Creativity Strikes

Men, in India, have to be a creative lot. I fail to understand If it's nature or nurture that arouses this genius creativity bug in them.

I believe I am not the only one to notice this talent. If we were to conduct a survey among the women, 99.999% of them will give a nod to my observation. You may have noticed it too. On the streets, in the autos, in buses, Office space, in the movies (where its dark!). Are you confused? Am I making no sense altogether? What is it that I am referring to exactly?

Well if its a woman reading this she may have experienced this when her pallu falls of her shoulders, the dupatta gives into gravity, the kurta takes wings with the wind baring those tight churidars underneath, when you reach up for the file on the top shelf and oops! you expose a part of your anatomy - your waist (everyone has one). I see the darkness lift and I making more sense now. The best one comes on the days when you are feeling fat and you decide to wear that lose sweater and you bend to pick up whatever it that you dropped and there it is! Jackpot for the 'stronger sex' and the imagination soars!!!


A lot of us, take these lightly because we believe we are the luckier lot. We have not been abused, we have not been beaten, we have not been raped, we have not been killed. We believe we have saved ourselves all these years because we ignored the glances, the touch, the stare. Mothers and Aunts have taught us for decades that you turn a blind eye and the world will be just fine. Dare you hurl back an abuse, dare you stare back, dare you raise your head and look them in the eye.

What If I don't want to be stared at, what If I want to walk freely, what If I don't want to carry that pepper spray in my bag, what If I tell you that culture is not about the length of my skirt but how my society treats me in public, will you laugh at my naivety?

The one thing that has always made me think - what is the solution, if there is one! Its no surprise that the issue permaetse all boundaries- Religion, Caste, Region, Rich, Poor. Barriers are withdrawn and everyone unites in the 'cause' So obviously, the problem is big and strong. Ray of hope is feeble. It has to start with us, our family, our friends. Take the step, make the effort, bring the change.

Saving Nirbhaya

We have completed 16 days and 6 hours since the Nirbhaya verdict came out.

The verdict came at a time when the ruling party - UPA - is battling suggestions of an empire that has failed its people. The party which was supposed to stand by the common man (Congress ka haath aam admi ke saath), has left him struggling all by himself. Abandoned and scared, the common man realizes his folly and wants to choose again.

It is the time of elections and we are set on someone much less reticent. However, having tasted power for 10 solid years, the UPA, will not leave any stone unturned. To counter this gloomy weather of low economic development and rising CAD, UPA decides to unveil its box of treasures. Out pops half hearted attemtps like the Food Security Bill, Land Acquisition Bill, etc. With Namo mowing down on their future aspirations (another 10 long years) and RaGa not helping much (whats with his dreams v/s the nations'), the UPA is looking for a last minute fix.

And Voila! the Nirbhaya case is put on fast track and justice is delivered. How wrong was the defense lawyer, when he called the verdict - politically motivated. Maybe all he was trying to do was sponge off some media attention in the run.
What of the other Nirbhayas awaiting justice? Statistics say that there is a rape reported every 22 minutes in India. Mind you, most never get reported. Don't these women deserve to be heard. Don't their families need 'closure'. Should their anguish be pushed into eternal darkness just because there is not an election around the corner.

If the media has to spread signature campaigns to reach the Govt's attention, If college campuses have to be turned into dharna spots to make a point, If candles have to be burned by an entire city for the administration to take notice, If news reporters have to pester the leaders of our nation with embarrassing questions so that they finally wake up, then we have all failed as a nation, as Indians, as human beings.

Then we have no right to turn around and point fingers at that defence lawyer, who believes, he would rather kill his daughter than let her have a boyfriend.