Skip to main content

What are we going to do about it ?

I cannot fathom the monstrosity of this act . I have been living in this city for 5 years and it had never occured to me that something as brutal and gory could have happened , until a few days ago . I have taken a cab multiple times to the airport in the middle of the night at odd hours . Sometimes because late night flights are cheaper. One such day my cab did break down and now in hindsight I think I am just lucky. When I think about it - was it the lonely stretch near Shamshabad or could it have been film nagar or even banjara hills . The place , the circumstances, the time probably didn't play a role at all. Timid, bold , shy , adventurous - whatever you are , doesn't even count. 4 men ! It took just 4 sick minded men to commit such a henious act. It makes me think what kind of mindset would need to have to do something as horribly animalistic as this ? Ultimately it boils down to a woman and her body ? But why would be so sexually frustrated that you would inconsiquentially go ahead rape, murder and burn a human . I fail to understand this psyche . Why wouldnt you find a prostitute and rather pay for sex .Why wouldnt you just do anything else but go after a lone woman on a street near a toll plaza ? It will take us a couple of days till we forget that incident . But this city is scarred just like Delhi was with Nirbhaya .
I wonder if its just in this country that something like would happen . Is it because of the legal system is so paralyzed ? Is it because these perpetrators are fearless or is their lack of understanding, education or something else ? If we had a stronger law and order system would this stop ? If we had a tighter surveillance system would this stop ? What can the police as protectors of society do with a population and a vast country like ours ? What can anyone do ?or what could have anyone have done ?

Would self defence have worked against 4 men ? Would pepper spray have worked ? I don't know if anything would have worked , except the fact that if she her bike hadn't broken down and if she hadn't sought help from those strangers. 

Yesterday was Friday and we didn't step out just feeling unsafe . The feeling has passed but this is the first time I feel the fear . I have been advised to tone down my adventurous side and be vigilant . But this is just a reaction until it happens so close to you . 
One of the first things I did was to order a pepper spray .
I have also made a conscious decision not to take midnight flights or early morning flights any longer .
I want to enroll for a self defence class even if I can't fight 4 people. 
The only thing we can probably do is be sensible and not create a situation that would put us in this spot.

For all you women out there . Stay safe ! Make conscious choices and be brave.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

itadaki Mas - The Japanese thank you for the meal at the table .

 頂きます（いただきます） to receive; to get; to accept; to take (humble). This explains why you say it before you eat. You're "receiving" food, after all. Itadakimasu (and its dictionary form itadaku 頂く いただ ) comes from Japan's roots in Buddhism, which teaches respect for all living things. I was introduced to itadaki masu by my Japanese friend Etsuko who had dinner with us at my home in Lonavala. It turned out that Etsuko had a sudden pasta craving and wanted me to cook some for her.  Before our meal, Etsuko thanked my mother with clasped palms as a gesture of gratitude, for the hands that cook our meals. Etsuko then introduced us to the concept of itadak imasu and also told us that this meant saying thank you to everyone in the chain of food distribution - bringing to mind the farmer and his family, the truck driver who drives the produce to the city and so on . A second of thought is given to each person in this chain of bringing food to our table. At that point, I remember b...
1 comment
Read more

Be like the moss :)

  Have you ever noticed "moss" ?Yes,  the green stuff that grows all over . Have you ever paid attention to the moss growing on a rock or a wall . Where I grew up, there is a lot of moss when it rains. It always makes the wall look colorful with different shades of green. Does the moss know it doesn’t get any attention from us ? Does it care ? Perhaps not. It continues to provide a great habitat and is a source of food for many insects. Did you know that the moss helps the ecosystem perform effectively ? It plays quite an interesting role in retaining water, stabilizing the ground and removing CO2. In World War II, Sphagnum  moss  was used as a bandage to stop bleeding wounds and it had some antibiotic effects. So some mosses have healing properties too.   Now does the moss know that it is such a critical part of the ecosystem and still does not get the attention it deserves. ? But does it stop thriving or does it selflessly continue doing its jo...
8 comments
Read more

Are you a people pleaser?

A people pleaser maybe some one who just cannot say no, at the cost of making other people happy. It could mean that you want to avoid conflict. Most often than not people pleasing is simply exhausting. Where does people pleasing come from? Sometimes from the need to be accepted . Fear of rejection is a driver that makes most of us become people pleasers. A constant sense to indicate that you may be hurting the other person by saying no. People pleasing would mean constantly allowing people to cross your boundaries. It is therefore important to reflect and understand what your boundaries are . While it is seen as a nice trait in people at a superficial level , it can be equally damaging. You may find people taking you for granted. You may find yourself physically or emotionally drained. You may find yourself ending up in an abusive situation. Being nice to people, may not always be a good at the cost of your peace and the rate of emotional depletion. Learning to say No doesn’t come int...
9 comments
Read more