Delhi Rape Case: An Appeal for Justice (My letter to Arnab Goswami of Times Now)

Dear Arnab,

Owing to my education in various Kendriya Vidyalayas in India, I have always been versed with our National Pledge “India is my country and all Indians are my brothers and sisters…”  But since those were younger days, we always chose muted silence when it came to declare that all Indians were our sisters as well.

But today, as we, the citizens of India have really lost a sister to the brutal rape and assault that happened in Delhi on 16^th December 2012, my repentance knows no boundaries. I feel responsible that I wasn’t there to offer assistance and protection when one of my sisters needed it the most, I feel responsible that tough I mouthed my National Pledge daily for 12 years I couldn’t do anything to stop some maniacs from devouring one of my sisters physically and mentally. Today, I am ashamed of my own existence as a MAN who could do nothing when it mattered the most. I so wish that I could go back in time and attend all those morning assemblies in school again and declare with a firm and loud voice that “ALL INDIANS ARE MY BROTHERS & SISTERS” and instill a firm resolve in myself and others that we will not tolerate crimes against women, we will not play a part in oppressing women, we will stand up for them and walk with them through thick and thin, offer them a hand when they need it and tell them that you don’t have to be scared, coz we are with you coz we are equal.

Arnab, my sister from Delhi though physically ceases to exist, but her death is a constant reminder for me of the pain and the suffering she must have gone through. The agony of her pain forces me to do whatever I can to ensure that a horrific event of this sort never happens again, ensure that the guilty are punished severely, ensure that the laws are amended to ensure complete and total safety for women, ensure that the system changes and ensure that I don’t have to ever mourn another tragic death like this.

Thus, I have decided to keep her spirit alive. I have decided to keep protesting through fast and prayers. I have decided to give up on “ROTI” one of the three things that binds the AAM AADMI like me together apart from “Kapda” and “Makkaan”. I have decided to fast and eat only once throughout the day until the guilty are punished, the system reformed the laws protecting women are made more stringent. I wish I could have done more, contributed more, but again I have a family to run. I don’t know whether you will ever get to read this mail or not, I know not whether my small protest will bring about any change. But I do know that if it does, I will be able to look into the eyes of other women again. Women – who are my mother, my sisters, my friends, my daughters, my nieces. My shame will reduce a little, my repentance will decrease.

Also, I would like to appeal to you, YOU, who are capable of reaching out to the “awaam”, YOU, who have the power to initiate change, please don’t let the fire die. I appeal to you to raise questions and keep raising them unless action is taken, justice prevails and change beckons. Probably then, our mother, sisters, friends will be able to forgive US.

 

“WITH YOU, FOR ME …. ALWAYS”

“This is your Captain speaking……” Abhimanyu sat up. As an avid traveler he knew what will follow next, he straightened the seat and buckled himself, while the pilot announced that they will be landing at the NSC BOSE International Airport, Kolkata shortly. “At last”, he thought. He felt very irritated, the last three sleep deprived days were tiring and then the 12 hours non stop flight from Paris made things further worse. He wanted to find a bed and crash but he knew he will never get any sleep, not until he has met Ireena.

          As Abhimanyu walked out of the Immigrations, chilling December winds hit his face. At 3:00 in the morning, the airport wore a deserted look. Abhi didn’t mind the cold, thou he was dressed in just a sweatshirt and a pair of denims, “Europe is much colder”, he said to himself. What worried him more was whether the hotel will send a car to pick him up or not at this hour of the night? And then to his relief he spotted a man in crisp white uniform holding a signage which read, “Mr. Abhimanyu Dhawan, MD & CEO, AD-Corp, Paris” and started walking towards him. When his car hit the almost empty EM Bypass, Abhi rolled the windows down and lit a cigarette. He looked into the darkness outside and smiled....this city has once been his home but then in The City of Joy, Abhi had always lost everything, everything he had held close to his heart. When he had left Kolkata, he swore he will never come back. And now when he has returned after 20 years, he was about to loose the only person he had ever loved in his life. He was about to loose Ireena…..to God and to death and probably again…to this city!!!

In the comfort of the Executive Suite in this Five Star, all Abhi managed to do was toss and turn; finally, at 6:30 he gave up, got out of the bed and made himself a cup of strong black coffee. The only reason he had chosen this particular hotel was because it was very close to the hospital where Ireena was waiting to see him…probably for one last time. He stood near the huge glass window and looked over the Alipore Zoo; the skyline of this city was changing rapidly. He tried to recollect his conversation with Ireena four days ago. He was surprised to know that it was “HER” as she had never called Abhi in the last 20 years and then the surprise changed into sadness when he learnt that Ireena’s cancer and the sadness into shock when he learnt about “Deborah”……. Debbie… their 19 year old daughter. Abhi didn’t even know how to react; he forgot to even breathe for a few moments. Ireena never told her that she was pregnant, not even when he was leaving. But of course, Abhi never told her that he was leaving, he had simply ran away, deserting her and never looked back.

