Priti Prakash
Are women lesser mortals? Is it a male dominated society everywhere? What is the issue of chauvanism about.. and what for? Its afterall a male world. After the BBC documentary almost all possible social networking sites are on fire with the subject of women 'empowerlessness'. Her place, her rights, her treatment at the hands of men and much more.
It is high time the subject needs to be addressed at length irrespective of crossfires from chauvnists, masogynists, egoists and every person who thinks a woman ought to and will remain under the shadow of masculine power. Probably it emanates from the Gods themselves.
Our President on the eve of Women's Day has just quoted Tagore saying, "Woman is the builder and moulder of a nation's destiny. She is the supreme inspiration for man's onward march". Women have played an extraordinary role in shaping the destiny of our nation. He says he pays tribute to all women who have given this nation their invaluable gift of labour and love.
How many of our men really subscribe to this belief. Or is it once again a rhetoric at every Woman's Day and otherwise too. It required a BBC Documentary on Nirbhaya's rape revisited with the blood chirlling statement of the accused and the so called lawyers to again introspect on the condition of women in our society. A friend on Facebook wrote, Why are we even talking about these sickos, these perverts. She wrote Indian society cannot improve. However optimistic I may try to be but somewhere I agreed with her because I firmly believe that society can be turned around with the tool of education. When I believe that awakening, responsible behaviour, respect for the other will only come this way I also know beyond doubt that our very own educated men comprising of our MP's, our leaders, our lawyers, our doctors, our teachers, our bosses, our most know all editors, our intellectuals (Nobel Prize winners), too are rapists or perverted minds themselves drooling over anywhere. Afterall they are men.
Worst is when we have male chauvnists in our own backyard. At home we have fathers, brothers, uncles and many of them who think women are just meant to cook and are best inside the four walls and that if exposed will be devoured by vultures (men themselves), should be covered from head to toe, should not have a boyfriend nor even a cellphone. The usual statement that comes from an white colored driver on road, O...it must be a female driving or ladies shouldn't do field job, they better be given soft ones'.
All the women empowerment and freedom narrative, it should be understood is precisely urbancentric. Probably metrocentric. Even B grade cities are still far away in terms of liberty to women. Small towns and rural India is where women are a thing, an object, something to be used and necessarily undersubservient to man who is a superior being. The very belief of Mukesh Singh, Dec 16 accused, rapist that Nirbhaya should have let herself be raped is an insight into the shocking mindset of these lower strata, slumdweller, people roaming the streets waiting for a prey to satiate their hunger of sex. Not surprisingly this is the mindset of 90 percent of menfolk. As he says it is a routine affair back home. He says with no remorse that his brother must have committed some 20 odd rapes in the past. The banality of the crime, the insensitivity of the defenders is horrendous to say the least. Majority of cases in big cities are a contribution of this poor class. Not to forget the juvenile who raped a girl most cruely at the age of 17 will be out fearless to repeat it again remorselessly. Amidst this acknowledgement hats off to Nirbhaya's parents.
Far from being a local phenomenon its an international issue. BBC film maker Leslee Udwin is more than aware of it. Her confession that she herself has been a victim of child abuse tells all. Sexual harrassment is a global matter. Right now what is happening in Middle East cannot be imagined. Reports that are coming in would make a woman rather wish she was not born a woman. Called slaves they are picked up from any home any area to be taken away for whatever the ISIS men need to do with them. It doesn't matter whether she is a child or a middle aged woman. It falls more into the domain of biological luxury which overpoweringly borders to the feeling of lust and so is a bestial act and in no way justified. Animals appear saner.
In our country though lot was done by Verma Commission to change our ineffective legal system as far as rape and its definition, punishment etc were concerned we did not unfortunately see any change as far as an instillation of any kind of an awe or fear in peoples' mind on committing such crimes is concerned. The number of rapes still stand at 1 per 20 minutes. Frustration looms large on all the women of our country on seeing nothing change as such. From the need of education right up till every home of each village, the culture of treating women inferior has to be addressed. And we are proud of our culture that is ages and ages old. Are we proud of this very culture that demeans our women. A woman is a mother who has given you birth, this woman is a sister that cares for her brother, this woman is your wife who bears your children and gives them birth, nurtures them and teaches them to be human beings. She looks after you in your old age inspite of herself. As daughter she gives you progeny. A woman, then is a man's essence. But the men have failed her.
The bigger picture is then to empower women mentally, physically, psychologically, morally to take care of themselves inspite of the male dominance. Can it be possible? This may be threatening to the male ego and it will be too hard to come in a largely patriarchal society. The number of Mukeshs, Ram Singhs, Akshays,Pawans and Vinays till then will keep thriving. Though times are at snails pace for change the attitude has to be cultured. Equality has to be tutored.
Women empowerment is not about breaking the ceiling but about freedom, fairness, equality and respect above all.
