TW: Mention Sexual Violence
I am writing this post today with immense pain, shock, grief, anger and frustration. I am feeling it all at the same time.
I am experiencing these emotions because later this evening, I read an open letter by Arpita Sahu, a civil judge and my former batchmate, sharing her experience of sexual harassment and injustice.
I urge you to read the letter attached below.
This story of sexual harassment has filled me with hopelessness. I am not going to elaborate much on my emotions or the increasing data on sexual violence. We know. The number of cases is out there.
We know sexual violence is a horrifying reality in every space, be it home, office, road, school, or hospital, and now we know even courtrooms are not safe.
I will not dive deeper into the impact of sexual abuse either; the letter represents the painful reality.
“What Justice will I give to others when I am myself hopeless? I have no will to live anymore. I have been rendered to a Walking Corpse in the last year and a half. There is no purpose in carrying this soulless and lifeless body around anymore. There is no purpose left in my life.” Arpita’s words vividly convey the gravity of the incident, showing the profound impact it has had on her life.
I have spoken to many women who have experienced sexual trauma, sharing similar emotions. Just like Arpita, many end up losing the motivation to live after sexual abuse incidents.
There is a study that reveals a disturbing correlation: individuals who experienced sexual abuse and later attempted suicide demonstrated a higher incidence of suicidal behaviour in their history compared to those who did not face sexual abuse.
In solidarity with Arpita and countless other women who experienced violence, I want to ask:
Dear system,
If you don’t enable justice, if you don’t enable fair enquiry, if you don’t listen, what is the point of Beti Bacho, Beti Padhao? Prohibiting coaching centres from allowing girls in UP to take late classes will not create safety.
What is the point of all the women’s reservations and the drama?
Why not end our lives collectively, sparing us the lifelong struggle for our rights? The very rights we tirelessly fight for throughout our existence.