India has been ranked as amongst the top 10 most gender biased countries in the world. Further debate on Indian hypocrisy becomes unnecessary. Every Republic Day and Independence Day, we pledge our loyalty to our beloved mother land and declare how proud we are to be Indians.
Now the term “Mother” becomes important in our discussion. When was the last time you read a paper devoid of news about crimes against women? When was the last time a woman was doled out justice without there being first a public furore? When was the last time you came across a woman on the road who could be completely safe in her surroundings?
Men in a certain village in Gujarat cannot find wives, men in Haryana have to “purchase” wives and share them too! But we still love our motherland and are willing to sacrfice our lives for it without any inclination to save lives within it. This, indeed, is hypocrisy.
Women are raped in broad daylight yet people will turn their face away lest they should get embroiled in any inconvenience causing them to be late for office the next day.
Female infants are killed at birth since the family cannot bear the shame and expense of another girl in the household. It may come as a surprise to many that the problem of female infanticide is greater in urban cities than in rural India. So then, can we claim to be a progressive society or economy? Economy is it? 9 per cent growth per annum does not reflect a forward looking nation.
Besides, dowry deaths and domestic abuse are rampant even in the most affluent families. A lot of cases of crimes against women are hushed. A woman has the responsibility of the keeping up family’s pride and honour and it is a stigma to talk about matters of abuse, be it physical or sexual. They are dissuaded from taking a legal route.
At the end of the day, where do they end up? They continue to be slaves to their parents, husband, children and family.
While we talk of our Motherland in proud tones, let us not forget these women who show real character, facing the world with stoicism, toiling, without a murmur of protest.
Charulata Somal
Statistics source: Internet, The Economic Times.
[Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebigdurian/368172477/]
I think that it is pretty substantial the things that you are seeing in India against women. In fact this trend is spreading all over the world. Here in America we are witnessing a culture of prostitution of epic proportions. Women although not common street walkers are increasingly being sucked into a mindset of goods and services for sex and the engineering of such a feat, brings them to this point willingly.
It is a shame that a country with such a rich history as India has also fallen victim to scientific and deliberate machinations of systematic population control.
I would venture to say that you are seeing in addition to your current attack on women, an increase of youth disorder and the decimation of the family. I would also bet that the majority of your nation is overly consumed in sensual delights (food, sex, fancy). The education system is woefully inadequate and college graduates offer little in way of making India overall a better place to be. You are a nation that graduates several scientist, doctors and engineers, but little of that knowledge is transferred to the betterment of your society as a whole.
I would bet this is the case and will continue to be so until you learn to step back far enough from the gray rough skin to see that it is in fact an elephant.
http://moomtaz.blogspot.com
Firstly, let me say that i thoroughly agree with the content of the article, BUT the headline makes me sick to my stomach. I agree that gender sensitivity has stumped to a new low and that crimes against women have reached a new height… and you have all the right in the world to criticise Indian socity for that, but the headline is just to inappropriate. I must confess that i am in love with India and so are many other indians, for me its just appalling to read that statement. I believe you should consider changing the headline as it is too strong and largely disturbing
THE HAND that rocks the cradle, rules the world!!!!
Our Constitution grants equal rights and privileges on the basis of sex. But as Amartya Sen had written in ‘Argumentative Indian’, the biggest crime begins against women, at the place where they are meant to be the safest, in their mother’s wombs.
Have a look at this: A plastic surgeon accused of sexually assaulting his patients; a doctor charged with the rape of a 10-year-old; a mob stripping two women in public; a hotel owner held for raping a tourist; a Russian doctor molested and a UK tourist raped — all this in a span of less than a month. What explains this trend?
There is complete lack of moral values, ethical values and moreover the education cannot grant the changed mentality of the society. If you look into the background of any offender let us say a rapist, most of them are from affluent families.
Lack of fear of punishment also acts as a catalyst. Women need real social, political, financial and moral support in their fight against the system. They have to be empowered. But are we willing to do so????