Wails Behind the Walls

After the most revolting incidents of rapes against an 8-year-old Asifa and 23-year-old Nirbhaya, it is often a shame that a culturally affluent country like India has emerged as a dangerous place for women. But besides all these complaints of rapes and assaults, there is a large population of Indian women shutting their pain, too frightful to cry out loud inside the four walls of homes.

I still remember the shrieks of my mother and the gruesome face of my father. I was just 9 years old. He was unconscious of the surroundings, deaf to our screams, his callous face taut when he banged my mothers head against the wall. It was not just a single incident. We were too weak to resist it or rather report it. We seriously doubted if he was insane or alcoholic. It took years for us to escape from this. This is not just my story, story of perhaps a thousand women in India. It is rather not a startling fact that pointed out by, National Crime Records Bureau of India, a crime against women is committed every three minutes.

India, a country celebrated for its ancient culture and traditions had always shown great respect to women. The Hindu Goddesses, other eminent personalities like Indira Gandhi and Mother Theresa are still worshipped and admired in our country. But this is the same India where every six hours, a young married woman is found beaten to death, burnt or driven to suicide.

The assaulters are usually husbands or fathers and at times even the whole families. Incidents are more likely to be seen in rural areas than in urban areas.

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Being an underdeveloped country there is a large percent of the population uneducated and socially backward, prejudicing and judgemental to the female gender. Girls are seen as a burden to the family and so we don't have to search the reasons for the female foeticides and infant deaths. The patriarchal society teaches the girls to be quiet, submissive and they say, the world of a woman is inside the four walls of the kitchen. 85% of the female population from rural areas are uneducated and even married before their legal age.

Even in the 21st century, we effectively perform barter system during marriages. Girls are exchanged for money or goods. It degrades the status of the woman lower than our foot when she is considered as a product in the marriage market. It is a grave difficulty for the parents of the bride who has to work hard to meet the demands of the groom. The in-laws of the bride also inflict harassment, insults and tortures-both mental and physical, bargaining more to satisfy the greed. The girls are beaten, burnt and injured or even driven to commit suicides.

Among the lakhs of rape complains filed in the country, 86% of the cases indicate that it is committed by immediate family members within their homes. Shockingly even the father's, brothers or uncles are found among the abusers. Adding on the pain, it is difficult to report a case like rape in India. Society often criticises the victim as it is her fault. Girls are afraid to open about their sufferings, afraid of the society's judgement.

Weak laws, poor enforcement and deep rooted corruption, makes even the perpetrators of heinous crimes go free in India. The judgements are politically and financially manipulated at times making us doubt if the judiciary is protecting the criminals.

In order to prevent violence against women ‘The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005’ was passed by the parliament. According to this act every women who have been deprived of their right to life by the act of husband or relatives of the husband, can file a complaint to the protection officer, police officer or magistrate in the form of ‘Domestic Incident Report’ (Similar to FIR). Complaint can be filed by the victim or relatives.

It is high time that the cries behind the walls should raise their voice. The laws have to make sure they are protecting the victims rather than the criminals. Before India runs for technological and economical development, make sure your girl is safe in her home. As a person who has seen domestic abuse right from the childhood, I adamantly request the need. Even if you you had the robust GDP growth among the nations, the tears of your little girl will never let you sleep.