Rape is one of the most heinous crimes done by one human to control, dominate and force the other to their own will. It is a world-wide phenomenon. Whatever reasons might be behind it- social, religious or in wars, it carries the same crushing shame, anger and emotional trauma. Here I would like to discuss rape in the Indian context.
Barring the metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, the Indian woman's sexuality is still a very taboo thing. Most Indian women are still very oppressed and don't have equal rights (I'm not talking of the 10% belonging to the upper elite). While most men have some sort of a sexual experience before marriage, they expect their brides to be virgins with a clean character (?) There are a lot of other things too that they expect but we'll discuss them in another context. Now in such a scenario, a girl who is raped, on top of the grief caused by the actual incident has to face the ruthless treatment meted out to them by the society. Usually the girl is treated as some sort of an alien and is subjected to lecherous and curious looks. And if she is unmarried, she can conveniently forget about marrying. It's very hard to get a marriage proposal. Not that marriage is the ultimate goal for any woman, but a single girl is treated worse. The saddest part is Indian men give more importance to the hymen than a girl's personality. Though the mindset of people in the bigger cities is changing, its still the same in the towns and villages which constitute a major chunk of India.
A movie released recently in Andhra Pradesh which dealt about rape. In that there is a dialogue referring to marrying a rape victim -" How can a man eat in a plate in which someone has already eaten?" (sick!) This clearly reflects the typical Indian male's mindset. The rape victim is looked upon as if she is at fault and somehow asked for it. No wonder 60-70% of rape cases go unreported. If it's an already married woman, the fate of the woman depends upon the husband. If he is a bit broad-minded he keeps her, if not- he dumps her. Its not only the men, even the women have the same attitude. The women have an 'holier-than-thou' attitude and wouldn't hesitate to shred another girl's character to shreds just to portray themselves as 'good' girls. First of all, we as a society must stop ostracizing rape victims and give all the emotional
support they need.
As for the cases that are reported, very few get punishment. Often the woman is bombarded with all sorts of humiliating questions and the cases are withdrawn midway. If the perpetrator is influential and rich, its assured that justice will be thrown out of the window. There was a recent controversial case of 20- year old actress Pratyusha's
rape-murder case. She was allegedly raped and murdered by the sons of some political big-wigs which was later turned to a suicide case. There was lot of hue and cry over many of the discrepancies in the case, the hospital where she was admitted claimed to 'accidentally' destroy all the evidence. Now, the case has been hushed up. Not many people have faith on the law system and as a result the girl has to suffer all by herself and to see her rapist roaming around freely.
Now, the situation is much better. Previously there was clause in the law that says if the woman is proved to be of a bad character, the case is cancelled.I really cant understand what a woman's character has to do with the actual rape crime. A rape is a rape. Fortunately this clause was recently removed.
In the villages, they have a more ghastly solution to this problem. Instead of reporting the case, they marry the girl to the same guy who raped her. How much more terrible can it get? As for domestic rape, we can forget about it, the police wont even register the case!
If as a society we change our narrow mindset, though we cannot cut down the trauma caused by the actual rape, we can give all the emotional support that the victim needs and see that rapist is behind the bars. This would at least result in the reduction of rape crimes in the country.
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I think that rape is a serious crime. it’s not about sex but sick violence. Therefore the rapist should have his dick and testicals chopped off!
Posted by: houss at January 2, 2004 12:43 AM
Why isn’t the government helping these women? Is a long unsophisticated tradition going to keep women from their rights? I know we can’t cure the whole world but something must be done for these women. Men in India are raping infants, children, and women. This heinous crime must be stopped, who will be the one’s to save India and rescue it’s mothers? The U.S.?
Posted by: Mike at February 21, 2004 05:47 AM
Rape is an act of unhuman nature, its totally animal, and not human, when animals feed on human, kill them, not keep them in the jail and feed them, they laugh on the tv screen and media presents them,….beautiful india with ugly policy.
change it ..change such things not the flag. not the religion.
Posted by: raji at March 4, 2004 01:23 AM
TO MIKE AND ALSO ALL
YOU KNOW WHY GOVERNMENT IS NOT HELPING THESE WOMEN BECAUSE SOME OF THE PERSON WHO IS WORKING IN A GOVERNMENT ARE ALSO INVOLVED. I THINK THAT THAT IS WHY GOVERNMENT IS NOT HELPING THESE WOMEN. WOMEN MUST HELP THEMSELVES FROM THIS. GOVERNMENT IS JUST WORKING FOR THOSE WHO GIVES THEM MONEY. WHOLE INDIAN GOVERNMENT IS CORRUPTED BY BIG RICH BUSINESSMEN. GOVERNMENT MUST MAKE A STRICT LAW FOR THE RAPIST SO THAT GRAND CHILDREN ALSO SHOULDN’T THINK TO DO A RAPE - A HEINOUS CRIME.
