How many times do we find ourselves rushing out to our windows and balconies to witness a neighbor’s wedding procession? We wish to be a part of the celebrations, tapping our feet to the beat of the drums. When the streets are illuminated and music emanates from the corners and crevices, nearly everyone is grooving along. Everyone is there. Whoever is present on the spot, becomes a part of the scene. We are the first ones to come out and join as the celebrations begin, but as the joy declines and those joyful voices, turn into mournful noises, nearly all of those tapping toes turn still. Nobody wants to react or rather, get caught reacting to the shrills and cries. For who would wish to play a part in any kind of a crime, be it a part where you stop it from happening. It would mean to get your hands dirty, no? Who would want to go through all the unnecessary trouble even if it means saving someone’s life?
Every year, numerous cases of domestic violence are reported in India, a lot of which, in some way or the other could have been prevented by neighborly intervention and timely action. Had the people around the crime spot been aware and quick, incidents like these wouldn’t have increased to such levels in number as well as intensity. The most common victims of domestic violence are women. Recent incidents confirm that there are some religious beliefs have approved of “mild-level beating” of women. And domestic violence is sadly a much wider subject. It encompasses within itself a massive “range” of violence and physical violence is merely a part of this great subject. Emotional violence does not even find a place on this table. Mental trauma can actually lead to people indulging in self harm that can even go on to the extent of committing suicides. And amid all this, the people, the society, us, we act as the silent spectators. We are interested in catching up with all the gossip but the moment we are told to expose everything which could help someone in some way, our tongues bite themselves, wagging around in the direction of monetary and political power.
Every morning, we wake up to at least one incident of dowry death, rape or murder. We are quick to join the rallies and candle marches, but once we are actually in the position to initiate, we silently slide away, finding ways of sneaking out of the situation. We ignore the fact that unfortunate things can happen to us or our loved ones yet we are too quick to declare the entire society as ignorant. Rape cases that have become so dangerously normal today, can be prevented, if people are alert and are not afraid of exposing the truth. Young girls are being picked up from the road, women are being beaten, burnt to death – are we really that blind or just pretending? How can we be insensitive to the extent that we can be called inhumane?
And this blindfold that is covering our eyes and our minds is so bad that it is not just limited to us, it has actually made our justice system literally blind. From murders to sexual assaults, many of these cases are not even reported for the accused hails from politically and monetarily well-to-do backgrounds. Even if these cases are reported, the evidences are tampered and most often, the judgment is passed in favor of the accused. The victim then spends the rest of his or her life in extensive pain and suffers in silence.
It is time we let go of that blindfold that has been clouding both our vision and our minds. It is high time we wake up to the realization that if we do nothing to stop a criminal and an inhumane activity, we turn into partners in that crime. We have imposed a similar treatment on the victim by ignoring the cries and pleas for help. So instead of cribbing about how “unsafe” and “cruel” this world is becoming, we must, as responsible citizens, take some steps towards making it safer. It is time we right ourselves in this regard. The loss that the humanity has faced cannot be measured. The lives lost cannot be paid for but the only thing that can be done is that the lost faith in humanity can still be restored. And every citizen, every single human being has a part to play in the process. It ain’t easy, my friends, but if done, this will be the best thing we can do for ourselves and for the sake of humanity.
By: Vernika Tanwani
