Born in a family where girls were given equal rights, status and respect I was always proud to be a woman. I always believed that there was nothing I could not do to make my parents proud. I always believed that daughters are the best thing to happen to any parent. All those who know me personally will vouch for this one. Four and a half years back when my first daughter was born I realized the reason why parents spend sleepless nights and why they are always on their toes? Why all those nights that I was away from home out with my friends, my parents paced persistently in the drawing room.
When I would hear cases of female foeticide or cases where women were tortured because they didnt or rather could not deliver a son I would wonder why, why cant these people be happy. This year changed a lot of these beliefs. First the Delhi gang rape and now the rape of a 5 year old girl in Delhi. Today after a very very long time, I am sad. An eternal optimist, positive and enthusiastic mom who is always on the run feels like she is sapped of energy.
For those who haven’t heard of the heinous crime that shook the capital is about a 5 year girl who was abducted, tied in a room, raped for 2 days and has burn marks all over her body by her neighbour. This is just half of what has been reported.
I am shaken, stirred, questioning god, looking at my girls and feeling the need to protect them and be around them all the time. I have never felt the need to be a stay at home mom watching my girls grow and know they are safe and with a family member at all times than ever before.
I feel those who kill, rob, terrorize are better human beings than someone who rapes and especially a child. A mind flooded with a myriad questions is wandering and sad. I don’t want to think what that poor girl must be going through, or are her physical wounds deeper than the emotional trauma she is going through. I don’t care for pacifying answers that tell me this has always been happening and is being reported only now or is there too much exposure. Today is the first time I wish god would have made us women more than objects of affection or the weaker sex. I wished we didn’t have such raunchy item numbers where actresses who are chaperoned all the time didnt shake their bosoms to get the front row whistles and reach the 100 crore club. All those sleazy songs should have no listeners and women in influential positions should stand up for women.
I close my eyes, say a silent prayer and ask god to protect all those little girls who have to yet experience a life full of opportunities. A life that is full of cakes, chocolates. candies, colours, pink, floss, cooking sets, books, music and Barbie.
Image Source: Jagran.com
Rushita Sheth
Tarun Sakhrani
KSP Team
