Last week my Facebook page was filled with outpouring of contempt, disgust and hatred for oneself, Indian polity and the society as a whole.
A lot has been said and done by many ...
1. Tougher laws
2. Death penalty for culprits
3. Swift punishments
4. Candle light vigils
5. Protests and demonstrations
But, the girl is no more. And my Facebook page is now full with New Year wishes. Have we forgotten the incident already? I think I understand most of the sentiments, but am confused with some of the demands being made and actions being taken.
1. Is this just a case of rape? Or this is a symptom of a greater malaise? What is the problem? How would we have reacted if the girl was not raped but shot? Earlier today I read the news about a girl being burnt alive because she rejected a "proposal"by a man. How do we react to this? Is this incident any way similar to the one of gang rape in Delhi? Would it help the incident of burning if we toughen the punishment to rape? I think the bigger issue here is that of unequal treatment of girls/women in our society. Do we still treat them as objects? Do we still expect them to give in? How do we address this issue?
2. There are laws in plays that prohibit vehicles to have tinted windows. Why was the bus allowed to have tinted windows? Who is the owner of the bus? Is he/she any responsible? Did any one in the public report the bus to police, even for plying with tinted windows? Why not? Where were the traffic cops? Have we tinted the vehicles of our own vehicles?
3. Did anyone help the girl while she lay on the road? Why not?
4. Could this incident have been avoided if we had implemented the existing laws properly? Why did the traffic police not intercept the bus? Is our police force capable of helping us? Can we trust them with the implementation of tougher laws? Or would it become a case of bandar ke haath mein talwaar (monkey with a sword).
5. Was the girl sent to Singapore because her death was inevitable? Is our polity not capable of handling such situations? Are our doctors and medical infrastructure inferior?
Above are the questions that are bothering me. And I don't understand what we achieve by candle light vigils at the India Gate.
Pray, help me understand.