          But this time Abhi knew, he was not gonna run, he knew Ireena needed him. For the first time in his life he knew what it feels to have a family, and to his utter surprise, the feeling was of that of “Happiness”. Abhi walked towards the cupboard to take his clothes out, he had to get ready now. “It is time”, Abhimanyu told himself, thou remorse engulfed his heart; he couldn’t wait to meet Ireena and Debbie.

To be Contd.......

And Now The Story!!!!!

“He met her at a party. She was so outstanding, many guys were chasing her, while he was so normal, so placid, nobody paid attention to him.”

At the end of the party, he invited her to have coffee with him. She was surprised, but since she thought it would be impolite, she agreed. They sat in a nice coffee shop, he was too nervous to talk, she was feeling uncomfortable and she thought, “Please, can I go home???”

Suddenly he waived for the waiter and asked, “Would you please give me some salt? I'd like to put it in my coffee !!!” Everybody stared at him, so strange!!! His face turned red, but still, he put the salt in his coffee and drank it. She asked him curiously; “Why do you like your coffee like this?”

He replied, “When I was a little boy, I lived near the sea, I liked playing in the sea, and I could feel the taste of the sea, just like the taste of the salty coffee. Now every time I have the salty coffee, I always think of my childhood, think of my hometown, I miss my hometown so much, I miss my parents who are still living there”. While saying that tears filled his eyes. She was deeply touched. That’s his true feeling, from the bottom of his heart. A man who can talk about his homesickness, must be a man who loves home, cares about home, and is responsible towards home. Then she also started to talk, she talked about her faraway hometown, her childhood, her family. That was a really nice talk, and also a beautiful beginning of their story. They continued to date. She found out that actually he was a man who fulfilled all her demands; he had tolerance, was kind hearted, warm and caring. He was such a good person but she was almost going to loose him! Thanks to his salty coffee!

Then the story went on just like every other beautiful love story , the princess married the prince, and then they lived happily ever after...

Every time she made coffee for him, she put some salt in the coffee, as she knew that's the way he liked it.

After 40 years, one day he passed away and left her a letter which said: “My dearest, please forgive me, forgive me for not being truthful. There was only once when I had lied to you- “the salty coffee”.”

“Remember the first time we dated? I was so nervous at that time, that actually I wanted some sugar, but I said salt instead. It was so hard for me to change it, so I just went ahead. I never realized that, that could be the starting of our relationship! I tried to tell you the truth many a times in my life, but I was too afraid to do that, as I had promised not to lie to you for anything. Now, as I'm dying, I am afraid of nothing and I am telling you the truth: “I don't like the salty coffee, what a strange bad taste it has !! But I have had the salty coffee for my whole life! Since I had you, I never felt sorry about anything I had to do for you. Having you with me was the biggest happiness of my life. If I am reborn, I will still want to know you and have you by me always, even if it meant I have to drink the salty coffee again”. Her tears made the letter totally wet.

Someday, someone asked her, “What's the taste of the coffee with salt in it”? “It's sweet”, she replied.

Yeh Lazy Lazy Lamhe!!!!

30th July 2008, 12:28 AM My Office, Kolkata, India

I have never been much of a writer!!! But I guess I am predominantly a "BONG"!!! So I reckon that I can write!!!!

Since almost a decade I have been an accomplished Nocturnal Creature..... No!!! I ain't no Vampire.... it's just that I have been with BPOs all this while!!! BPOs are in a ways good, after the initial years of slogging you finally reach a stage wherein there's not much difference between you and the security guard at your office gate apart from the package both draw. I currently am paid to stay up at nite and inspect & ensure that the team of vampires who work under me are all up & fairly awake solving the great "AMERICAN PROBLEM" (I at times feel like congratulating Mr. Bush on still being able to lead a country wherein people have endless problems). And thus this job leaves me a lot of time to get bored as this generation of Indians are thorough professionals and don't need much supervision.

So on a day like this(Sorry! nite like this), I was browsing thru Rimi's blog when this million dollar idea struck me and I decided to write!!!! Amazing!!! But what do we write about??? So, after much contemplations & desk cracking brain storming, we decided to go the Chetan Bhagat way and write a story!!!! Rimi....... here I come!!!!!

TO BE CONTD.....