The dark forces of the beautiful Delhi have marked their
presence once again, and this time victim was a 23 years old girl. This time
she was not alone, but traveling with her a friend. After every such incident
we raise our concerns over media, in parliament, on social networks, over
blogs, in homes, offices and small tea stalls around every corner of the city.
But, after few months it will be a forgotten story, why?? Because we are so ‘great’,
‘resilient’, know how to ‘move on’ and many other adjectives could be given to
support this, but the fact it that it is nothing more than ‘ignorance’. We talk
about this for some time, slowly start be feel better that it didn’t happened
to someone we know and then get busy with our daily life.
It was really hard for even a person like me, who thinks
that surrounding usually don’t affect me, to just read about this incident. So,
imagine what that girl must have gone though. I still get shiver while reading
doctor’s statement, and her friend’s recount of the incident. It is really hard
to believe that such animalistic behavior still exists in humans (if we bother
to call those people human). These people were not merciless terrorists; they
were normal citizen of this country, who can be found around the block in every
city, and village.
I am saying all these things because I am hearing the
demands of people, political parties, student unions etc. to ensure death or
other extreme measures for anyone who commits this type of crime. But, is it
really the solution? This time, accused could get a tough sentence as they do
not belong to ‘privileged class’ of politicians, businessmen etc. But, will
people stop committing such heinous crimes? What will happen to girls like
Ankita, Ruchika etc. who are victimized (in a similar way) by so called ‘privileged
class’?
You cannot make people to behave in certain way by just
threatening them with a tough sentence, it can bar them for sometime but
instincts can’t be killed by force. It could be a good means, but it will not
last for long time, especially in this country, where people are notoriously
known for coming up with “work arounds”. Is government, politicians, court
really serious when they say that they will hang all accused, especially given
the fact that many accused are around them (politicians, businessmen, military(?)
etc).
Then what could be more effective solution to this problem,
if not force then what? I think that the best way to control this problem is
the proper counseling at grass root level to develop understanding and respect
towards opposite sex, especially in Indian social setup. This counseling cannot
be done at any consoling center in specific. A complete effort will be needed,
including that at home, playground, collages, schools, and in social circles.
One cannot expect a person to respect other sex if he has seen his mother,
sister beaten by father and other family members right from the childhood.
Apart from this, there has been a growing frustration and insecurity among people
which lead to these type of incidents directly or indirectly. Frustration from
their current state (financial, job, family etc.) and insecurity about their
future, some commits suicide, some commits crimes and some turns towards
alcohol-drugs etc. The current case is outcome of effect of alcohol (as per one
of the convict), so it is important to go into the root of the problem before
start to look for a solution, ‘quick fixes’ won’t work every time and probably
they won’t work this time.
In the end, I just pray for the victim and hope that her
life will be saved by doctors, and more importantly may god and society give
her courage to live a life with positive outlook for the future.
