A Call By Nirbhaya – My Death Deserves A Meaning

Posted: January 26, 2016

Tags:sexism women's bodies

The Nirbhaya incident has moved so many of us, in various ways. Here, the poet gives words to the stifling she feels as a women in a society that acts as the moral police all the time.

16th December.

3 years ago, this day changed the course of my life. So unfortunate that it was a horrific incident that had to bring about the change in me, but the anger has still not died. I had sleepless nights most of January and Feb 2013 because of this. A fellow sister, judged, raped by alcoholics and thrown on the streets, left to die.

What kind of a world are we living in? Why do we judge so much? Who are we to moral police anyone? Why is there a dearth of empathy when it costs nothing to show compassion to a fellow human?

I have to vent my anger. In a positive way. Hence this poem. This applies only to those regressive men and women who moral police and I am not trying to box everyone in that mould. I have come across some amazing men in my life and my life wouldn’t be complete without them. I am trying to be a humanist here. So I request you to read this, with empathy.

Her death should have a meaning. It should signal some change in the positive direction.

My death deserves a meaning

That fateful night, I was cowering with fear,

Holding on to my life, so much so dear,

Praying for help, pleading for mercy,

As I was being punished, for alleged heresy.

Happy smiles, walking hand in hand

Turned brutally bloody in this judgemental land,

Moral monsters, policing in the dark,

Left me engulfed, in terror so stark

Woman, don’t you dare, breach the rule

For your thoughts, are just for us to ridicule,

Stay wrapped up, cross your legs tight,

Don’t dare to open up, even when in delight.

We are your world, we are your people,

We are your society, we render you a cripple,

Live by the rule, love by the rule

Sit by the rule and stand by the rule.

Oh fellow beings, can’t you hear me?

I’m as human, blood and flesh as thee,

Same breed of emotions, running in my veins,

Why is it, only I should hold back the reins?

As I die here, I long for the day,

When girls like me see the light of day.

Laugh and sing, dance and love,

Without having a dagger, dangling from above.

Image source: hands of a woman trapped by Shutterstock.

Malini Gowrishankar

Wanderer. Chatterbox. Enabling women travel at f5escapes.com. Voice-over artist. One angry Indian woman,

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