If there is anything that irritated me and distorted my brain to the core today, that would be the headlines of the local newspaper. Not much into the details, it’s another report of sexual harassment of another woman - added to the innumerable cases that are already filed and the infinite ones that aren’t even in to the limelight. This is neither going be feminism supportive nor the ultra-modern girl’s association’s version. This is going to be the eye shot of mine. Typical, not-so-influential, but true from heart.
Well, I really don’t know whom to point out and address this blog. Because there is a man of every age group, of every sphere, at some point or the other, molesting a woman. Why? That too in a country where we are expected to respect ladies, (forget about worshipping, that’s the ideal case, because SHE is the incarnation of “Power”) Vedas have echoed the same –
कुपुत्रो जायेत क्वचिदपप कुमाता न भवतत ।
- There can only be a bad son, never a bad mother.
But what to do, we are a nation of forgetters.
Ask any man, the reply would be, if not exactly, something like this – “why should girls be wandering in the city at nights? What’s so special about this party culture and they mingling intimidate with the guys of opposite sex? Why? Can’t they come back home straight away, as soon as their task is done?”
Ask any woman- if educated, she would say – “Aren’t woman human beings? Why should they be deprived of their freedom? They are free to do things that they like, not the ones people impose on them. Would you expect a guy behaving as per a girl’s impositions? Then why should it be the other way round?”
If she isn’t educated, she would say with a sigh – “This is what we are destined to, may be. We are dependent on man- be it husband or son. We can’t oppose the system; it would be useless, for our voices are never heard. Let’s somehow get away with this unhappy and never ceasing painful life”
Portrayal of woman as a gender-puppet isn’t the trend that has been created in the near past. It was long way back. With deprival of her basic rights on everything - her education, financial free hand, role in decision making or simply, her very lifestyle, what else is she subjected to? Except for eventually becoming a tool through which chauvinistic man can clear his drives.
To change this, let them be educated. Not in the schools as they propose. In life; in the situations of the present society. That’s a way out in which the dangers can be subsided somewhat under the silent administering of knowledge and courage in the place of ignorance and helplessness in their heads and hands. Let them have their own mark on everything. This doesn’t imply typical reservations, but some space for them to prove themselves, better. Let her defend herself, physicallly and psychologically. Let them be free as every bird is. Let her wings take her to a new plane of maturity and excellence. Women don’t expect someone to help them to do all the above. But silently prays that no one would restrain them from doing so. Result - a Sudha Murthy. A Sunitha Krishnan. A Kiran bedi. A free Indian woman.
We all owe woman her life. Such a beautiful and wonderful creation she is.
Let’s follow tolerance, we’ll go far. And the world will be new again with colours, this time, happier and livelier.
