Aren’t Women Humans?

F irst, justice came 19 years later, in the Ruchika case. Second, what is the punishment for molesting and leading a young bright girl to commit suicide at the tender age of 18? A mere six months jail. Isn’t this too much now? Every Indian should sit up and question himself now! What society are we living in? A rapist, a molester walks around freely with his head held high and the poor victim is further victimised directly and indirectly till she commits suicide! Why?

Everyday the newspaper carries at least one rape case, every second day an abandoned girl child, every third day some dowry harassment case.  It’s frustrating and disgusting! Somewhere a married celebrity goes about enjoying with any woman he meets; at other place a woman is killed because she was pressurizing her so-called lover to marry! Why do such things happen always with women? What has happened to Indian men? Aren’t women humans like them? Don’t they have feelings? Even animals and plants can feel. But…. Unfortunately men can’t! I find it difficult to read the details of a rape/molestation case, but I have to read the circumstances leading to the rape. Because being a woman myself, I have to be on my guard 24 hrs. a day and 365 days of the year. Following the recent cases, being married, dressing decently  or having crossed a certain adult age does not matter for the evil minded. Foreign tourists well above fifty too are raped.

I used to think, may be it’s a transition period in India, brought after the globalization of the economy in the nineties decade. The sudden exposure to the free western culture left the Indian community shocked, thrilled and confused all at the same time. Cultured, educated people tread cautiously relying on their strong educated foundation and gradually sailed through. But the less educated? They are the ones committing most of the crimes against women. While the women of their household are all dressed traditionally covered, the outside world is bombarded with pictures, movies, videos of women dressed obscenely, igniting their fantasies. Secondly, men are also facing the challenge women are posing in every field. Certain inferiority complex has crept in. The men are clueless about their own age old identity of always being the stronger gender. I don’t understand how can these people worship Durga, Kaali, Laxmi and Saraswati, when they look down on their own female neighbors, colleagues, wives, even friends? When we talk of the less educated, we generally picture the lower strata of society. What about the Shiney Ahuja and Tiger Woods case? There are poorly educated people even among the neo-rich, who put money, drinks, women all on the same platform.

What we badly need today is not just higher literacy, but we need a higher standard of education; education that teaches respect for fellow human- beings. There is still some hope left because actresses like Mallika Sherawat are rejected by people soon. So may be we will see a better, safe and respectful future as education and prosperity widens in the society. Till then, may the Goddesses protect the women on Earth!

Photo Credit : JusSri