India: The rape kingdom!
India is well on its way to being the rape capital of the world. With most offenders taking solace in the idea that they can get away with it, there seems no solution in sight to the problem at the moment.
IT ISN’T so much the possibility of a stranger lurking in the gullies you by-pass to reach home. There is a far greater chance it may be your neighbour or teacher, or even worse, your own brother or uncle. The year 2008, reported more than 20,000 rapes (and estimates say only about one in 69 cases is reported in India). In a staggering 92 per cent of the cases, the perpetrators were known to the victim.
One of the worst places for a woman to live in, in terms of personal safety and security, India records 57 rape cases per day, up by 800 per cent if one considers the seven per day recorded in 1971. This is excluding the several others that are muffled or pushed under the carpet for reasons of ‘honour’ and ‘family name’. Rape is present as at least one of every four crimes recorded in India. Every hour, there are at least 20 crimes committed against women across the country. And out of all rape cases, only about 20 per cent actually see conviction for the offenders.
Are we ashamed? We ought to be. According to 2008 statistics, out of 35 cities checked for women’s security, national as well as rape capital Delhi stood first, with an incredible one-third of total rapes happening here. If the capital of the country and one of its biggest cities does not guarantee safety, what will? And to think that these are estimates that don’t even reveal the whole truth. If one were to have the ‘real’ figures in hand, one would realise that there is indeed truth in the claim that rape is India’s biggest crime at the moment.
What compounds most of our problems is that we Indians tend to have stereotypes for everything. So, what would your typical rapist be like? The immediate thought that comes to mind is of a red-eyed, sinister-looking and lecherous guy who stares you at the bus stop or in the office or at the departmental store. We know little about him, except that we have comfortably assumed it is a rank stranger. Well, we couldn’t be more mistaken. Research of several years has revealed that in India, you needn’t be a stranger to perpetrate sexual crimes. Which is why women need to be afraid. You need to be alert to the male figures already around you, instead of assuming he will come from another planet.
Whatever the reasons, one thing is painfully clear: rape is very evidently India’s biggest crime threat. Even as we move ahead on the path to equal participation of women in the economy, it makes sense to wonder whether we are indeed creating a climate that’s good enough for them to want to step out of their homes in the first place.
Are we ashamed? We ought to be. According to 2008 statistics, out of 35 cities checked for women’s security, national as well as rape capital Delhi stood first, with an incredible one-third of total rapes happening here. If the capital of the country and one of its biggest cities does not guarantee safety, what will? And to think that these are estimates that don’t even reveal the whole truth. If one were to have the ‘real’ figures in hand, one would realise that there is indeed truth in the claim that rape is India’s biggest crime at the moment.
What compounds most of our problems is that we Indians tend to have stereotypes for everything. So, what would your typical rapist be like? The immediate thought that comes to mind is of a red-eyed, sinister-looking and lecherous guy who stares you at the bus stop or in the office or at the departmental store. We know little about him, except that we have comfortably assumed it is a rank stranger. Well, we couldn’t be more mistaken. Research of several years has revealed that in India, you needn’t be a stranger to perpetrate sexual crimes. Which is why women need to be afraid. You need to be alert to the male figures already around you, instead of assuming he will come from another planet.
A stupendous 92 per cent of all rape victims already knew and decently well, the ones than violated them. These figures are clearly indicative of the Indian social fabric indeed being so designed that it leaves little scope for a woman to express her resentment of anything, even intrusion in her own space. The knowledge that she will keep quiet for fear of being ill-treated and taunted is exactly what drives most rapists to their crime. And not only that, the rate of conviction of rapists is also insignificant. Put together, these two factors create a lethal combination that encourages rape, for the fear of being caught and punished is insignificant while the chances of getting away with the crime are very high.
Psychologists say it is a result of a dangerously lopsided equation between the sexes. On one hand, you have men who still possess more or less the same set of values they did in the 16th century and on the other, women are getting increasingly empowered. So now, the new breed we have is one of women who make no bones about taking their decisions on their own, and on the other hand, we have men who are very evidently squirming in their seats about these new developments, for the Indian style of bringing up children contains no chapter on gender equality or harmony. With the woman increasingly being perceived in extremes, either as a sex object or as a threateningly confident force, violence against them has steadily been on the rise. This, according to estimates, is a major reason why rape has become so commonplace.
