Going beyond the obvious

Yes, I am late. Very late for this. No, it is not that I have felt it now but the words did not find their way. I even dropped the idea of writing this but reading an incident on it daily has been a trigger to speak it out!

I had earlier shared my take on rapes here. The brutal December case is not yet forgotten and still alive in my mind. I am sure what does the word “rape” means, by now, everyone in Delhi would be knowing – even a teenager and my only fear is that young minds, out of curiosity, may not venture in trying out what it is! Yes, that’s how it is – we accept it or not. Rape in itself is a heinous and disgusting act committed by incompetent and sick men who are losers and do it for the gratification of their BIG ego and to ascertain superiority. Till now had heard of the girls getting targeted and the advice use to be given for the girls – don’t wear certain kind of clothes, don’t venture out at night, be careful when you walk etc etc. BUT BUT the recent case is of 5 YEAR OLD CHILD and also a 13 YEAR OLD GIRL! The b******s have not only degraded in their thinking but also on their age bar of targets! GROSS! 

A 5 year old????? I have a niece of the same age and I get goose bumps to think of it! I mean... the 5 year old victim would not even understand what has happened with her! And when she grows up and realizes it I don’t know how she will cope up with it! The scars of childhood get imprinted in the mind strongly. And where did it happen? In the neighborhood! So does that mean that a child/girl is not safe within the reach of her home? After this incident, the trust on neighbors will fade. I remember as a child, we used to get along well with our neighbors. So much so that we would just cross the terrace n number of times a day to get to each other’s home. Either they would be with us or we with them. My neighbor’s family consisted of Uncle, Aunty, their son who was my age or may be a year younger, whom we called “Pinkoo” and a daughter who was I guess 6-7 years younger to me.  My brother and I would play with pinkoo a lot. Our parents would leave us alone and go. But today, after such incidents, I think parents will not trust the neighbors, especially if they have a daughter. Sad. The basic morality, the trust, the belongingness is fading away. All because of a section of perpetrators in our society.

The incident with the 5 year old is deplorable – but what is worse is the harm done to the child :( I only know what I have read and when I read the way the dreadful act was carried, it made me shudder! How ugly can it get? The rapists now are not only taking a woman’s self respect but damaging the vital organs!! At such tender age! When she has her whole school life remaining yet...school, books, teachers, friends, homework, picnics…I had this “WHY” in my mind. Why are men resorting to it..why is the sensitivity fading away…why is not even a child spared..why don’t they feel guilty while doing it? And the answer came – it’s not them, it’s the mind. I am not supporting any rapists. Yes, they need to be punished. What I am saying is that if we observe closely, such acts have been triggered by some external influence – alcohol, drugs, porn etc. in most of the cases, ALCOHOL. Yes, many rapists have later admitted that they did not realize what they did. Alcohol makes a person loose his sensibilities – the ability to judge right or wrong and then one goes by impulse. With people like Sunny Leone being welcomes in our country, there is increase in porn viewers. And it a natural tendency of when you see it, you want to try it out. So if a person is watching porn and then drinking alcohol, a rape of anyone he sees should follow?

For married men, target may be their wives – YES rapes happen EVEN after marriage! My point is that people are overlooking the real culprit – they are doing protest, agitating, fasting etc – but against the crime and demanding better administration from the government. What about the culprits – Alcohol, drugs and porn?? Why aren’t all the wine and beer shop being targeted? Why aren’t all the pirated CD shops being targeted? The government is at fault in failing to provide good security but what is the guarantee that after the security things will change? Captivating a tiger in a cell is not the solution. The tiger needs to be tamed. Man is becoming a ferocious lustful tiger. Guys, let’s work on the grassroots level. But I am not too sure how many will support. Because even most protesters would be a taker of alcohol or drugs – yes, as they call it, in a sophisticated way. They would be cultured rapist – who don’t do it with their neighbors or anyone who they see standing on the bus stand but with their girlfriends and then of course since it’s done with the consent, it’s not a rape (sic)

I am not too sure if I have been successful in putting my point across clearly. Merely blaming the government won’t help. Society needs to work on other things. A good step that government can take is to introduce spiritual education in slums and factories – free camps for them wherein they do some pranayam, chant and meditate. When the minds will become pure, the rate of such crimes will automatically decrease.

My blessings and prayers for the child. Hope she recovers soon, not only from her physical wounds but the scars which she may be carrying in her heart

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Swati