No country for women

 

No country for women

The news reporting said- “Another rape and murder of an innocent girl plunged the City of Joy into shame and sorrow”. The word: “Another” gave me pause. The horror of “Another rape and murder” sobered the ever so vibrant Newtown area. Because, deep down we know it's just 'another’— until a new ‘another’ comes along and we forget about the justice we wanted last time. We get accustomed to ‘Delayed’ and ‘Denied’ Justice. It’s a reflection of the grim reality we have come to terms with— a desensitization to tragedy.  

Henceforth we know the story. At least no news media can be accused of compromising on the runtime to cover the heinous rape and murder of the 14-year-old. How she had a fight with her mother and sister, and she left home. After several hours of wandering alone in the streets, she asked a Rickshaw driver for help, in good faith. To which he assured her safe return to home, and picked her up in his rickshaw. The driver then drove around with her, before taking her to an isolated location to assume the role of a predator.  

It is striking how easily one can abandon humanity and morals these days. The powerful have always preyed on the vulnerable, not only because it’s easy but also because it provides a false sense of control over someone else's fate. In a society marked by vast disparities in wealth, power, and lifestyle, individual lives seem insignificant, trivial. People, who are often caught in the relentless grind of this reality, in an attempt to assert control, they resort to violence against those who are less fortunate. Too often, these victims are women - of all ages. For them, vulnerability is twofold - threatened both in their lives and their dignity. A patriarchal society creates a false idea of hierarchy, a prey to which is not only women, but young men. When the notion of inequality is deep-rooted, it becomes habitual. We don’t actively notice the misconducts and partiality towards women, but our incognizant mind takes note- men are superior just by the sheer virtue of being born as such.

What is the answer, then? How can we defend ourselves against the inevitable attacks and harassment? The solution lies in reshaping the very foundations of our society. To truly protect women, we must foster an environment where respect and equality are not just ideals but realities. Only in such society violence against women is not just condemned, but can be actively prevented. In the rat race of life, where earning big bucks is the a-priory condition for receiving respect, we need to educate our next generation about consent, empathy, and inherent dignity of all human beings. Most importantly, it is about changing the collective mindset, and that includes the mindsets of women as well. We need to change the narrative that women are somehow lesser. Empowering women means recognizing their strength and potential, and seeing them as equals in every sense. As Tagore wisely said, "Why should women not have the right to conquer their own destiny?" In this ongoing fight against deep-rooted indifference and the normalization of violence, women must stand as the first and fiercest warriors—reclaiming their dignity and demanding the respect they deserve.

Dr. Madhura

Asst. Professor

Techno India University, West Bengal

www.technoindiauniversity.ac.in


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