RISING VOICES

A few nights ago, while sitting in my room reading The Kite Runner, I suddenly heard vituperative and loud voices, which forced me to go upfront to the back balcony to find the cause of this uproar. It turned out to be a severely drunk man, who was thumping the door, to get entrance in the house which his wife had locked herself in due to fear of physical abuse. The scene was contrary in the morning, when after constant apologies and reminders of the vows they took had forced the wife out of her safety shell, to open the doors.

Speaking to her, she told me how in the end he is her husband, and she is helpless. She doesn't have a secure job as a cook in the neighborhood, which makes her financially dependent on her husband, and said that her parents will refuse to help her out if she ever considers divorce. ‘Kismat hai mere’ (this is my fate), says Parvati, with tears dwelling in her eyes. The apparent agony on her face makes me question the rule of Law as it stands. The rule of law not on the paper, but in practice.

The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, has laid down the guidelines for the safety and security of women from the brutality they have to face at their home. The places where they are supposed to be at peace, their humble abode. But in Reality not many woman have the courage to go up and talk about this harassment. They are encouraged by their parents, their peers, and the society at large to not speak up. Not speak up, due to the reaction of the society, who instead of looking at them as victims instead makes them, the culprits.

The need of the hour is for the society as the whole to awaken. Not just you, or me, but everyone as a collaboration. Every parent needs to realize, every friend, every neighbor, and every man. If we won’t support the woman and daughters in our nation, if we won’t stand up for their respect, then who else will? Every person, whether man or woman has equal rights and standing in the society. And this is a scenario of a metropolitan city, of the Capital of the country. One can’t even begin to imagine the status of women in rural India. It’s high time, for we let the voice rise up, shouting together.

Posted By: Sakshi Chandra, brand ambassador "MY VOTE FOR a BETTER INDIA" social initiative by "Pickyouropinion.com".