1. Do we really want Rape to end?
I stand for anger, for outrage, for protest as these are much needed to make all understand that "we
exist"! Having said so, the immediate next step is to go deep, to reflect back, to introspect, if we really
want "change"! In my view, Rape is one form of horrifying violence that we experience in our everyday
lives as Indians! Violence against anything that we failed to tolerate! Rape has more to do with "teaching
lesson" than to "Sex" per se! In this case of Delhi as well, the culprits wanted to "teach the girl a lesson"!
Our private lives as Indians are full with intolerance! Intolerance against religion we don't like, caste we
don't like, sexual orientation we don't like, dresses we don't like, choices of our children we don't like,
colour we don't like, politics we don't like, even songs we don't like!!And we also don't like to listen to
what we don't like!! And in our everyday private life we justify use of force, coercion against anything
that we don't like!! We don't like to give peace, tolerance and democracy a real chance in our daily lives!
The more powerful and sophisticated we are, the more subtle is the use of power by us against what we
don't like! From head of states to a vendor on street, that is a regular feature of our lives in India!! We
use violence, crude or subtle against "what we don't like"! The biggest paradox is that India is the
country which preached the world the meaning of tolerance, non violence and non enmity! Can we look
back to us once again, if we really want Rape to end?
I think there is a need to ventilate anger. But at the same time, the shape of anger that it is gradually
taking in India highlights another bigger concern that is of a "failing State"! These images and ideas that
people are sharing about punishing rapists, in my opinion also directs towards some impending anarchy
which is basically stemming out from the frustration of not being able see any commendable leadership
in our society right at this moment. So, I am personally worried about the counter violence that is trying
to justify its place through an excuse of this horrific rape! With that, going little deeper, I see an
impending anarchy in Indian society which will spare no one - rapist, non rapist, politician, non-
politician and so on! There lies my biggest fear and apprehension!
Bappaditya Prantakatha
20.12.12