As we step into the glorious 78 years of Independence a question strikes very boldly today - Is being a woman a crime in India? Why is the crime against women increasing in India – is it because being a woman is a crime in India? This appalling question arises as we see another heinous act which opposes the base foundation of our society.
Where do we even rank in the world in terms of the number of female Gods we have worshipped, yet, our daughters cannot travel without harassment, and molestation and they cannot expect their safety? The latest fiendish rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata should open the eyes afresh to the fact that women have not been safe in India. The case is not unique and it is testimony to some of the worrisome trends that have developed in this industry.
From the infamous Nirbhaya gang rape to the haunting Kathua rape case, the narrative remains the same: denial of the right to accessing justice after a long time, no one being held accountable and a society that seems to ignore the struggles of the women. Some inmates popularly known are Asaram Bapu and Ram Rahim are some of the inmates who have received paroles and this shows how our justice system lacks efficiency and effectiveness.
What has happened to the fear of the law? For far too long, we have been hearing messages such ‘Don’t wear that, you’ll attract the wrong kind of attention;’ it is time to counsel the male species on matters of non-ascendancy. It is not the clothes or womankind’s decisions that are at issue; it is the attitude that reduces women to sexual objects, insults, and assaults them. On that account, a country that claims to value its women does not have to prescribe how they should dress; such a country should teach courtesy in men.
India has Kamakhya Temple in Assam where menstruation is considered strength and power and a divine process and worships Maa Kamakhya, also becomes a country where young girls are brutalised. As a country that reveres the goddess Macchendranthi, the Matale tragedy – of a three-year-old who was gang-raped – is not surprising. This grim irony alone tells a lot about the existing prejudice and the rotten society which simply does not know where to look for a role model anymore. The fear of law is alarmingly absent, and the exposure of explicit adult content on social media only exacerbates the problem.
The normalisation of such content desensitizes society, especially the younger generation, contributing to a culture where women’s safety is compromised. Strict enforcement of pornography laws and stricter censorship of harmful content are necessary to protect women and minors alike. For India to progress as a nation, every woman must have the freedom to live her dreams just as men do.
When women are empowered to pursue their ambitions without fear, talents like Hima Das, Lovlina Borgohain, Mary Kom, and Manu Bhaker, will emerge from every corner of the country. These women are not just athletes; they are symbols of what is possible when women are given equal opportunities. India, a land of contrasts, prides itself on its rich cultural heritage, where goddesses are revered in every corner of the country. Yet, this same land witnesses the relentless oppression and violence against its women. The irony is stark: how can a society that worships female deities in its temples fail to protect its daughters on the streets? One of the most disturbing aspects of this contradiction is the persistent societal focus on controlling women’s behavior and attire, rather than addressing the root cause of violence.
We often hear advice directed at women: what they should wear, how they should behave, where they should go, and at what time. However, the real issue lies not in what women wear but in how men behave. As the saying goes, "Educate men how to behave, not women how to dress." A woman's attire should never be seen as an invitation for harassment or violence; rather, it is a man's mindset that must be reformed. A woman in India is not just a mother, daughter, or wife—she is also an individual with her own dreams, aspirations, and the right to live a life free from fear and oppression. Yet, society often tries to box her into predefined roles, stripping her of her agency and autonomy. We must recognize that a woman’s worth is not defined by her relationships with others but by her individuality and the contributions she makes to society. The statistics paint a grim picture: a woman is raped every three minutes in some corner of this country. This is not just a number; it represents the ongoing trauma, fear, and injustice that millions of women endure. It is a damning indictment of a society that fails to protect its most vulnerable citizens, even as it claims to honor women as goddesses.
The irony is that while we build grand temples in the names of female deities, we fail to create a safe environment for the women who walk among us. We need to shift our focus from superficial gestures of reverence to tangible actions that ensure the safety and dignity of women. This means not just fasttracking rape cases in the courts but also fostering a culture of respect and equality from a young age. It is time we stop lighting candles and start taking concrete actions. Fast-track courts must deliver timely justice, and society must collectively work towards creating a safer environment for women. True empowerment lies not in symbolic gestures but in ensuring that every woman can live her life with dignity and security. As the Sanskrit shloka goes: " yatra naryastu pujyante ramante tatra devata" (Where women are honored, divinity blossoms there.) Let us strive to honor our women not just in words but in actions that reflect a nation truly committed to their safety and empowerment.
(The author is a Journalism student of Gauhati University. All thoughts and views expressed are the author’s own.)
