Are we women less than human?

                           

Are we women less than human?   By DISHA GAHLOT

A Part of me rebels,

A part of me goes in denial mode,

A part of me surrenders,

while a part of me dies every time I witness a case of violence against women.

Women, in different phases of the society, are being tortured for no reason. Are women personified as a pitiable figure? Is it the society's curse for women to be objectified, to be blamed, to be bullied, to be humiliated, to be molested, to be raped,.....to be.....,to be treated less than a human or is it the ignorance of the people of the society who sit and 'watch news in their free time' and fail to do anything about it? If just being aware about what's happening around the world makes you a wise person, then Congratulations,you deserve a noble prize for the surplus knowledge you have in your head about who raped who, when that murder case happened,where that woman was put to fire for not being able to fulfill the dowry demands & how that love life between 'soul mates' turned sour and tore each other into bits and pieces...I mean quite literally!

A country where women have been worshiped as Goddesses for several ages by man & women, old & young, rich & poor alike, makes me ponder if these very people know the essence of worshiping or fake it in the name of it! A two-minute pooja to the divine everyday and 23 hours 58 minutes of verbal and domestic abuse doesn't make a good husband, but a bastard in disguise.Nor does being protective for your own sister/daughter and treating other girls/women as objects of desire make an ideal brother/father in any case.

The December 16,2012 Nirbhaya rape case shook the nation by storm. Everyone expressed their condolences to the family concerned, their respect to the brave-heart & the inner feelings that froze their blood including mine. People protested, people revolted, people ignited, people  united...that did give me a ray of hope that this unfortunate incident might prove out to be detrimental, not  just to the rapists involved in committing the heinous crime but future-potential-rapists as well. I thought that it might be the last act of rape committed by anyone and women across the nation might start living without having veiled themselves with the insecurities that prevail in the society. But then,  I smelled some coffee beans. Good morning to myself! Nothing changed for good. Figures kept increasing and soon Delhi came to be known as 'The rape capital of India'. Sigh! For so many Nirbhayas who die unnatural death, face humiliation and torture for being born with a vagina, I want to ask the government what was really done to stop violence against women and what is the government doing now? Does making mere reforms in the established laws suffice your duty towards society?  Or does opening a Nirbhaya bhawan in Delhi gives inner piece to the women to live life without having to put restrictions on themselves? Does it give a sense of security among women? Reality check. NO!

Why? Largely because of poor implementation of the laws to curb violence against women. As it is said, justice delayed is justice denied and harassment of the victim(by police who registers FIR against rape charges, by her own family/friends, and by everyone at large!) Mind you, while the rapist may tear off the hymen apart, the after-math victimizes her...deep down her soul!

Is the government empowering the criminals or women in the name of empowerment? Recently, a well-known politician issued a statement in favour of rapists that made me wonder, isn't it our fault for electing such people, giving them power to empower ourselves when ironically they depower us. It's like giving a matchstick to a monkey. Who is responsible? Lets play the blame game.We have played it time and again when the country has made headlines with 'Breaking news'. Let it be one more time!

The government? The society? The NGOs? The illiterate? The literate? Who?

Everyone at large. Each of us have contributed our bit in shaping these crimes. For we elect the government, we are a part of society, we work in NGOs, our  moral conscience is dead and illiterate but we have have a degree to hold on to that saves us and declares us as the educated lot. So yes! Voila! .We wear multiple hats yet sit like a nin-com-poop when it comes to doing something for the security of women.

These inhuman practices prevail not just in a particular age group but have endowed themselves in all walks of life covering all age groups.When an innocent girl is denied her first & foremost right...RIGHT TO LIVE (courtesy: female infanticide),it leaves a deep void inside me...hearing the unfortunate happen every now and then.Are the children pension plans that we differentiate between girls & guys and choose those with higher returns?!

While my mind asks me these questions everyday I read here and there about crimes against women,I give a superficial pampering to myself and say....but you are safe!Yes.That's exactly the attitude of the society."Our "girl should be safe.Why care about others?When this "your and mine attitude" will diminish and we start having a sense of belongingness with every being on earth,start respecting all forms of life,start educating the Y chromosome to respect women at a young age,start being responsible to take the right action at the right time...do we form a society that is free of these crimes,...that makes it an ideal society.

The real victory is when we don't just celebrate "Women's Day" to remind ourselves as a set of minority community that needs a special mention in the calendar but make it a lifelong celebration.

A celebration to empower women.

A celebration to security.

A celebration to inner-peace.

A celebration to mankind.

A celebration to self.

That's called a true celebration.For a celebration is in celebrating the essence of our own being....Being human.

With regards,

A girl who wants to live with dignity and respect,

A girl who is saturated with these crime reports,

A girl who is still hopeful for a better future...a better society...a better India...for women.