Sunday 30 December 2012

Raped. Gang Raped.


On December 16th, 2012, a 23 year old paramedic student was raped and beaten up by six men in a private bus in Delhi. Thirteen days later, she finally succumbed to her injuries and died in a hospital in Singapore. I shall not get into the facts of the gang rape, as most of you are already well versed with it. However, what followed this rape case was what I believe is even more shameful and nauseating.

Everyone decided that this was the right time to grab their fifteen seconds in the limelight. The media went ballistic trying to report every minute detail from what the victim had had for breakfast to when her next poop was scheduled, while rapes continued unnoticed all around the country. The youth meanwhile decided that it was high time for them to do something. Proactive, as they are, they decided to resort to facebook and twitter to ensure rapes do not happen in the future. People violently protested on the roads of Delhi leading to government property being damaged, police having to resort to violence to control the mob, and ten metro stations being shut down in the capital indefinitely. Perfect steps to ensure that rapes do not happen henceforth.

The more creative people decided to take to the streets with plays and songs in order to discourage people from indulging in rapes and showing their solidarity with the rest of a few thousand morons who had already lined up.

The sole topic of conversation at every coffee shop, dining table and roadside tapri is the same- should rapists be given capital punishment or should they be chemically castrated? The same time has also been efficiently utilised by our politicians to come up with statements which conclusively puts their intellect at the same level as my maid’s pet mongrel.

Now, let me give you the facts and figures and explain why this phenomenon amuses and nauseates me at the same time.

Section 376(2) of the Indian Penal Code lays down the punishment for gang rape with rigorous imprisonment for a minimum of ten years which may extend to a life term, along with a fine. And now there is a call to reform the law and impose the death sentence. Now, one must understand that laws are not made overnight. The framers of these laws do not make them arbitrarily. They discuss every minute aspect in detail before coming to a conclusion. The increased number of rapes is not therefore due to a flaw in the law, but a flaw in the law enforcing authorities and agencies.


A 2009 report stated that there were more than 300 prisoners on death row, 28 of whom were waiting for presidential pardons, while the rest had appealed in front of the various appellate courts in the country. Since then, there has only been one execution, so it is only reasonable to assume that the numbers have increased. The rest of these 300-400 odd people are serving their time in prison, exactly the same way that they’d spend it, if they are convicted under Section 376 of the IPC.

Another report suggests that in India, a rape happens every 54 minutes. Barely a year back, NDTV published an article stating that Delhi has the maximum number of rape cases. Since then, very little has been done by the Delhi administration, and nobody seemed bothered about it, till this particular girl got raped.

Subsequent to the girl getting raped, she has been termed as a ‘braveheart’ and received the name ‘Damini’ from the Bollywood movie where the protagonist fights to protect a rape victim. Let me clarify here, there is nothing brave that the girl did. What happened to her was unfortunate but it was not a danger she faced knowingly, and neither did she manage to overcome it. What then, was so “brave” about her act?

There were 414 rape cases reported in Delhi in 2010. What makes this stand out? Why was this girl different from the hundreds of others who are raped? There are women who are subjected to marital rape every single day, and their voices go unheard. Very often people do not even get to know about these cases. These women who manage to go through life facing trauma every day are braver than the girl who just died. But then again, uploading a status on gang rape and expressing your solidarity will surely get you more “likes” than something as drab as marital rape.

By symbolically naming the victim of the Delhi gang rape case, all that the media houses have managed to do is double their TRPs, and all that you idiots have managed to do is upload 6 meaningless statuses on facebook in a desperate attempt to show that you care, when you could not be bothered less, covered in your blanket with your cup of hot chocolate.

Two thirds of the world’s countries have abolished the death penalty and accepted that executions are unacceptable under any circumstance. Yet, we speak of chemical castration and death by hanging. So, it’s perfectly okay for us to behave in a barbaric fashion, but it’s wrong if a criminal commits a barbaric act? What then, is the difference between you and the men on the bus? The violent protests outside India Gate and the Presidential Palace have proven that the same barbaric mentality is prevalent amongst all Indians- all that differs is the degree and the way they express their barbarism.

The vast majority of women who get raped do not have the means to be transported and treated in Singapore. By treating this case specially, you, the Indian aam aadmi, have proven yet again, that your empathy can only reach out to those who can afford it.

