Saturday, January 19, 2013

Thoughts on the Delhi Gang Rape

The gang rape that killed Jyoti Singh, a 23-year old student in India hogged the news and shocked the world the past weeks.  It happened during my busiest days when I hardly had the time to read beyond the headlines.   It was not disinterest or callousness on my part that I didn't bother to find out the details of the crime.

That a woman was raped in India is not new to me. An article in Rupee News said one woman is raped every twenty minutes in India but it is a "notoriously under-reported crime because of social stigma and that the culprits in most cases were known to the victims."  I lived there for two years and it isn't just once that case of rape was reported by the media.  Except that such cases were hardly discussed at length or addressed a as crime.  At best, the governments would respond by beefing up security for women, like ensuring that female BPO employees have shuttle service from work to home or by making arrangement for Ladies' Special buses in high-risk areas for women.  The issue would always boil down to security and safety rather than combating violence against women  

I also didn't religiously follow the news that Indians were angered and came out in throngs to protest the crime and demand action from the government.  Paradoxical it may seem but it was good news, it's about time this was talked about in public.

What finally got me to read about it was when the the Jyoti's friend, Awindra Pandey, came out to talk about their ordeal.  What jarred me was the fact that hardly anyone stopped to help them for almost 20 or 25 minutes when  Jyoti was bleeding profusely. Those precious minutes could have made a difference in her  chance of survival.  Awindra said it could have been fear that prevailed among the passersby that if they helped they would be made witness to the crime.  Equally appalling was sluggishness of the police who finally arrived,  their reluctance to take immediate action; didn't even bother to help him carry Jyoti to the van that took them to a distant hospital, because "they were probably worried about their clothes."  

Rape is rape, whether the rapist or rapists, in this case, used just his junk or more. It is violence.  It is not just wrong, it is unforgivable.  But I'm afraid to say that in my view, it was not just the rape that eventually killed Jyoti but the fear and apathy that prevailed, when courage and concern were required.  I do not blame those passersby but the reality is Jyoti is dead, it just makes me ask, what if someone helped the first minute Awindra cried for help?  What if the police acted promptly and responsibly?  Sometimes, what takes the life of a human being isn't just the action committed but the action that is omitted.  As Awindra had said,  "If you can help someone, help them.  If a single person had helped me that night, things would have been different."

Jyoti who could still smile when she saw her friend in the hospital would have survived the social stigma had she lived because what happened to her raised the social consciousness of Indian society.  It made them fearless to demand justice and action for Jyoti's rape and other women who are still victims of gender-based violence. As of date, the suspects have already been arrested, a commission has been set up to recommend measures to combat sexual violence.

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee called Jyoti a 'true hero".  I hope that her death would not be in vain, but instead would lead to reforms both in the system and the attitude  towards sufferings of other people.





7 comments:

  1. Yes I think society attitude need to be changed apart from policing etc.I just learn it this from one of my ex-colleague blog post about this piece"Most modern justice systems focus on a crime, a lawbreaker and a punishment. But a concept called “restorative justice” considers harm done and strives for agreement from all concerned — the victims, the offender and the community — on making amends. " I am wondering can indian government also adopt restorative justice in cases of rape and murders .India remain a difficult place considering over population and poverty.One has to think out of box solution considering max number of crimes which takes place in this part of world !!

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  2. Of the little I know about restorative justice, I don't think it would work in cases of rape, it is too personal and it's like tormenting the victim all over again. but restorative justice is i think possible in India in cases of religious violence, but still may be difficult for those whose loved ones have been killed.

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  3. Considering some practice in Islamic nation, it can be safely concluded that restorative justice does exist. And it exists as the general rule. Retributive justice is the exception. The key point of these mechanisms is that penalty in Islam is not an end per se. If offenders could be rehabilitated by other measures rather that penalties, the goal would be achieved and punishment should be evaded. Applying restorative justice principles and processes in rapes does not imply minimising the seriousness and tragedy of such incidents, nor does it suggest that perpetrators should be let off the hook simply because they have apologised. Serious cases present excellent opportunities for victims to feel that they have been heard, and for perpetrators to be confronted with the real consequences of their actions. Specific steps can also be taken to ensure that victims are not dealt with insensitively, as restorative justice seeks to promote the respect and dignity of all concerned, especially those who have been hurt.

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  4. The delhi gang rape case is so brutal that it shocked the world and grieving over the girl. Those supects should be hanged for good. But I'm really surprised India has the highest rape case in the world I really don't know what's with the women there they're that even beautiful in my eyes. Maybe because of drug users and some other stuff. I just hope this will stop sooner than later. personal injury medford oregon

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  7. So heavy on the chest just reading this.

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