When people have borne the pain of living in a place governed by an insensitive government, they revolt. In a democracy where people are given the right to speak for themselves, a few hundred people, mostly youngsters are embroiled in a sea of empathy towards a girl who was gang-raped in a moving bus in the heart of the country - the Capital of the country. There were cries for justice. On the first day youngsters protested peacefully and the anger of the of the protesters seemed channelized. The second morning massive police deployement at the India gate stopped youngsters from protesting there and the protesters were beaten up by the police. Young girls scuttled under the bus so they wouldn't get carried away by the police and the scenes which were captured on camera shook the entire nation. I cried. Who wouldn't?
The young girls who are harassed almost every day of their lives cried out for justice and bore the lathicharge bravely. Their resolve to fight for their rights was so strong that the momentary pain of the blow of the police lathis didn't deter them. The water cannons couldn't douse the the fire that burnt within the protesters. Men and women and children of all ages had been united for a cause -- a cause so just and yet so bitterly avoided(by the politicians). Women leaders from across party lines voiced their opinions at the horrendous act of the gang that had the audacity to rape and torture a woman. The surprising part was that most men preferred to keep their views to themselves. Men are clearly ashamed as they know where their thoughts move and at what pace!!
Peace marches ended and then a spate of comments from the likes of the RSS chief to Asaram and a few like minded misogynists, who have forgotten they entered the world through a passage of painful convulsions. Oh! did I forget to mentionn Mr Mukherjee, our Presidents son (That's his only claim to fame, after all!) His comment managed to draw the media's glare away from the death of the policeman and the lies of the Delhi police. Today, the cries for justice have died down.. Life is back to its usual mundane self. But, the fear remains. The number of rape cases hasn't gone down. People have certainly taken it in their stride to be more aware and to help others around them. The government however, is busy -- in resolving larger issues like Kashmir and the economic dyamics of the country. The suddenness of the recent Kashmir issue has just ignited a flame of suspicion. Was it really Pakistan's fault? That is a question I'd rather keep to myself, for the fear of being jailed!! As for women..
Women can wait.
The young girls who are harassed almost every day of their lives cried out for justice and bore the lathicharge bravely. Their resolve to fight for their rights was so strong that the momentary pain of the blow of the police lathis didn't deter them. The water cannons couldn't douse the the fire that burnt within the protesters. Men and women and children of all ages had been united for a cause -- a cause so just and yet so bitterly avoided(by the politicians). Women leaders from across party lines voiced their opinions at the horrendous act of the gang that had the audacity to rape and torture a woman. The surprising part was that most men preferred to keep their views to themselves. Men are clearly ashamed as they know where their thoughts move and at what pace!!
Peace marches ended and then a spate of comments from the likes of the RSS chief to Asaram and a few like minded misogynists, who have forgotten they entered the world through a passage of painful convulsions. Oh! did I forget to mentionn Mr Mukherjee, our Presidents son (That's his only claim to fame, after all!) His comment managed to draw the media's glare away from the death of the policeman and the lies of the Delhi police. Today, the cries for justice have died down.. Life is back to its usual mundane self. But, the fear remains. The number of rape cases hasn't gone down. People have certainly taken it in their stride to be more aware and to help others around them. The government however, is busy -- in resolving larger issues like Kashmir and the economic dyamics of the country. The suddenness of the recent Kashmir issue has just ignited a flame of suspicion. Was it really Pakistan's fault? That is a question I'd rather keep to myself, for the fear of being jailed!! As for women..
Women can wait.