By making this a public spectacle, you have successfully raped whatever was left of the victim’s dignity. And mind you, since all of you have done it together, and on various platforms simultaneously, it is as good as gang rape.

Our society has always needed something that they can discuss relentlessly, and pretend to feel passionate about, over a cup of steaming chai. For the past twenty three years, it has been Sachin Tendulkar. I guess his shoes have been filled up pretty soon after his retirement. Well done! I am sure your mothers and sisters are proud of you.

4 comments:

  1. Yeah reading this right after talking with a friend from the Calcutta high court about taking up an education in law after this, I feel much more motivated. Honestly I'm glad you aren't a part of the media circus anymore...but then again the grass is always greener on the other side.

    I tried to reason with several people about how the death penalty doesn't make sense but to no avail.Instead of combating crime one should combat sentimentality and emotional vulnerability. That should be the first step.

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  2. Your article is good. And I agree with most of it. But I dont agree with you on this,
    "Two thirds of the world’s countries have abolished the death penalty and accepted that executions are unacceptable under any circumstance. Yet, we speak of chemical castration and death by hanging. So, it’s perfectly okay for us to behave in a barbaric fashion, but it’s wrong if a criminal commits a barbaric act? What then, is the difference between you and the men on the bus?" and the part in which you asked us why this particular incident is being consider this special and the rest of the rape's which are happening in India are left unheard of.
    Firstly, what are you suggesting we do? Give them a life imprisonment? What do you think they will do after the 12 years? And about the chemical castrations and all, do you think what the men did was right? Do you think any of these people (who are protesting against the accused) would have even thought of doing the castration to those 6 men, if they were not involved in this case. Did the girl do something against the six of of them? I guess not, but what did they do to her? They raped her and mutilated her genital organs and internal organs. So no offence dude, HOW DARE you compare this extremely barbaric act (by the 6 men) to the frustration of 1000's of Indians?
    Secondly, the thing about the unheard rapes, which sadly are a lot more than the known ones and probably more bloody, they are unheard of because the victims hesitate to open up to the authorities! They are either threatened or they fear exposure. And why do they not have faith in the authorities? Because they see men who has raped mercilessly, get arrested and coolly get out of prison after 5 or 6 years on account of "good behaviour". What do you think they do after the 5 years, they may murder their previous victim (who reported to the authorities despite the threats) and lead on with their previous lives.
    This particular case got this much attention as there was one other guy in the scene (with the girl) who saw most of it and he reported to the authorities about what happened. And the particular fact that the incident happened in a moving bus, at like, 9 pm in a Delhi night. In my opinion, its more than enough to create a sensational case.
    And the thing you said about the need to strengthen the laws, what do you think that will do man? These laws however great they are and whatever time it took to formulate those, are only applicable AFTER a girl loses her everything. So we are perfectly incapable of preventing rapes right?
    Thats the place where the intensity of the punishment comes to play. Well this must be notion of most perverts in India now, "There comes a girl. She's lonely. I can rape her or mutilate her. She wont say anything. Even if she does I can get off in 2 or 3 years time." Show those guys a death sentence. I bet atleast some of them will think atleast once before thinking the above, the next time.
    And do think man, will you be thinking the same way (that you are now) if it were your sister or mother on that private bus. I sure hope not. No, i'm sure you would have shared the common frustration and would have wanted the men, killed or castrated or whatever.
    This is just my opinion. You have yours. Its all good. Right to speech :)

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  3. Very good article. I read a lot of your blogs today. You have so much of hatred inside you, not that I am complaining.
    Honestly? I suggest do things to make yourself happy. Help anyone and everyone in any and every way you can. Yes, this world is a shithole and will always pull you down. But hey? If you can hate, why not love?
    I agree to most of the above and if I had been given a chance to take a decision about this, I would have handed over the culprits to the people and let them do whatever they want. Human laws apply to human offenses. while this was inhuman.
    But you cannot compare domestic sexual abuse and the paramedic's case. Yes, the act is same but not the magnitude. Any girl in her position would have succumbed. Even I didn't understand the term 'Nirbhaya' or 'Damini'.
    But you cant say "These women who manage to go through life facing trauma every day are braver than the girl who just died" either. You cant compare. This girl didn't have a chance to be brave.

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