Posted by: WOMAN WHO WAS FROM THIS KIND OF SMALL SITUATION at March 22, 2004 08:43 PM
I think rape is a crime which make the victim handicapped for her rest of the life and the one who committed this mistake must be prison for atleast 3 years and rest of the life he must penal to pay 1/4 of his property and earning . if women is willing to married the man who raped her is only may be allowed after his punishment ends for 3 yrs…unless i am sure there is no solution mita in support of victims
Posted by: mita at August 22, 2004 04:00 AM
In addition to my above commments I would llike to add following that is …rape is crime so every human is commited crime so in my opinion chopping off the dick or testicals are not advisable ,,,but criminal also may allowed to be rehabilate only after trials and punbishment ,,,,,,, so i advise is not to chopping off but to put penalty for the man rest of the life with financially …mita in supot of male who committted rape
Posted by: mita at August 22, 2004 04:07 AM
Mita is right
but you know that India and Pakistani laws has no teeth in their mouth. infact the bigwigs of these nations will get them selves in trouble if they will do any thing against such crime , so the bigwig’s body parts should be chopped.and the property that is been used for crime should be seized by the government and other tolls as well on the criminal.
Posted by: Gohar Sheikh at November 18, 2004 03:47 AM
I mean by this ,these big wigs are tend to do such criminal acts , after any effective legislations against rape will cause them to stop from this crime.
Posted by: Gohar Sheikh at November 22, 2004 03:28 AM
well it has to do do with the power relations in genders,the powerful against the weak and India being a long entrenched caste driven society i tis mostly amongst the outcaste women this kind of henious crimes are commited,I’m not negateing the fact that it isn’t happening to other women ofcourse yes,but mostly the bottom line women are affected coz no security is given either by the judiciary system aswell the police some serious alternative should be thought about to overcome this barbarious act.
Posted by: sujannaraj at December 20, 2004 12:12 AM
my name is raman. i was born in india but i have been living in the us for some years now. recently i have come across many rape articles. i was jus so disgusted wen i read articles in which ppl wud kidnap young girls 15 16 years n then she wud b raped by several ppl n affter some years they wud leave the girl after giving her some money. jus imagine been raped by 50 ppl.. how awfull can tht be. do all this ppl every realise wat these gilrs go through. a total strange forcing u. n a girl how is as young as 15 16 . she loses all the innocennce, her childness. the anger tht builts in. its jus so awful. n i was more mad wen i read tht some women organistion dont want death penlaity for the rapist. why thts all i have to ask. i think the girl shud be given the rite to kill the guy herself. i really wish there was sometihng i cud do to help these victims.. n not only rape victims. even prostiutes, even they dont do it coz they like tht. they do it coz of some problems. if some one know a way to help these pplplz let me knwo. i wud really appericate it.
Posted by: raman at January 14, 2005 01:39 PM
Friends
I don’t want to tell Rape is not a crime, but i want to say in some cases costume of women and their art of talking insists some rapes in india.
Posted by: Lalatendu at April 2, 2005 06:25 AM
Death Penalty is too little for a rapist. They should be given punishments like in Gulf countries, like cutting off hands,.. Because he should be kept as an example for himself and others who dare to do it.
Posted by: Prasad at April 19, 2005 10:34 AM
The person who involves in such an act should be punished as they been treated in other countries by injecting them with the drugs which will completely reduce their arousal galnds, by this act many other will have a fear in doing so
Posted by: kishore at April 26, 2005 08:01 AM
I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO THINK THAT ARE WE ABLE TO HELP THE VICTIM TO HAVE A BETTER LIFE AFTER THAT SITUATION .
WHERE SHE BE ABLE TO ADJUST AND MOVE ON…..
Posted by: febi.k.j at June 27, 2005 09:32 AM
The nature of the issue takes away the focus from other things that could be done.
How active is the media in this largest democracy?
I was appalled to learn that one ‘educated lady’ comes on national telly and states such atrocity is equivalent to death in a discussion show and such gems are let to slip through without highlight?
what impact would it have on 14 year old girls whose families can just afford a black and white portable telly and look forward to have a better life?
And has to work late nights travelling in unsafe transport systems?
who shall be accountable for her if such messages are let to float around…?
regards
Ubermensch
Posted by: Ubermensch at June 28, 2005 05:13 AM
Dear friends.
The article is of a great fact and it has been written beautifully. Now, the remedy to this crime is only one. ‘Our system’. It is also not advisable to let foreign countries interfere in our domestic problem. We Indians are strong enough to solve our own problem. The main root for this kind of shameful crime is the illliteracy. The political leaders are abusing thier power. All of the system is controlled by these people. We should amend our constitution for election. Any candidate who fights for election (to represent our people and our contry) should at least be college graduate. Should scrutanize thier police background strictly. They should not be able to control the law. Where can a person lead to his people and country if he cannot understand the depth of law and who does not have selfrespect and respect for his country. This is the only way to change our system and the way to punish the criminal and stop the crime. Is our all ministers educated? Do they know the value of law? Do they know the consequence of their negligiance towards the country? I doubt.
Posted by: Sandeep Rai at July 17, 2005 11:56 PM