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The 2012 Delhi gang-rape shook the nation to its core and had mothers worrying about their daughters. Who will bring about a change, asks this mother.
It was a cold and sombre night when a 23-year-old girl stepped out with her friend to watch a movie, never to return back. Little did she know, that wintry night would be her last.
Yes, you might have guessed that I am talking of the horrific gang rape of 16th December 2012 that shook the entire country. The one that raised questions on the thought process of the men of our country.
It was widely discussed both in India as well as abroad further tarnishing our image as a country. A country is more known by its people than geographical boundaries, culture or heritage.
More shocking was when rapists successfully twisted the arms of law by postponing the execution dates not once, but twice. This is the justice received by the family of the victim after fighting for seven long years.
Candle marches, nationwide protests, onscreen as well as off-screen debates led to nothing. The rarest of the rare case saw no amendments in juvenile crime lawyer who not only raped but did something so heinous that I dread to think, read or even imagine.
We all slept over this case, till recently it resurfaced before us through media. Probably only one woman who did not give up her fight, was Nirbhaya’s mother. I believe, mothers never give up on their children.
I, too, woke up when I saw the heart-wrenching video of Nirbhaya’s mother on the scheduled hanging day. Her tears had dried up over the years of struggle and fight for justice but she stood there, strong as a rock to fight till her last breath.
Her daughter fought for nearly a fortnight as she had the will to live, maybe not for herself, but for her parents. For no fault of hers, she was lying on a bed in a vegetative state. Was it her fault that she resisted the assault and fought back every minute without the fear of being beaten up or even killed?
I believe, that’s what woman are built of. We know how to rise like phoenix from the ashes. Nature has embedded the ‘never to give-up’ attitude deep within us. We are safe neither in our homes nor in our country. Everybody talks about the incidents, abuse, domestic violence but no one talks about the change that needs to be brought about.
The Nirbhaya incident should have been the last gang rape recorded. But to everyone’s utter dismay, more cases surfaced from various parts of the country in recent past. Women of influential and highly-educated background were also not being spared.
Nirbhaya incident and many more horrific incidents have transformed me from a carefree girl to a worried mother.
Today, I am the woman who fears for her daughter in school. And whenever she steps out.
Today, I am that woman who fears to step out late in the night.
Today, I am also that woman who reads about atrocities on a woman daily.
I am also the woman who has to teach her 3-year-old twins, the good and bad touch.
Today I am an anxious mother if the school bus is even a minute late.
And today, I am a suspicious aunt who assures her daughter is safe even when she is playing with her cousin.
Today, have I become a mother who worries more than usual? Probably, YES.
Or is it the incidents around me taking a toll.
Today I am that woman who desperately wants a CHANGE.
To break free from the shackles of fear.
But who will bell the cat to bring the CHANGE?
Should I wait for a man to come in a shining Armour to slay all my fears?
Or be that Woman to bring change?
Here, I join the hands with the mothers of the fearless to take a pledge to bring that Change.
We were enough crushed and trampled, not only our dreams but our identities too.
Time has come for the change.
Us, mothers, take the Onus of bringing Change by raising our Sons and daughters,
EQUAL and RIGHT.
Womanhood can only be celebrated in its true spirits when we don’t give up our fight. Don’t accept being crushed but rise like a phoenix from the ashes.
Hope 3rd March 2020 brings a new Dawn in the chapter of justice and finally, Nirbhaya gets it.
Update: When the article was submitted, the rapists of the Delhi Gang-rape were still awaiting execution. They were finally executed on March 20, 2020 at 5:30 am IST.
Picture credits: Pexels
Mommy of two tiny tots, an ex Banker by profession. Passionate Odissi and Kathak dancer. Painter in leisure hours, a chirpy girl by heart . 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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