A VOICE IN THE DARK

<RAPE>

(I would request you to watch the above video before you begin to read this chapter, because this is going to L O N G. And no matter which part of the world you belong to, this is equally important for you to read.)

(NOTE: This is not to spread hate on my country India. India has a rich and diverse culture that people have misunderstood, and they have created their own versions to holy scriptures which has lead to the MISCONCEPTION in the young minds, leading to unforgivable sins such as RAPE)

First of all, the so called Indian sanskar (culture) that you respect so much, isn't even Indian in the first place. It was brought in by the Aryans who were migrants. Their literature, religion, and modes of social organization subsequently shaped the course of Indian culture, particularly the Vedic religion that informed and was eventually superseded by Hinduism. In that era, women wore 'saari', and not short skirts or mini clothing. Survey speaks of not having noted cases of rape in that era due to the long length of the clothing. But have we really forgotten the 'attempted rape of draupadi' from the epic Mahabharata? Or is it that we only believe in what we want to? Do the holy scriptures speak of women having any particular clothing or is it our narrow mindset that do not provide women with the right to freedom. Our culture is very deep and goes back thousands of years. If rape happened then, with saari, and rape happens now, be it mini skirts or shorts....IT IS NOT THE CLOTHING!

If it is the holy culture, what you believe in, then why not pay heed to the other aspects the scriptures teach us about? Have the scripts taught us to portray women as objects of pleasure to men? The amount of 'skin' visible, shouldn't be the reason for rapes...

We are all aware of the LGBTQ community existing among us, and we still hate on them (that's a different topic I'll speak about in the upcoming chapter). But these so portrayed as 'lowly beings' teach us something that you, being 'normal' couldn't learn.
In a crowd or an open space, filled with people of both the heterosexual as well as the homosexual community, have we ever faced a situation where the lesbians or the gays (terms aren't an insult to the community) have had the urge to rape someone, merely because of the other person's clothing? Why is it okay for women for to live upto men's expectations? Why is it that people expect us to live upto conditions they can't themselves. Be it a woman or a man, we are, at the end of the day, humans. If you cannot do something, so can't I. And if you have the right to something, why don't I? Why does gender decide my actions?
The early Vedic age taught us equality, but our narrow minds created another 'position' for women in society in the later Vedic age, the kind that has to depend on men for their every action, every thought and every wish.

Coming late at home is an issue you say? If I am late one day, due to work or even if it is for fun, why does the society have a say in it? I could be out for many reasons, BUT NOBODY GIVES ANY MEN THE RIGHT TO WAIT FOR WOMEN TILL LATE AT NIGHT ONLY TO JUMP UPON THEM LIKE HUNGRY WOLVES. Why is coming home late night an issue? Your sons come back late night, nobody asks if he was back from the office or the club. But if a woman does, even if it was for something important, why is she always bombarded with questions?

The men who say, they respect women, yet believe in all this.. aren't actually respecting women. The words that have been set within their minds is that 'women do not deserve freedom', be it freedom of speech, of clothing, of thoughts... anything. They are the reason for the backward thoughts of the society. Because people believe that women are inferior, weaker...they take advantage. In my opinion, why should only women get raped, hormones you say? A guy can't control himself? Then isn't it only fair, that a woman gets to go on a killing spree during her periods...for the simple reason of HORMONES.

And if you're telling me, that rape occurs with the consent of the woman...I'd like to ask you very politely, which world have you been living in sir?

In which world, would the woman literally walk into her own death trap? So it is the woman's fault? Just because we've been living in a patriarchal society doesn't mean, that whatever decision the man makes is correct. Men, are humans, and they make mistakes. Terrible mistakes when it comes to raping a woman. There's a reason it called rape and not porn. It is without the consent of the woman. Her rights, her needs, her wishes, her dreams, her virginity is stolen from her, not given by consent.
You'd say, you can't clap with one hand...it is a correct proverb sir, but wrong area of usage. It is not the woman who consents, but these low thoughts of the society that practically encourages rapers to destroy more and more lives of women. For years we've been screaming our lungs out against this, but until and unless you accept that women are at equal power with you, then nothing can be done. Our words will fall short one day, but the message will remain. It is our choice to accept it. Men must have limitations to their actions as well... Teach the boys as much as you teach the girls, to respect each and everyone as equals and at par with each other. It is not the clothing, it is the mentality, it is not the woman, it is the man.