I was there on Saturday. From 10 am to 6:30 pm. Yes
I got wet with the water cannons. Yes I had tears in my eyes and a burning throat
because of the tear gas. Yes I was beaten twice with the ‘laathi’ by a male
constable. Yes my left ear went deaf for three hours after a bomb exploded right
beside it. Not just me, 50,000 other Delhites wet through the same or even worse.
What was our crime? Our crime was sitting
peacefully, singing ‘Hum honge kaamyab ek din’ and asking for justice for a 23
year old girl, battling for her life after being raped & almost murdered
inhumanly. Our crime was to ask for change in laws for all rape accused, to
make it a non-bailable offense.
We were quietly protesting, no violence but the
govt considered it apt to dismiss us. Forcefully. Violently. There was no
political motive behind the protest. Only students, young working groups &
parents formed the mob. Everyone was angry but peaceful. Yet we were beaten.
Some admitted to the hospital. Because they were bleeding. Hit by laathi. Why?
Because they wanted justice for a girl they don’t even know the name of.
I'm perturbed. To the core. But at least I'm proud
of being a Delhite & being a part of what can be called a revolution as far
as women safety is concerned. I'm proud that so many people came forward,
without any fear, & stood for what they felt was right. The strength of the
girls was surprisingly very high & they were not afraid of laathi charge. I
applaud their courage in the protests. Yes, there was a minor percentage of the
violent crowd who were there only to damaged public property. Excluding those
morons, it was wonderful to see that people have the courage to speak up for
their rights. If this is the future of our country, then there is hope.
All the pessimists out there saying "In
protest se kuch change nahi hoga." When has there, ever, been a change
without the presence of hope? At least do your bit, join the protests, if not,
spread the word online. Boond boond se hi sagar banta hai. How would any change
come by if you give up even before trying because nothing has happened so far? And
if you still can't do anything, then you have no right to crib & blame it
on the system. Remember, you are a part of the same system, if you are sitting
idle at home, cribbing.
Having been there, then seeing on TV and reading
about the protests all this while, a torment inside me has shaped up, that's
beyond my control. I am trying to calm myself but it doesn’t help. I’m sure it is
for good. I have gained the courage to slap a man in public if he tries to touch
me intentionally. For the first time, I stared hard at the group of the guards
at my society gate, leching at me, every time I enter my society gate. I used
to ignore them. But no more. I stared at them and their cheesy smile faded
away. It works girls, protesting at your own level works. The first thing I'm
going to teach my daughter is to raise her voice & not 'ignore'. If you're
ignoring a crime, you’re equally responsible for the consequences. It was her
that day, it could be you tomorrow. This needs to stop here. Now. You don’t
have to wait for the system to bring on the system, it YOU who can control what
happens with you. Speak up. Raise your voice. Protest.
I am proud to say that I am a Delhi girl and I want
my first child to be a girl.
