Respect Women!

December 16, 2011. Munirka a neighborhood in South Delhi witnessed a horrific incident. A 23
year old woman was beaten and gang raped by a group of six perverts. She fought valiantly for
13 days before she succumbed to the severe injuries and agonizing pain she has suffered. Even
after 2 years, the thought of this episode sends shock through the spine. The inhumane treatment
she and her friend who accompanied her received on that fatal day was widely condemned world
over. There were angry protests and demonstrations demanding safety to Indian women. Many
believed it would reform our seemingly spineless system. But after a lot of media circus and tea
table chats, the news lost its charm and people moved on. But has anything changed ever since?
NO!! In fact reports say there has been 500 percent jump in such crimes post the incident.

I forgot the last time I read a newspaper where there wasnt a report on woman abuse. I am
ashamed that I live in a world where women are considered mere materials. Toddlers to senior
citizen are victims of rape and harassment at the hands of men. She isnt safe even with people
who are supposed to protect her; be it her father, brother, uncle, husband or friend and this is one
area where rich is as helpless as poor.

The perpetrators are growing more and more courageous. The Judicial system has proved to be
too rigid for its own good. It says that a boy old enough to rape a 23 old is not old enough to go
to jail. There are too many factors to be considered to punish a rapist. This is absurd for
commoner like me. Number of cases where the guilty is punished is too less to send a message.

The Indian society is largely male chauvinistic. It denigrates women in the belief that they are
inferior to men. The idea of women being such lowly creatures encourages men to do any sort of
atrocities against them. Number of cases registered for crime against women seems too big, but
the sad part is that not all women have the courage to come out and speak as yet. The actual
number must be double or much more.

The daily dose of news reports has made us hardened to such crimes. But I hope it doesnt
become an accepted way of life like corruption. The societys entrenched resistance to change
has made any reforms difficult to implement. But slow death or morals and value in passing
generations has to be arrested to avoid catastrophic results in future. Protecting women should be
followed as a religion, irrespective of caste, colour and creed not mere duty just to the loved ones
or discriminating importance.