The goddess of misunderstood strength

The long-lasted silence broke abruptly throughout the nation to shield, empower and justify the existence of the docile gender. India seemed to be awakening with countless youth bearing the torch. The consistent questions, debates, rallies and for that matter social networking sites poured out unbearable pressure on the law makers. Lately, new laws were laid. Acting upon which the women flock of the country are ensured safety.  

The blindly tamed crusade, due to absence of rationalism, has forgotten the basics of its origin. Many posing as vulnerable are real threats behind the thick curtains of this crusade. Laws are made, but ‘who’ll check their authenticity?’ is yet a question. The conscience of many has expired long back. Not every woman is a victim, but the word ‘Woman’ is deliberately being made synonym to ‘Victim’. Not every man is a harasser, but they are pinned down by every kajal-coated eye gazing at them. MCP (Male-Chauvanist Pig) has become a full stop for every debate initiated with a female today.

   

The trashy laws may have pleased the masses, but do no good to an individual. Has a new era begun where equality between men and women is defined by the number of laws? Whoever possess maximum laws, takes the lead. Right to be invincible will soon replace Right to Equality in Indian constitution. Nothing could be as reprehensible as to depend on the poor law to empower the sex which is capable to outdo any damn knotty situation.  

An overpopulated public transport with hairbreadth gap between two seats can force a man and a woman to sit extraordinarily close to each other. In present time, a man cannot even attempt to be at ease during the repeated jolts caused by bumpy rides. If tried, it may invite an unwanted imputation of teasing a woman sitting next. An educated male passenger is asked by a woman sitting beside him to shift elsewhere as his side body is unintentionally close enough to the woman’s unclothed arm. However, due to space constraints the male passenger can barely move his upper body. The male passenger then politely places his logic for being unable to shift. This initiates an argument. Later, it turns a kick in the teeth for all, as the woman stops the public transport and slaps the man before all. By now the issue gets transformed into a feminist vs male war, no more a tiff between two normal passengers. The law protectors are clueless as the woman begins to clamour about her feminine rights. Epilogue: The male passenger has to give up and shifts to another public transport. Cases of misuse of 498a IPC dowry law upsurge every other day. For a few bunch of loonies, rape charges are a quick flight of steps to fame. The laws don't follow the fundamental legal principle that a person is innocent until he is proven guilty.

National Commission for Women’s former chairperson Girija Vyas once said, "If the anti-dowry law is taken lightly, women will suffer a huge loss. Only 6% of the cases are false under the Act." To draw your kind attention Girija ji, only 6% are false because only 6% were challenged by the suffered men, rest many fall prey to sheer blackmailing. The purpose to demarcate seats for women was to prevent them from dealing with miscreants in a crowded public transport. It signifies by no means that women have weak lower limbs. However, many have taken this demarcation in their favour. Even a genuine needy have to vacate the seat to evade an unwelcome tussle with this new era’s ‘law adulterated figure’.

What meant to be a tool for protection is being used as a fierce weapon for attack. Have we been able to stop the heinous crimes against women even after the gruesome incident happened in Delhi? Are the laws not favourable to those who reap personal benefit then those who actually need them? Instead of making women stronger, aren’t these laws turning men timid to put themselves at par with fairer sex? The government played safe. It didn’t change the essence of the laws but changed the approach of a commoner towards the law. The culprits get away with meagre penalties, but leave many innocents behind to suffer the pain of their notorious deeds.

This piece of writing neither aims to degrade the laws set for the protection of women nor should be treated anti-women, but raises a simple question- Is reinforcement of a law, empowerment of women?