To think of celebrating international
women’s day after some unspeakable violence ensued, ironically, out of protest
against a crime committed against women, actually feels odd. Rape, as many of
us would agree, has destroyed the very fabric of our society. And as
frustrating as it is that we are yet to find a solution to this social ill, we
also know that no amount of punishment can ever compensate for the damage
caused by rape, emotionally, mentally, and physically.
And yet, what good does it do to a
society, if a crime is paid with another crime? At the end of the day, I
believe many of us, if not the majority, sat thinking and rethinking of the
Dimapur incident that stole headlines all over the world. Not really because
Nagaland was, in that instant, placed in a bad, dark, negative light but
because, the brutality with which the entire episode was carried out, is
totally unthinkable! I cannot begin to comprehend how many of them jubilantly
continued to take photographs in such a situation, with no touch of humanity
whatsoever.
The comments pouring in from all over
the world, intriguingly suggest that we will always have divided opinions on
issues such as this. Some of them were appalled, shocked, and disturbed by the barbaric
act while some bluntly said a rapist deserves such punishment, just as our
people are also divided on the issue.
But after everything, this one incident
does more harm than good. One may also ask, if women are now happy that
somebody, accused of rape, was put to death in such a horrifying manner. It
was, after all, supposedly on our account, our safety and our wellbeing. Well,
the answer for me is NO. It did not, in any way, bring me comfort. It did not
make me feel any safer. It did not make me believe that violence against women
will now be on its way of becoming a thing of the past. And let’s face it, it
wasn’t only a rage against rape but more so, the issue of the Illegal
Bangladeshi Immigrant (IBI).
Why, things would have been different
otherwise, and both you and I know it!
Sadly, afterwards, many people didn’t
even have the heart for it, and including some of those who did not participate
in the ordeal, still thought that it was the right thing to do. But just how is
that the right thing to do? How is it right that civilians take the law into
their hands? How is right that students in school uniform are part of such a
nightmare? How is it right for a mob to break into a central jail? How is it
right to be even happy in such a circumstance?
It is understood that the mob was angry
and reasonably so given the circumstances. Understood that the society condemns
rape, that the issue of IBI is a problem that needs to be dealt with sooner
than later, and in such a situation, one can imagine what must go through a
protestor’s mind. But to allow oneself to be part of such barbarism and such
cruelty in the end, makes us no better than animals.
And to think that it was for the cause
of women. Or at least that was what was portrayed. And coincidentally, it’s
women’s day…should we be happy?
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