Contusions: Summing another feeble

Referring back to couple of articles in the newspaper, magazines and television shows, has undoubtedly grimed my outlook at our existing judicial system and maintenance of law and order within the country. My learning is, however good a nation is, be it developed, developing or under-developed, the bead which strings them together is the worst form of savage treatment on women – Rape. With laws being revised and many organizations formed to protect the so called weaker sex, there haven’t been any salient changes. Women have always been tortured, tormented and cannibalized in the past, the present and the trend seems to have no end. Future is far away with dim hopes of a candescent life. From a young age, I have been told about the harsh realities of life. Articles in newspapers, talks with peers and lectures by teachers, opened a gateway to the insecurities faced by woman. Age doesn’t restrict any form of attack here especially when it comes to rape. Endless articles on minors from 2-3 yrs old toddlers to a 70 yr old woman, the bottom line is ‘it’s always a woman’, raped again and again and again. They are cornered, abducted, beaten, raped (several times by one or group of men) and murdered or simply thrown into prostitution. For a 2 year old, a life which should have started in the arms of a nursing and caring mother, begins with physical abuse ‘growing’ as the ‘little she’ grows, teen ages and withers into a young woman thriving on peanuts given by those who own her, sell her. Marriage is a taboo or a magical word in a fairy land of the strong with her abandoning the quest for a long lost soul forever. She dies without earning an ounce of happiness or love, seeing many of her little counterparts following the very path. Years back on one summer vacation in Bhopal introduced the term “Rape” in my fragile mind. A drunken father rapes his teenage daughter after his wife left for the market. On coming back home, the mother finds her husband outside, sitting in front of the house, only to see a horrid sight of her daughter hanging from a fan. Then there was another story of a nun being brutally harassed and gang raped in Bareilly. The worst which hit me was the rape and murder of 2 kids in Delhi. It was this story that stalled me from seeking help from strangers. The children, a boy and girl scheduled for a radio show in Delhi, took lift from 2 men in an Ambassador. Little did they know that this day was going to be their last. A frantic search throughout the city was followed by many supporters from the school, finally leading to the culprits. When questioned about the event, it was found that the children were taken to a forest, raped and murdered with multiple stabs by a knife in the body. Imagine looking at a site with your child lying naked, bruised, stabbed multiple times, raped god knows how many times, with blood smearing the entire space. I believe it was the first time, the Indian court allowed anyone (parents) to watch a prosecution and death of those (culprits) who had taken away their life (children).
The serial Bhanvar on Sony reflected stories long forgotten like the serial now. Most endings would be with ‘awaiting decision’ or ‘granted bail’. We have the Rucha’s, Priyadarshini, Jessica lals… What’s the bloody point? Justice has been compromised and denied in all cases to those who underwent the misery, who are now no longer with us, having a circle of loved ones continuing a battle of justice. The families have nothing but a bleak hope, for how long, is a question. Reality Check: Did you know that a rape convict is sentenced to only 7 years of imprisonment? Is this justifiable? Is 7 years enough to minutes or days of physical and mental pain? Is the 7 years enough for the bruise to heal or the scars to vanish? Is the 7 years enough for the every minute spent in a dark room or a cornered room where sleep is nothing but a nightmare? Is 7 years enough for the agony of her fragile mind and crushed soul, who wonders if anyone is lurking around to strike bad, and if she will be able to come out of that flight if caught? Is the 7 years enough to a rain of tears, anger, hatred, worthlessness or immense trepidation? Is the 7 years enough for those attached to the victim to help her out of it? Is the 7 years really enough? How many women are able to come out of it? Do all live a happy or a normal life? Are they able to trust a man however genuine he may be? Do they battle out their fears by coming out in the open with heads held high, lit with confidence and strength? How does the society treat or accept them? Are they given a second chance like marriage? What goes through their vein on hearing about another raped girl? How far are they able to trust the police or law in general? What runs in their grey matter or retina on the thought or sight of their convict being released after 7 years or bailed or worse, allowed to wander freely due to lack of evidence? Does this kind of act taken seriously by those running our country? Many questions are still unanswered ….. My question: Would death penalty stop the lustful eyes from committing a sin, a sin of taking a childhood, a sin of remorse of being born as a woman and a sin of being feeble by a woman, would it really put a stop to it? When we have a death penalty for killing someone, stealing someone’s right to life, why is that different from a rape? Why aren’t the rapists tortured, circumcised or allowed to hang from a ceiling till their last breath? Why isn’t rape considered a crime, a serious offense or a sin? It’s time when people take this seriously. We don’t want any more women pleading for help or justice; neither do we want them to yelp for equality or freedom. We have rights to a life of choice not hovered by masks of rummaging eyes. We need to treat the very inchoate thoughts, with a strike of stronger laws, power and outcast the deemed famished eaters of flesh. Think about it!!!