I was visiting Red Fort with my sister and husband for a light and sound show in 2013, late evening. When suddenly out of nowhere I remembered that the road right across the Fort was one of the routes that dreaded Nirbhaya bus had taken, when she was being raped inside.
And before I could even collect my senses, I had started crying. Only person who saw that was my husband and perhaps out of some strange telepathy he understood what had run through my mind.
He gave me a quiet hug and let my tears flow for next few minutes. And all of this, while I saw my sister hop, skip and jump on the side where she was buying some eatables for us. That was the fear, always. Nirbhaya case brought my worst fears to life, I can protect myself but what about my sister? (My hands shook while typing that)
And today too, even a mention of that case can zone me out for a few hours. In the middle of the night through random thoughts, details of that case come flooding back – and only a cup of chai can bring me back to sanity. Often, I make my head think of happy memories from my childhood with mom to calm my senses.
It was also one of the cases that put the final nail on UPA 2 government. Thousands like me, took to internet and streets to vent their anger which finally overflowed in votes as well.
Yesterday though, a woman accused BJP MLA from Unnao of gangrape. Forget arresting that person, police refused to even file an FIR. Not to get political, but with as much as a single complaint, AAP leaders have been thrown behind bars in rather swift action from Police.
It further led her to attempt suicide outside CM house, demanding justice. But she was saved. Only to finally watch her own father die in police custody. Her father was arrested by Unnao police and allegedly goons of MLA were sent inside jail to thrash him.
This woman, lost her dignity, her right to justice and her father all in one go. And while all of this was happening – what stunned me beyond disbelief was that there were thousands of us who had taken to internet and streets to speak against the Nirbhaya case and treatment of conviction that followed. This time, a mere handful of those thousands raised their voice.
The stunned silence from rest, reeked of biases that do not encompass humanity.
But. If this was not enough. Kathua (in J&K) saw brutal gang-rape and murder of an 8 year old. DNA tests have revealed she was raped over a few days inside a TEMPLE.
While this may have violated your senses a bit, there is more. The accused is a State Police officer who had carried out this heinous crime to give a signal of fear & intimidation against Muslim community. Does that shock you still?
Oh there is a lot more. Hindu Ekta Morcha took out a rally involving two Ministers from BJP in support of…. ACCUSED. They have vandalised court procedures and police investigation – ensuring chargesheet is not filed and demanding accused be released immediately.
I looked around, again I saw off the thousands who had spoken against Nirbhaya, many were quiet.
Today after a long time, I felt defeated. I felt like I was a fool to believe that when I raised my voice against UPA2 I did it for my nation, my country. That I was hoping for a better future of same.
When actually, they all had an ulterior motive. A motive to safeguard their community and those who appeased them.
What do we tell our little ones? How long can our silence remain the weapon of oppressor?
The 8 Year Old from Kathua
Considering the apathy that followed and the continuing rapes , it would seem that the anger after Nirbhaya was politically motivated.
Sadly this social evil will have no end unless ALL people genuinely believe that women are to be respected and that any kind of abuse is a moral sin.
All that we can do is continuously bring to the human consciousness the horror of this crime so that at least ONE DAY it will stop.
Apathy and this general disgard for anything that doesn’t concern them is what has eaten away our country. I didn’t know about Kathua and it has brought back those horrible feelings that I felt during Nirbhaya’s case.
Everything in our country seems media controlled and politically motivated.
But what we can do is to keep raising our voice and stay true to our ideals.
I don’t have words Richa, my heart cries bitterly and is torn to pieces hearing of the little one. Wish I could shoot the monsters.
But the fact is I am practically doing nothing about it except for teaching my son how heinous a thing it is and trying to safe gaurd the future of our nation but is that enough??
You have touched the cord Richa, I get goosebumps every morning scrolling through superfast 20 news/ fatafat news/ breaking news. It mostly have either minor girls getting raped, husband murdering wives or son killing mother.
Humility and humanity has left us long back, and since the time these politicians have started running our country on their whims and fancies everything stooped so low.
We don’t have time to raise tough questions to these so called administrators, but at the same time bicker over GST or Taxes. My question to everyone is – If we are paying SALARY (read taxes) to government, let us ask some tough questions too.
We want to do so many things, but either lack courage or idea. That’s the reason vent out all frustration on Twitter.
Whom to trust and whom not to. As there is the election atmosphere persistent in our country, nothing gets resolved. And everything favours the one in power, criminal or not. These incidents are shaming, terrifying, and how powerless and vulnerable are the victims. The so called protectors, ie police, oppress and kill a man in custody.
Instead a sentimental statement it is well planned hate writing and only trying to accused whom you don’t like.
Good luck
Off course now also you are doing politics over the jammu rape issue. You don’t see any rapes done by muslims across India and portray the way you did in this case. R u hypocrite?? Yes. R u communal ??? yes. do u support discrimination against hindus ??? yes. because you don’t believe of trial of hindu victim i guess. you are dancing on the hand of zihadis ??? yes.
at last let me tell you i am not any from any it cell i am normal indian living in India and came to know about your tweet when raveen mam highlighted it.
you manipulated it hindu ekta much was demanding cbi inquiry they were not supporting accused. how shameless you media person are??? spreading lies….. no wonder why you people are the part of world most corrupted institution known as Indian media.
I cannot even vocalise the terror and anger I felt after the Nirbhaya case. After all those protests from all of us, really felt like there will be a change. But more and more cases kept on reporting. And in a way, I genuinely lost hope that anything will change. But as you said, we need to raise our voice, our strength and our hopes or else our daughters won’t be safe even for a day after their birth.