Yay !!!! Back to slumber time !!!

Flashing news on the incompetence of Indian law in nabbing criminals has once again been the highlight of many news channels. As each day brings more news on our frail system and top notch corruption, my understanding has led to ponder if the common person is taken for a dummy. Latest eye-catcher was of course the Aarushi case, death of a 14yr teenager in 2008.

BI:
What lit this case were a number of accusations by the police, then CBI, to prove the law wasn’t sleeping. The young girl named Aarushi Talwar was alone at home when her dentist parents left for a party. On their return, they did not check on her that night and went off to bed. Next morning of course, was a shocker when they discovered her dead body. The list of accusations started from the house servant of Nepalese origin whose body was found on the terrace, the next day; the parents as they ‘it seems’ had found their daughter and servant in a compromising situation; peers of the servant and so on….. Finally, the CBI spills out its beans – they didn’t have any suspects and no one to accuse. Phew!!!

It is disappointing and fulsome to find you cannot find a culprit even with an enormous change in technology, DNA & fingerprinting methods and many more. While I watch serials like CID, CSI and others where justice always prevails in the end, the reality is quite the contrary. Then again, I remind myself over and over again on the zillions of cases which are pending in court, cases of innocents being thrown behind the bars, cases of criminals walking free after spending few years in prison or granted bail only to find them free forever because “someone” did not collect enough evidence. Towards the rotten end, all I could do was, pen down my thoughts here.

Question: If you had to change something about the law and order or want to talk in general about it, or would like to share your views on this case, feel free to post your comments here.

You break you lose, you fight you win!!!

I am a person like you. I love everything life is offering me, the warmth of my parents, supporting kinship of my siblings, chit-chattering with peers and the love or hope of the love of that x person I am destined to be with. The joy of being free from insecurities, the feeling of a fleeting eagle in higher skies looking at all the miniature dwellers around me, the changing weather from sparkling droplets of water to golden rays of sun peeping through groups of white cloud, the patterns of frequency from the early chirps of a sparrow nearby to the hip-hops or pop, the changing life from manual to electronic to liberation, so many more…. just rekindles the joy of being alive and being me!

With curious eyes, I watch and learn books of knowledge through text, wisdom and experience. The pumping heart within skips not just one, but many beats to find something new, a new meaning in life or a new adventure. There is so much to see, absorb and execute but I realize that I am not entitled to deliver anything, shine amidst the hundreds of power who overcast their dominance by sheer actions and/or verbs. I am in a world of hypocrisy and nothing can be done even when the revolution ‘MODERNIZATION’ has begun! Soon, I find my name to a list of age old cases of physical abuse and harassment.

Am I to trust you or can I trust you? Years of being together can suddenly stomp your trust. People around you look like vultures lining to scavenge your tiny self. Those known to you are the ones to pierce your soul in ambush and you thought you know everything so well!!! Trusting strangers has been a cause of concern but why those who you know? Was it something in me that steered a reaction of lustful strike of seconds or minutes? Where did I falter in exhibiting my emotions? Everyone around seem to think I initiated this or point a finger on my face or is it simply because I am a woman. It’s a slap on my integrity without attributing an ounce of scorn to the one who imbibed this feeling. I see two sets of people talking about me pretending that nothing has happened, as if I wasn’t the topic of discussion. What they don’t see is that I can see them too. Their actions are evident. While one set empathizes my current state of mind and experience, others mock at it. I am no more than a scoop never to die out as this will linger onto my existence till the very end. Forgetting it will not be easy as no one really wants me to forget. Why don’t they see what you give others comes back in a bigger form? Not that I would like anyone to go through the same but if you cannot sympathize or empathize a victim of harassment, don’t judge them and hit them daily with your questioning eyes. I am all alone right now. This is my battle and I understand it but I have not given anyone the rights to speak on my behalf. Moreover to all those who think I can be overpowered with your taunts, I will not back down.

I might have lost something ‘that day’ but gained a fresher outlook of confidence and strength today. I am a much wealthier person of power. To those who dismiss my agony through their ill attitude, well I am very much in control here. My dignity is very VERY much retained as it was and it is you who has lost it on my journey. Still, even to the one who brought this to me and to you all, I forgive you and pity you. You did not break me but made me the ‘ameliorated me’. I still have my family, close friends and all those who matter or whom I matter to, with me.

Watch out for the best now... here I come!!!

(This is dedicated to one of my dear friend who has been an inspiration to women of harassment. The one day of pain and humiliation has not put her down. She continues to fight her battle and we are all proud of her. If you have been hurt, don’t give up. Life is too precious to exhaust it. You are not alone and taking a tragic step will leave your parents living a meaningless life. Just don’t give up!!!)

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!!!

Knowing the Unknown

How often do you come across the word ‘Spastic’ or do you see a ‘Spastic Child or Individual’? What makes them different from us and how are they able to sustain in a competitive world of emerging technologies and culture shifts?

On a recent visit to the ‘Spastics Society of Tamil Nadu’ on 21st September, 2010, I was introduced to the ‘World of Unknown’. Located in the capital of Tamil Nadu, this non-government school is run for individuals with various conditions like ‘Cerebral palsy’ and ‘multiple disability’ impairing the functioning of one or multiple parts of the human body.


A daily routing of the school involves an imperative yoga session every morning. Noticeable amongst these children are the very reason for their existence, their mothers. ‘Mothers’ are the most beautiful creation by God and yes, no one can love you more than her. True to what’s being said about them, they come to the school daily, help their children - exercise, sit, walk, play, study, showering their undying and unconditional love with pure dedication and most importantly ‘patience’. Caring a physically or mentally challenged child itself is a challenge and those dedicating their lives to empowering and ameliorating the lives of those affected are commendable. To ponder on what will happen to these children is a puzzle. With life being tough as it is, losing your only support would be devastating but then, will they be able to understand it?


Living with a mission to make each admitted child independent, the school provides programs on making paper bags, clothes, candles, writing, typing and so on to earn a decent amount for survival against the evermore hungry ‘normal’ individuals. While we want to earn more money to invest on buying lands, homes, cars and all the expenses of the so-called high class, a challenged individual has nothing to think or desire. If you were to ask them about what is money, love, greed, manipulation, all you can get is a simple look with a smile or absolutely nothing. This is why I have said ‘Knowing the unknown’ as in the simplest of terms, it is just knowing a person unknown to the realities and cruelties of life.

With a mind like a bird flying in the open sky, free from all the burdens and cravings of the material life, all they ever want and think is something what you can never think of. I on the other hand feel life has been blissful in the cruelest form. Heading back home on sharing my experience with my loved ones, I asked myself ‘what will I do if I was like those mothers’, ‘what life has in store for me’, ‘will I be a winner or a loser’, till few lines at the school struck my mind – ‘The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but we wait so long to begin it’. Whatever life has in store for me, I won’t give in so easily.