By Pavitra. K:
Incredible India, as it is claimed to be. Or, is it? Eve’s descendants are atrociously unsafe. If a girl/woman walks free of cat calls, whistles or anything remotely similar, 100 meters at a stretch, in any public place- I should stop dreaming, right here, right now. And ‘they’ blame us for the ‘provocative’ dressing. (?!). Highly unintended from one side, and totally aimed at, from the other. Post sunset, not many places are ‘safe’ enough. Statistics might claim that there are places relatively more unsafe, but let us think of it on an individual note: How many girls would count in when asked if they have been spared of such acts? A scarce number. Some matters can’t be generalized; but this is an issue for sure.
There is the ‘modern’ Indian woman, at par with the ways of the world, graduating, earning and getting financially strong and independent. But, when she gets back home, there she is, trying to avoid stalkers and scurrying back home. What a contrast in scenarios she is exposed to. Practically, no girl would want to halt and react in return- its consequences are unknown. Instead, she would want to escape out of the situation as soon as she can. Hence, the practice continues to remain. ‘Petty’ matters as hooting and cat calls make the network spread far and wide into horrendous and traumatic activities like sexual exploitation and rape.
So, how do we put an end to all this, apart from writing about it? As philosophers say, realization must come from within. Each human-male-being out there, involved in such disrespecting, immoral and uncivilized acts must start looking within and realize that he would start being human if he stopped such uncouth and unrefined acts. And then will be the time when Eve’s lineage will be safe in the real sense; and India would be Incredible.
Dear jobless-hooter-on-the-road, it’s not a sin being a girl; neither is it a matter of choice. It’s a matter of chance; and a way of existence; let the girl walk by in peace, do not make her conscious of what she is, and, kindly realize- what if someone did the same to your mother.