BYE 2014 AND WELCOME 2015.There is this din and noise all around.Why not leave it behind and let us ponder over the burning topic of the yester year -the position of women in independent India.Let us see how much has the sacrifice of Damini awakened India?How much has the public reaction to assault on Damini awakened the government?And you will just scratch your head.
Nothing much has changed.There is only one silver lining that more and more people have started to come forward to report the matter.Even today little girls are being raped,young women are being raped, middle aged women are being targetted and so are the senior women even- the most respected dadies and nanies. And who are the criminals? The rapist can be the person living next door,your close relative,someone in your contacts, a cop, a driver, your teacher, your boss and any one and every one.WHERE are women safe?
There are fast track courts.They are working but what when the victim is threatenedAnd she is terrified and refuses to recognize the culprit?What when the cops make a weak case and the case cannot stand the scrutiny of the court?Good intentions of a few persons cannot overpower the bad mentality of the majority.Then what to do?
Some of those who matter in the corridors of power give such statements that put the girls/women inthe dock.When there are protests , they say sorry and withdraw the statements.But by that time the damage had been done.Some object to the wearing of jeans or using the mobiles -something rubbish in this age, but none wants the boys to be reprimanded, to be taught to respect the women. And this is all because we have a male dominated society and majority who dominate and make their voice heard are still in the pre-independense era.Those whose voice is heard through media often matter and they themselves are often so so backward- minded that one feels ashamed
Many a times I feel that all tbis publicity about the status of women in India is more of just a publicity-some for getting votes and some for showing to the world that we are advanced and cultured. One person gives a biased statement ,NGOs condemn,media cries, opposition condemns and then tne din dies. No action is visible. Even tha opposition is just taking milage, wants to harvest some gains from the folly of the speaker.
Girls! Get up. Women! Get up. Get up to save your mothers, sisters and daughters. Ours is a country where folk lores of Jhani ki Rani Laxmi Bai are still read in the schools. We are in need of Laxmi Bais.Whenever there is a statement contrary to our freedom or our respect,get up and make such a hue and cry that all shouldrealize the truth in you. If a girl is raped, give her all your support.The girl who is raped is not at fault.It is the sickness of our minds that the victim faces the humiliation. If a boy is beaten or even assaulted, nobody blames the boy, then why the girl?
One thing is very important. Take care of yourself.If you are travelling late,be careful not to travel in a lonely bus or taxi. Safety saves.Dress up according to the area where you live. Learn martial arts to save yourself and the others like you.Be bold . Keep chilli spray and other things in your bag. Learn to help each others -a quality which our society is fast losing. Be alert about your surroundings. Love thyself. Love thy neighbour . One thing more -if you find a girl taking advantage of being a girl, expose her as well and teach her a lesson.
