropriate for them to be there. Mind you, their families didn't mind, but these men did. Teenage girls were molested and the boys stripped at a small personal party in Mangalore because a certain political outfit thought it was inappropriate and against our culture. And again, mind you, these were just strange men who go around flaunting Indian culture and hinduism in everyone's faces because our culture teaches us to slap a girl and molest her because she's just having fun.
Ask this question, 66 years of freedom and we don't even have a society where everyone can feel safe. We have nothing to show for these years of freedom. Oh yes, I forget the corruption and bureaucracy and all that political bullshit.
I was considering buying a pepper spray just because my college campus is kind of empty during the summer and it's always better to be cautious. After reading all this, sitting some 24 hours away from my country, I think regardless of whether I buy it or not right now, I will definitely have one the next time when I go home.
I memorized Jawaharlal Nehru's speech for a recitation competition in 5th grade, and I still remember the lines,
"At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes which comes rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance."
10 years back, I did not realize what these words meant. I memorized them because I wanted that gold medal. Oftentimes when I repeat the speech to myself after all these years, I find significance in every word.
66 years and what do we have to show for it? A society where a woman cannot do as she pleases? A society where political organizations interpret religion in a way that supports whatever they do? Or a society where men hit women because it is "against our culture" to wear skirts and jeans but it is in our culture to slap a woman ?
I say this again and again, what is the point of a society where men become animals with each day that we move forward. A society whose male population consists of people who do not have a conscience because it is perfectly acceptable for a group of 15-20 men to molest one woman in public. Men like these have tarnished the reputation of a country known for its rich culture, history and diversity. From a country where people from all over the world came to visit famous ashrams and to experience it's mysteries, we have become a country where no woman is safe. That same woman who is said to be the "shakti" that keeps the universe going. That same woman who we worship during Durga Puja, Navratri, Diwali and numerous other Indian festivals.
I watched the video "No country for women" some 3 days back. It disturbed me so much I couldn't sleep that night. After I finished watching the video, that if I felt helpless after a 14 minute video, what must these women have gone through! If a video shook me up so much, what would this one incident have done to these women.
We live in a country where the police couldn't care less. The rationale that men will be men and women should be more careful is so ridiculous that if anyone ever uses that argument with me, it would incite me to hit them. Often people make fun of me because I talk too much like a feminist and have extreme views. At least I have the confidence to say it out loud. What are you doing about it? Either you support the issue or you don't. Your silence shows that you are like the India police, because you couldn't care less.
To the people who don't care, god forbid something like this happens to someone close to you, are you going to not care then too? Then you will be the first one to get up and declare that you will go and kill those people. Stop being a hypocrite.
Kennan and Reuben were killed because they wanted to protect the girls with them from eve teasers. The parents of a girl were killed because they wanted to protect their 13-year old daughter from men "wanting her for the night only". 16 year old Ansh was killed because he told a classmate to stop bothering his friend. Women were hit and practically molested in a pub in Mangalore because certain men thought it was inappropriate for them to be there. Mind you, their families didn't mind, but these men did. Teenage girls were molested and the boys stripped at a small personal party in Mangalore because a certain political outfit thought it was inappropriate and against our culture. And again, mind you, these were just strange men who go around flaunting Indian culture and hinduism in everyone's faces because our culture teaches us to slap a girl and molest her because she's just having fun.
Ask this question, 66 years of freedom and we don't even have a society where everyone can feel safe. We have nothing to show for these years of freedom. Oh yes, I forget the corruption and bureaucracy and all that political bullshit.
I was considering buying a pepper spray just because my college campus is kind of empty during the summer and it's always better to be cautious. After reading all this, sitting some 24 hours away from my country, I think regardless of whether I buy it or not right now, I will definitely have one the next time when I go home.
u dont write often, but when u do, u leave a huge impact on the reader's mind. i absolutely agree to what you say. the country has changed but the change is slow... extremely slow. may our kids see a better future.
ReplyDeletecheers!
-kunj
kohllined.blogspot.in
u dont write often, but when u do, u leave a huge impact on the reader's mind. i absolutely agree to what you say. the country has changed but the change is slow... extremely slow. may our kids see a better future.
ReplyDeletecheers!
-kunj
kohllined.blogspot.in
thank you :) i try my best!
ReplyDelete