Crimes Against Women: Nirbhaya!

In a few days we will arrive at the 11th Year of Remembrance of one of the most horrific crimes against women this country has seen: Nirbhaya (16th December, 2012).

Ghastly though the crime was, stunningly forceful was the response. The nation rose as one, our policework immaculate, and the legal system pursued the case relentlessly till justice was delivered when all four culprits were hung to death on 20th March 2020. Alongside, no stone has been left unturned and no effort spared to spread awareness (through movies and tv series made within the country - that's how a people move forward, through self-criticism and self-evaluation from within) and make laws protecting women stricter.

Given the superlative response from a third world country that is beleaguered at so many levels, I don't think it would be unfair to seek the nomination of 20th March as Worldwide Women Safety Day.

I emphasize the need to earmark such a day internationally with this article that ranks countries by rape statistics: Rape Statistics By Country 2023 (datapandas.org)

India is ranked 95 (1.81 per 100K) with USA and UK ranked at 13 (27.31 per 100K) and 14 (27.29 per 100K) respectively. Such data underlines a point I often make: There isn't necessarily a 1-to-1 correlation between economic and military might and refined social values. We have our challenges and there's much improvement to be made, but we are still firmly ahead when it comes to respect for women. It is an undeniable fact that most Indian men respect women deeply and, if needed, would put themselves in harm's way without a second thought to protect women around them.

As for people like Leslee Udwin and the BBC who tried to portray India as the world's ghetto for women, here's some timeless sage advice: Charity begins at home. Document and showcase the ills of your own society before starting on your next world tour to enlighten the non-whites. Here's a possible starting point for such self cleansing: Students are turning to sex work for extra money but experts warn universities are ignoring the issue | The Independent | The Independent

Moral of the story: For fees, or for pizza and wine, university students prostituting themselves is a level of moral degradation that takes away your right to point fingers at others - period.

With the data in the article above that covers all the three worlds - the first, the second and the third - I submit once again: Given the superlative response to the Nirbhaya crime from a third world country that is beleaguered at so many levels, I don't think it would be unfair to seek the nomination of 20th March as Worldwide Women Safety Day.

I hope this post serves to kickstart a campaign on the internet that leads to the tabling of such a proposal at the UN.