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This author expresses her despair on the flesh trade racket busted recently in New Delhi. However, she has hope for a brighter tomorrow.
This author expresses her despair on the flesh trade racket busted in New Delhi recently. However, she has hope for a brighter tomorrow.
A couple of days back, there was news flashing in media channels, concerning a flesh trade racket. The flesh trading racket was busted in a very posh area, of our country’s capital city. It was running and flourishing since 25 years. 25 years! Unnoticed, unseen! Can you believe it? I cannot. More than 5000 girls were pushed in this brothel and were exploited like animals, physically, emotionally and mentally.
They were held captive in a four feet square space, which they called a room. In my words, they were caves, where breathing was heavier than running a family of a dozen, single handedly. Think of the most beautiful place, you have visited in your lifetime. Now you are abandoned, and held captive in a place with no money and no food. Feeling lost. These girls have been undergoing this feeling, since a lifetime. Abandoned, lost, lifeless.
Running a brothel, is a heinous crime in our country. We have heard this numerous times. But what do we do, to help it stop, nothing. Are we unaware of the fact or are we oblivious? A riot of thoughts was storming within me, while watching this news. Anger, helplessness, grieve all in that moment. Later at night, while catching up with some sleep, I drifted in the lanes of those houses shown in the news report. Narrow, dark, suffocating. I heard a voice, muttering, “What will I do if I am free?” The other murmured, “I am clueless”.
It was sad and depressing, yet a tiny touch of optimism was there. “May be, rehabilitation!” said another voice. The first voice echoed, “Who will want us now, family, society, who?” This voice was hopeless, lifeless. She was walking towards the window. “Hey, why are you walking up there? No, you are not deserted or forsaken. There is hope, gather your soul out of this darkness.” I was almost yelling these to her, but no one heard me. No police, no media, nobody.
I woke up drenched, in sweat and tears. I cried my heart out unable to bear the pain of their lifetime, in those few moments of my dream. Soothing myself, I went back to bed, anticipating a better tomorrow. Tomorrow, where such incidents will be just a crime and no question of willingness. Tomorrow, where the exploited will not be looked down upon. Tomorrow, a sunshine tomorrow!
Image Source: Pixabay
A space tech lover, engineer, researcher, an advocate of equal rights, homemaker, mother, blogger, writer and an avid reader. I write to acknowledge my feelings. read more...
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People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
*Some spoilers alert*
Every religion around the world dictates terms to women. The onus is always on women to be ‘modest’ and cover their faces and bodies so men can’t be “tempted”, rather than on men to keep their eyes where they belong and behave like civilized beings. So much so that even rape has been excused on the grounds of women eating chowmein or ‘men will be men’. I think the best Hindi movie retort to this unwanted advice on ‘akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai’ (an alone woman is like an open jewellery box) came from Geet in Jab We Met – Kya aap gyan dene ke paise lete hain kyonki chillar nahin hain mere paas.
The premise of Laapataa Ladies is beautifully simple – two brides clad in the ghunghat that covers their identity get mixed up on a train. Within this Russian Doll, you get a comedy of errors, a story of getting lost, a commentary on patriarchy’s attitude towards women, a mystery, and a tale of finding oneself, all in one. Done with a mostly light touch that has you laughing and nodding along.
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