Freedom to be...Azadi Dil ki!

So says the Indian Preamble …

WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens: JUSTICE, social, economic and political;LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation; IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.

I seldom write about the current issues. Not that they do not interest me! Just that this blog is my personal space which I never contemplated making a debating battle ground or an e-news paper which imparts news we already know!

However the latest deplorable attack on women in a pub in Mangalore gave me the impetus to write this post. It’s sad to know how these saviors of the culture who had earlier troubled Northern Regions of India have now crept in Southern India too. The saffron clad hoodlums, who ironically are referred as, 'Sri Ram Sena', hit and kicked the women so that they could preserve Indian Culture? With such heinous acts, the Preamble of India becomes completely worthless.
As per the newspaper - "On receiving the report that these women were consuming alcohol, which is not allowed in our culture, our workers reached the pub and punished them", said the hypocrites of Ram Sena.

So I am wondering whether is it just me or have you also observed that’s lately we are rabidly bigoted of a view that is not in sync with ours ? Even shoddier, we don't know why! Whosoever made these people the rescuer and preserver of Indian Culture in the first place?!
What an Irony? Legend has it that Rama; lord Vishnu's reincarnation was a guardian not the demolisher, for he sheltered the interests of those priests who were bothered by Rakshasas sent by Ravana. Looking at the recent Mangalore incident, it wouldn't be difficult for any sensible person to tell apart between Rakhshas and Lord Ram. Its strange how under the subterfuge of the name of “Shri Ram Sena”, emerges a bunch of hooligans who are actually Rakshas of the 21st century who show their strength by hitting defenseless women. I don’t wish to debate on the pub issue as of now. However I would like to argue on the morality of men abusing women openly in the name of religion, acting as saviors of Indian Culture.

The shameless Sri Ram Sena Chief further claims that women hit in the Mangalore Pub incident were apparently “just like” his sisters. Now, which part of the Hinduism articulates that sisters can be beaten? I wonder how these unabashed “Sena” of men worship Goddess like Durga, Laxmi and Parvati. If they cannot respect living women, there’s little or no reverence they can show to these mere stone statues.

Picture This!

Every 26 minutes a woman is molested.
Every 54 minutes a rape takes place.
Every 4 minutes a woman is kidnapped.
Every 10 minutes a woman is burnt to death over dowry.
Every 7 minutes a criminal offence against women takes place.
Dowry deaths have gone up from 5,513 in 1996 to 6,917 in 1998.
Cases of rape from 14,846 to 15,031.
Torture from 35,246 to 41,318.
Molestation from 28,939 to 31,046.
Sexual harassment from 5,671 to 8,123.

Source
InDEV May 2001 2nd edition

It seems that, the gender feud still continues in spite of feminist invasions. Feminists have somehow managed to liberate women from the tyranny of men and have successfully been able to convert a domestic woman to a competent professional but their pursuit for egalitarianism seems unachievable.

In the end we all ponder on - what are we actually fighting for and what precisely does liberty mean in India? Does it imply struggling and fighting for parity or pure freedom from male tyranny? Do we need another Dushehra to set these Rakshas on fire? Is this the Free India we are envisaging?

I feel it was easier for Gandhi to liberate our country from British realm. But who will liberate us from each other?..I wonder…..

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