Bangalore BPO employee gang-rape case a stark reminder of Nirbhaya horror. Will this epidemic end?
A 22-year-old call centre employee was on Saturday (October 3) night gang-raped in a moving Tempo Traveller for around three hours by two men in South-East Bangalore. (READ full report) The incident, which brings back dark memories of the horrifying December 16, 2012 Delhi gang-rape that led to the death of an innocent medical student, has once again thrown the focus on increasing rape crimes in India. While Bangalore police investigates the case, the question of whether this epidemic will ever come to an end remains unanswered.
You know it and I know it too – Rape is a grave wrong and sadly despite changes in the legislation, investigation procedures, media coverage and of course support coming in from different quarters for a victim, rape crimes are still on the rise. Over the years in India, rape has become a common occurrence that hits headlines almost every day. While these ghastly crimes against women continue, the sad truth that only a small number of culprits are brought to justice prevails.
The 2012 Delhi gang-rape case, popularly known as the Nirbhaya case, was an unthinkable act of brutality. The incident pricked the conscience of the nation. Widespread protests were held and the issues of crimes against women in India assumed global centre stage. In August 2013, another shocking gang-rape case in Mumbai stirred memories of the Nirbhaya horror. The outcome: Nationwide protests followed by world media attention on India’s growing rape epidemic. Moreover, rape cases and reports in India today have become a matter of mockery for many.
The United Nations urged the Indian government to pay attention towards protection of women in India. Soon, laws were modified and fast-track courts were set up to deal with the crime. However, despite the awakening among Indians, these dastardly acts of sexual assaults continue to be on the rise.
The hard truth
At least 1 out of 3 women on earth has been physically or sexually abused either by a relative or an acquaintance.
1 out of 5 women experience rape or attempted rape during her lifetime.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 93 women are raped in India every day!
Rape is the most loathsome and gravest form of human rights defilement, and is one of the major social problems not only in India, but also in other societies in the world. Thousands of innocent women are scarred for life with the act destructing their dignity, honour and chastity.
From their cradles to their grave, women in India face grave situations created due to rampant gender discrimination that exists in the country. Students are raped by their teachers, colleagues are raped by their bosses, nurses are raped by doctors, Dalit women are raped by men from higher castes, fathers rape daughters, brothers rape sisters – the society only reeks of male chauvinism. And despite women coming out of their cocoons attempting to raise alarm against such crimes, this male dominated society of ours continues to suppress their voices.
The rape epidemic
The Delhi Nirbaya horror drew a lot of attention towards the serious crime of gang-rapes. But for those who are not aware, this epidemic started in India long ago. Believe it or not, this form of sexual assault was used and continues to be used, especially in rural India, as a weapon of retribution, a means of settling scores with other men.
In 1988, fourteen policemen committed mass rape in the village of Pararia, Bihar to avenge the assault of two of their colleagues. Sadly, those cops were acquitted thanks to their outrageous defence argument that the village women were engaged in unskilled work and so their character was questionable. Only deathly silence followed the judgement. No one raised a voice against it and till date the women of Pararia live in fear.
Not just women, but even innocent young girls are not spared. In the last decade or so the number of sexual crimes against the girl child has only been on the rise. In 2014, Bangalore was plagued with incidents of young school kids being raped by their teachers. The city residents protested. But did all that protest stop men from committing this heinous crime? Of course not. Rising rape cases in the city bears testimony to the harsh reality.
When peacekeepers become peace takers, the situation only worsens. A majority of rape cases in India involve men who are either a part of the armed forces or are positioned in different law enforcement agencies. In states like Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh etc. cops are involved in countless number of rape cases. In states like Manipur, Mizoram, Assam etc. it is the army personnel that forces women to live in fear. This isn’t the case now, but for decades women in these areas have been victims of rape at the hands of armed forces. The gang-rape of Manipur’s Thanjam Manorama by army men in 2004 prompted the then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to move the Assam Rifles from the place. But did that change the situation for women of the state? Of course not. The women, especially from tribal belts of the region, continue to suffer at the hands of armed forces.
Battling the mind-set
Despite number of special laws that protect the women of our country, the rape epidemic doesn’t appear to be reaching its end. What’s tragic is that the actual number of rape cases in India is far from known, since there are several cases that go unreported. It’s the disgrace, community shame, fear of facing society wrath etc. that stops women from reporting such crimes. The reluctance of talking about forceful sexual acts in public, the media hype and the conservative mind-set of the Indian society adds to the victims’ woes. In some parts of the country, especially in villages, victims are even threatened by the offender.
Will it ever end?
The rising rape rates and crimes against women in India only continues to reflect women as the weaker sex. The task the Indian government has is to examine these incidents closely and find a solution to the numerous problems that arise due to gender discrimination. Special attention needs to be paid by our policy makers, the family systems, various communities and women themselves to make sure that they make a more independent, strong and safe society. Non-discriminatory treatment is the need of the hour not just in homes, but in offices, colleges, schools and villages etc.
Not just women, but men too need to put a great effort in bringing such crimes against women to an end. Every man should have the courage and voice to challenge another man’s act of cruelty. An effort also needs to be made to ensure that women are not treated as sex objects. Teaching of gender respect must start at a grass root level. It should not only be a part of the education curriculum in schools, but should also be addressed by the fathers, husbands, brothers and uncles of a household.
Developing moral values and ethics among people is surely a challenge and a task. However, solving India’s rape problem needs a combined effort or else these words from the Delhi rapist, “When being raped, she shouldn’t fight back. She should just be silent and allow the rape” will only lead to many more horrors.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of Folomojo.com
Also read
OMG-inducing, share-compelling, like-attracting, clutter-breaking, thought-provoking, myth-busting content from the country’s leading content curators. read on...