THE TV footage showing a girl being molested by a group of perverts in Guwahati shocked the entire nation (Cover Story, August 10). The recurrence of such incidents is a blot on Indias democracy. Whenever such cases are reported, there is a tendency to blame the victims for wearing provocative clothes. But can anyone guarantee that women in saris will reach their homes safely in broad daylight given the statistics that a woman is molested every 26 minutes in India? Sexual violence against women in all age groups is on the rise.
The abysmal conviction rate in rape cases and other statistics reveal the grave truth that India is the fourth worst place in the world for women to live in.
THE Cover Story revealed the alarming increase in the incidence of violence and harassment against women and in gender-based discrimination. The country should be really ashamed of the act of molestation in Guwahati. It is ironic that the reporter who covered the incident and supplied the best evidence that led to the arrest of the culprits is now facing an inquiry. Laws with the objective of protecting womens rights have been enacted, but they are not implemented because of systemic defects.
WE need to reflect on why incidents similar to the one in Guwahati happen in our society. They can no longer be considered as isolated, and it is the media that is playing a key role in exposing them. The confidence of women would improve to some extent if India had a strong legal system in place.
THE National Crime Records Bureau can only keep a record of crimes that are reported, but what of unreported crimes? The possibility of women filing a complaint in cases such as rape is still very low. Affected women should be motivated to seek justice.
THE Cover Story highlighted the absence of political will to protect women. Unfortunately, even in Kerala, known for its matriarchal traditions, cases of harassment of women, demand for dowry and male preference are on an upward swing. Certain personal laws, which no political party wants to touch for the fear of losing votes, also add to the many problems faced by women. This brings shame to the worlds largest democracy whose majority religion has many powerful and revered female deities.
Sajjad ZaheerWHAT a great visionary Sajjad Zaheer was to postulate the inclusion of the socialist objective in the Indian nationalist movement (A versatile communist, August 10).
During my childhood when I asked my father about Indias independence movement, he hardly knew anything about it. Many elders in my village were similarly ignorant. I felt very sad. I could get the answers I wanted from the interview Zaheer gave H.D. Sharma.
Mrinal GoreMRINAL GORE remains a source of inspiration for todays women (Feisty activist, August 10).
Rajesh KhannaTHE obituary of Rajesh Khanna was one of the finest tributes I have read (Heart-throb of an era, August 10). In his four-decade career, he appeared in about 163 films and was the solo lead in 106 of them. Owing to the many mega hits he starred in, he sparked a frenzy never seen before or since.
CinemaTHE article on the movie G angs of Wasseypur highlighted its dark aspects (Blood and lust, August 10). In India, film production houses create a lot of hype for their movies as if they are going to change the whole scenario of Indian cinema. The movie ought not to be compared to The Godfather because the characters in it do not have the status of any of the characters in the latter.
Higgs bosonTHE Cover Story articles on the Higgs boson were relevant, timely and thorough (Ultimate particle, July 27). Thanks a lot for the detailed coverage of the Large Hadron Collider experiments, the outcome of which enthralled the scientific community and mesmerised the common man.
ANNOUNCEMENTCOMMents
COMMents
SHARE