BREAKING NEWS: Nirbhaya is alive

A file photograph of Nirbhaya/ Damini/ Jyoti in days when the 'Allauddin Khiljis' of the December 16 gangrape were unaware of her presence on Earth
and (inset) a photograph of a time after she met with her predators in a bus

Believe it or not, Nirbhaya, the victim of the infamous December 16 gangrape is still alive. According to intelligence and media reports, in 2017, she was spotted in Uttar Pradesh and recently in Jammu and Kashmir.

In 2017, she came in touch with a BJP MLA who raped her and later the MLA’s brother brutalised her father who died a day after he was arrested.

Later on, Nirbhaya travelled to Jammu and Kashmir, as a member of a nomadic tribe, and was reportedly grazing her horses when some people abducted her and kept her sedated in a temple all the while raping her for seven days before finally killing her. She was later found in a forest in a state better not explained.

Yes, this is what I was reluctant to write about in an
earlier paragraph, the state in which Asifa was left

Yes, Nirbhaya is alive. Nirbhaya is alive in Unnao, in Kathua and among the lakhs of files that are gathering dust in police record rooms, waiting to be opened, heard. Yes, Nirbhaya is alive. Nirbhaya is alive in the minds of those who fear to leave their home at odd hours, in the minds of parents who reluctantly limit their daughter’s freedom by setting a deadline or stopping them from wearing clothes that “instigate” men. However, Nirbhaya deserves a peaceful death which can only be delivered if we wake up.

For a moment forget about politicians trying to score brownie points out of the mudslinging after a rape in the country. Forget about the not so civil society hitting the streets for a change. Forget about media reports that support the above two. For a moment, ask yourself, is this the India you learnt about from the scriptures? For all I can do now is visualise a picture of Bharat Mata clad in a torn blood-stained saree holding a Tricolour that has faded much beyond recognition.

In the last few years, as if India already hadn’t seen much, the country witnessed a plethora of problems plaguing the very character of India. If Partition wasn’t enough for two communities to spew venom against each other, recently the wounds were made fresh through a series of systematic attacks in the guise of a promise for a better Bharat, but where did it lead us to?

A better Bharat, as many thought would be a country fighting against corruption, a country helping its poor to stand up on their feet, a country that would give equal opportunities to all despite his/her caste. However, what happened is far from the Utopian idea many of us had sketched in our mind when we voted for a change. It has now come to tagging rape victims as Dalits and Muslims. For God’s sake, a Dalit or a Muslim is not raped; it is a woman, a lady, a girl child or when evil is at its peak, a toddler!

Communalising an issue such as rape is not only condemnable but also an injustice to a victim whose predator did not ask for her religion before forcing himself upon her. A rape is a rape, period!

So what will bring a stop to such atrocities on women? Is it going to take endless candlelight marches or opposition parties hitting the streets at odd hours to make a difference (read to win elections)? No, the disease is not so easy to cure. Incidents of rapes always haunted the country. Millions of such cases went unreported either due to lack of a proper medium or the rampant practice of patriarchy. It is only after the Fourth Estate of Democracy became powerful (add selectively) did we feel that the country indeed needs help. It is not sex education that is going to help either.

It is shame that will bring a change. Shame in the eyes of the lawmakers who pen a strong anti-rape law but the main issue is not addressed. Shame in the eyes of a man who looks not at her face but at the breasts of a woman. Shame in the eyes of those who defend rapists and take out marches. Shame in the political system of India that scores brownie points out of something as heinous as rape. Shame in the eyes of millions who consider a scheme as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao to make a difference as by taking pride in the scheme, we are somewhere indicating that women are weak and need protection.

Sorry for making it this long but before ending, I would like to recall a few lines from a poem recited by Mr Amitabh Bachchan in the movie Pink. To all the youth of India, it is time to wake up from slumber and to all the women of the country, “Tu aarti ki lou nahin, tu krodh ki mashaal hai. Tu khud ki khoj mein nikal, tu kisliye hatash hai? Tu chal, tere wajood ki samay ko bhi talash hai. Chunar ura ke dhwaj bana, gagan bhi kapkapayga, chunar ura ke dhwaj bana, gagan bhi kapkapayega, Agar teri chunar giri, to ek bhukamp ayega, ek bhukamp ayega. Tu khud ki khoj mein nikal, tu kisliye hatash hai? Tu chal, tere wajood ki samay ko bhi talash hai.”