The Quiet Horror: Rape, Murder, and Society’s Failure

The Kolkata rape and murder case, declared first as a suicide, with the victim’s private parts and eyes bleeding, has alarmed the nation once again. A 2015 survey by the Indian Medical Association found that 75% of doctors in India have faced one or other form of violence.

Non-availability of basic facilities like changing rooms and toilets, men groping and passing lewd comments, the failure of society to infuse morality and hold the culprits accountable, the failure of law to still not acknowledge marital rapes, oral rapes, and awarding character certificates to victims, and the quiet suffering that women and their kin go through – are only a few of the many persisting problems.

Shame of Guwahati

 In 2012, a minor was molested in Guwahati by approximately 30 men outside a bar. The moment was caught on camera live. Based on the footage, many were arrested. The National Commission of Women’s Chief was criticized for revealing the victim’s identity. This was not the first time. She was thrown under the bus for her inaction during the Manipur violence. Mahua Moitra, another controversial figure, went as far as to comment, “She (Rekha Sharma) is too busy holding up her boss’s pajamas.”

Gayatri Spivak: A feminist’s view

Character assassination of rape victims, ministers, and leaders is a common occurrence. Gayatri Spiwak Chakravarty, in her acclaimed work, “Can the Subaltern Speak”, talks about a young freedom fighter, Bhuvaneshwari, who was assigned an assassination task. Panicked and grief-stricken, Bhuvaneshwari, committed suicide. She purposely chose the time of her menstrual cycle to prove that the suicide was not out of shame over pregnancy but out of fear.

Navruna, Shilpi and many more

 5 years after the disappearance of Navruna, a seventh standard student from Bihar, Police has finally closed the case, unsolved. Her dead body, decomposed by the time, was found near her ancestral home, from where she had disappeared at night. The police presumed the girl had eloped with her “imaginary” lover. The CBI took over the case and failed. Shilpi, a beauty pageant winner, from Bihar was found dead with the semen of multiple men, and the accused denied giving his samples.

Noida double murder case

 The dead bodies of a young Arushi Talwar and the housekeeper Hemraj were found in the house. The evidence was ruined due to the police’s ignorance. CBI, too, failed to gather evidence, and the case was closed. The police did their part by victim blaming the fourteen-year-old girl.

Singham Justice

 The rape and murder of Priyanka Reddy of Hyderabad caught the nation’s attention. Police shot her culprits in an encounter soon after. It made the nation divide on opinions. While the public rejoiced and welcomed quick justice, the intellectual wing and authorities questioned its authenticity.

International Racism

 India has, ironically, earned the epithet of the “world’s rape capital”. India is way behind, 95th out of 118 countries, with Botswana, Lesotho, and Bermuda on top. https://www.datapandas.org/ranking/rape-statistics-by-country . Often thrown under the bus, India is recipient of global accusations while French government’s pathetic Olympics arrangement and Qatar’s human rights’ violations are ignored comfortably.

We, as a country that claims the tag of “Vishwa Guru”, need to understand our moral and legal responsibilities. Legislative changes are needed. The culprit of the Kolkata victim, has past records of violence and porn addiction. Early diagnosis of such anti-social elements can prevent a lot of crimes.

Rape, after all, is not the failure of a law, a country, or a state alone. It is a failure of society and mankind as a whole.