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 16th 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.
