I am writing this article with a very heavy heart and lot
of pain.
Daily news reports covering ignominious rapes makes me feel
that we are a country of – No Hope. I might be incoherent in my expression
today, let it be.
How many more rapes would make us sensitive enough, when
would the government machinery take charge? I do not know whether so many helpless
young girls were suffering in the past too and whether such incidences of rapes
and abduction were being kept under the carpet? May be, earlier it used to be a rare
occurrence here and there; but, now the situation seems to have gone out of
control and the perverts are having a field day – anytime, anywhere – shamelessly!
Our law enforcing agencies appear as mere spectators, just like us. Girls are
being raped all around us and we do not know what should we do? After the Nirbhaya rape case in Delhi, it was
believed that things would improve, we all would become more sensitive towards
the girls and law enforcing agencies would become more responsible. But nothing
seems to be happening in the right direction.
The only inference that we can draw today is that the
rapists have become more emboldened in their misadventures and they have least
fear of the society or the police or anyone for that matter. Even the toddlers
are not safe, it is horrific and reflects the harrowing dip that law and order
has taken and is further plunging deep and deep. What is also worrying is that
sexual abuse is not limited to Delhi or Mumbai only, it is regularly taking
place in other cities and villages too.
In my view, we are primarily in this situation because as
a society we are decaying and we have become insensitive towards others,
towards our acquaintances and own relations too. A disconnect can be felt at
every other level, whether we speak about our leaders, our teachers, the
administrators, law enforcers, et al. All this combined together has resulted
in spurt of crime and going by the latest survey there has been increase of
336% in crimes against the children in the last decade. And it is not only the
girls who are bearing the brunt, it is learnt that out of the victims, 55% were
boys! Criminals do not discriminate.
As a child, I remember, we used to give due regard to all
the uncles and aunties of our neighborhood and they too used to keep a caring watch
on us. Our parents were not much concerned about our safety, because we were
under constant watch of our elders – the neighbours. Any mischievous or
objectionable activities of ours used to get reported to our parents. They also
used to pat us when we did something good. It was a good check and balance and
created a good bonding in the society. Alas! It is totally missing today. Today,
while most of us are having nuclear family, our children are growing in an
environment that has no presence and influence of the grandparents. When
together, grandparents leave a long and lasting impression on their
grandchildren and they greatly balance their lives. Also, we hardly know our
neighbours and least we care about them. We certainly do not need to intrude
into their privacy, but a certain level of acquaintance and respect for the
neighboring families is a must.
In my view, the major reasons for the decadence in moral values
are – disconnect with our own tradition and culture, break up of joint families
and rise of nuclear families, displacement from one’s own hometown – giving a
false sense of freedom, minimal interaction with family members and relatives,
influence of west, corrupt government machinery, non-employment and other such
factors. All this didn’t happen in a
year or two, but it has been taking place over the years. With opening of the job
opportunities in the last two decades, more nuclear families came into
existence and the chaos and disconnect grew. The effect is palpable in the form
of insensible citizens where a forty or fifty year old man rapes a four year girl!
I fail to understand that what makes the judiciary, the
NGOs and the entire system so slow and extra considerate in punishing the
criminals? Why we do not adopt the system of lynching in public? Why they can’t
be hanged the very day the crime is perpetrated? Why do we need to be human to
such perverts?
Let us be more sensitive to our children, to our society,
to our family relations and everyone around us. It would help in creating a better
world for our children. Let us learn to respect everyone, especially the women.
Let us be more responsible.
Let us create a society that respects our children,
especially the girls. Let us do whatever little we can do to make them safe.
Let us come out of our own shell. For the safety of our own children and their
innocent dreams!
