Every other day, we wake up reading news somewhere in the crime section of various leading newspapers that report rape along the length and breadth of our country. Some among us read this section with utmost grief and blame the concerned administration or lambast the victims/accused, while some blame society and ignore it by believing that rapes will not stop in this country forever.
It may sound true if we peek into various reports, like this one by the Thomson Reuters Foundation where they found India to be the most dangerous country for women with sexual violence rife. Besides, India ranked 133 out of 167 countries in the Women, Peace & Security Index.
About 33,658 rape cases has been registered across India in 2017. But, however, as a historically cultural and progressive democratic nation, we have to find solutions to this demonic menace and empower women to cope up equally in day-to-day life with pride and honour.
Rape As A Political And Military Tool
Rape was propagated as a political tool since ages as the winning side gained land, treasure and women after ousting their opponents. Rape, as a tool, was also used to spread religion or sometimes, used in ethnic cleansing. The bloodiest history of World War II was filled with innocent blood of thousands of Chinese women in the Nanjing Massacre committed by Japanese soldiers in 1937. The women in war-torn and ISIS controlled Middle East are subjected to severe sexual violence post the Arab Spring of 2011. We are also ashamed of sexual violence being done on women in the Uyghur region of China and also in Rakhine Province of Myanmar.
Veer Savarkar in his book Six Glorious Epochs of Indian History, justified rape as political tool and had fantasised Hindu kings raping Muslim women. He even criticised the Maratha hero Chhatrapati Shivaji for sparing the daughter-in-law of Kalyan’s Muslim governor, who was defeated in war. He lambasted Peshwa Chimaji Appa for sending back Bassein’s Portuguese Governor’s wife after the capturing the region.
The Kunan Pushpora mass rapes of 1991, allegedly by four personnel of Rajputana Rifles, sowed hatred in Kashmiri hearts.
In contemporary times, we have witnessed rape as a political tool after the emergence of Bilkis Bano’s case in national media. The Hon’ble Supreme Court directed the Gujarat government to award a compensation of ₹50 lakh to her in April this year. The 2012 Delhi case shook the entire country and people from all sections took to the streets with candle marches and demanded action to be taken against perpetrators.
Yet, the Kathua incident, was given a communal colour by political parties and it started a Hindu vs. Muslim debate which was very disgraceful to this great nation.
Candle Marches And Other Forms Of Protest
Almost after every rape case which comes into the limelight, people throng along the roads with candles in support of victims and asking for justice. In the recent rape case reported in Hyderabad, people went on to show their anger by leading a violent mob and attacked the convoy of police in which accused were being taken to the court for case hearing.
The emotional psyche of people is slowing changing to a violent phase day-by-day, after each case from peaceful candle marches. In recent past, many women spoke against sexual violence on social media through the #MeToo movement where names of prominent personalities like Anu Malik, MJ Akbar, Nana Patekar, Alok Nath, Chetan Bhagat among others surfaced. Actress Sri Reddy conducted a nude protest against sexual exploitation in Tollywood.
Laws Against Rape
Rape is defined under Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code. It was modified to a strict format after the Delhi gangrape incident in the form of Criminal Amendment Act, 2013. Also, we have POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act, 2012 which gives punishment for sexual violence committed against children under 18 years of age. Additionally, there is the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 which may be used by working women against sexual violence.
The Way Forward
Social reforms and stringent punishment along with full conviction rate may bring down the rapes across the country besides empowering women from the present patriarchial outlook. Also, imbibing younger generation with gender sensitization and nurturing children with ethics and morality may yield good results.
Further, checking on women objectification, especially typical ‘item songs’ like Munni Badnaam Hui and Chikni Chameli on the silver screen will help. The promotion of alcohol and other intoxicating substances should be discouraged which may lower the rates of sexual violence in the longer run.