Letter from An Anguished father

Dear Son

What did we do wrong? We brought you up to be a nice boy.We gave you morals and values.

As a child you always came first in class, your mother used to prepare your favourite dishes. Your sister was not that good in studies but always helped around the house.

You were a bit naughty but that’s okay. Boys are a little naughty. Always leaving your clothes strewn around, your mother and sister were forever picking up after you. But you were not a bad boy.

Remember, you beat up that boy when you were in class XI because he teased your sister on the way back from school? You also got a cut on your cheek but we were proud of you.

What happened? Your poor mother is sick with worry, she is sure there is some story behind this.

When we saw your face on that video we could not believe it!

Please tell me it is not you tearing the clothes off that girl. Please tell me its not you, smiling, as he molests a young girl on the street. Please tell me I have not failed as a parent , as a father! Please tell me What did we do wrong

An Anguished father

DON”T THINK

I don’t want to write, not a single word.
I want to say that there is nothing more to be said, after the Guwahati incident.
But unfortunately, we will move on. Even this shameful terrifying incident will not change anything.
We will close this chapter and again read feverishly about girls getting scholarships, flying aeroplanes and breaking the glass ceiling.
We will want desperately to believe that all this is the truth and will lull ourselves into this belief.
For a while , till another ‘Guwahati’ happens.
Because it will.
And this time we cannot blame the government, too bad but there it is.
We have only ourselves to blame so naturally that door is closed, as we are cowards.
Mental cowards who cannot face the truth and physical cowards who cannot protect the weak.
Women are not weak per se I want to say this but can’t in all truthfulness.
Deterioration of status of women is being seen and felt by each one of us.
I have always maintained that the day is not far off when women will become commodities again.
Don’t think!
Don’t introspect!
Don’t analyse!
Just STOP accepting the unacceptable right now.

Otherwise be prepared for the return of auction block and sale of women as slaves.

Someone Stop this Madness!

I asked this question on Twitter to all those following #Justiceforwomen: What do you think can really make these rapes & assaults stop? Actual, plausible suggestions. I am still wondering..

Following are some of the replies that I received:

@nimue: the will to not go down without a fight and to never accept the crime as ur fate.

@DaEternalRebel: Vigilantism

@SunilBtg: The certainty, swiftness and severity of punishment

>We need to lobby with the Law Commission, the Chief Justice of India, NCW, NHRC and the Law Ministry

@deepakbhx: A total upheaval complt change of social order, no half measures how bst intensioned it may be is 0. Rape is sh of power too!

@taklooman: stricter punishment and higher conviction rate in high profile cases involving famous/influential people.

 @Leopard212: women be armed. If threatened- shoot or kill the bastard. On a realistic level, massive constitutional and legal changes.

What can be concluded from these statements is that quite a lot of us believe in complete transformation of our social order, legal system and education along with being vigilant.

Need of the hour is not identification of problem but syndication of the solution. Now that we know what to do, let’s start working in that direction.

Instead of waiting and hoping, for a change let’s try to bring a change.

P.S.: Do tweet/post your suggestions and let’s discuss how to help our women.

Molest, And Get Away | Women’s Web: Online Community For Indian Women

This link was forwarded on my Twitter account. Important laws have been mentioned that we must all learn by heart.

 

All the sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 mentioned below are the ones under which (according to media reports) the Guwahati goons have been booked; all these sections of the IPC are bailable, that is, the accused have the right to be released on bail, and that the accused need not be forwarded to a court to seek bail, an officer in-charge of a police station can bail them out after seeking a personal bond and/or surety from them. Even some traffic violations are looked at more seriously by the law….more at link below

Molest, And Get Away | Women’s Web: Online Community For Indian Women.

Gender Wars and other Videos

These videos were shared with us on our Twitter and Facebook accounts.

 

1. 6 The Gender Wars 2 5  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6Yvn_kUT_g&feature=relmfu
2. Farhan Akhtar for Violence against Women http://youtu.be/Xa8mcWj9WAA
3. Udaipur: Panchayat strips woman for extra-marital affair http://in.video.yahoo.com/news-26036098/national-26073656/udaipur-panchayat-strips-woman-for-extra-marital-affair-30072580.html
4. Ladke ka Jawaab-Avoid Gender Discrimination Girls http://youtu.be/6sBcn9Pki7I

Do send in more videos you feel are relevant to this issue. Thanks so much.