Psychologists say it is a result of a dangerously lopsided equation between the sexes. On one hand, you have men who still possess more or less the same set of values they did in the 16th century and on the other, women are getting increasingly empowered. So now, the new breed we have is one of women who make no bones about taking their decisions on their own, and on the other hand, we have men who are very evidently squirming in their seats about these new developments, for the Indian style of bringing up children contains no chapter on gender equality or harmony. With the woman increasingly being perceived in extremes, either as a sex object or as a threateningly confident force, violence against them has steadily been on the rise. This, according to estimates, is a major reason why rape has become so commonplace.
Whatever the reasons, one thing is painfully clear: rape is very evidently India’s biggest crime threat. Even as we move ahead on the path to equal participation of women in the economy, it makes sense to wonder whether we are indeed creating a climate that’s good enough for them to want to step out of their homes in the first place.
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Astonished
Wow. After reading naughty boy of india's comments, I realize how ignorant so many young men are and how they try to rationalize and distort the situation for their own gain. This is the perspective of a very unsophisticated person who has only been exposed and educated with a corrupt and antiquated system.
Naughty Boy of India
From Sunayan's comment, it seems that only men are sex starved and not not women . What a rubbish clarification. Please note that aspiring journalists should have a patience. They must do a lot of study in the subject matter or have experience before writing. Girls should acquire more education, more independency and self reliance, then only rape of women will reduce. In western and Arab countries, women rape men. So its not a defect in male of female. Its more about knowledge, education, self reliance, self dependence and so on. Can any one dare rape a women politician, a women IPS , a women Judge, a lady businesswomen, a lady CEO, a lady Armyperson, I don't think no, sine she is well educated, well secured , well self dependent.
So our young women of India should not bother much about sex rather than thinking of self dependent, more educated . Sex, marriage , religion are personal matters all together. I am sur young girls of India are more concious about sex. So there is no sex starving male or sex starving female. All young male and female must have good sex , is a healthy sign of good body and mind keeping. So just don't thing you aspiring journalist are sex specialist - OK Madame and blame boys
NaughtyBoy of India
Marriage is the best way of living Adult. Thats the bottom line
Sunayan Bhattacharjee
Hi, Megha, This is Sunayan here. I read your article which is pretty well-researched and well-written but I think that the enigma is too complex to arrive at quick take solutions. In fact, this is something that I have been studying for the past two years or so but believe me, the only conclusion that I could decipher was that no solution can be hammered out on this issue. I mean we need to go deeper down to comprehend the phenomenon in its entirety. In fact, you did not include marital rape in your discourse which according to me adds a different dimension to the issue and speaks loads about the mentality of a certain section of the male populace. Even lack of sexual opportunities leading to sexually starved men also does not anyway justify this act amounting to utter disregard on human race and cannot be described in human parlance. So, I am sorry but the only solution that seems feasible is capital punishment to weep out these pieces of crap from mother earth. As aspiring journalists, we need to keep the flag up and flying for this cause.
NaughtyBoy of India
Megna Madame, I fully agree with you that people are raping in street and uncle , brothers at home ,even fathers are raping daughters. But then, Megna it really a matter of concern. But then the actual problem is human-beings once achieve the adult age get a desire / hunger for sex. So early marriage can save raping. Sex freedom was there in India. .It was only India started multiplying population people started getting late marriage . But then nowadays youngsters can get married earlier with protected sex and do studies and career.
This will reduce rape numbers.
Moreover, street rapes are normally conducted by politicians to defame / disgrass some one and spoil the life. It is also a serious concern
Nazneen
well written with well woven data around the article and subject........
quick gun murugan
all rapists should be given capital punishment,should be castrted,they should be sodomised by dog in streets in full public view.
Naughty boy of india
Megha Madame, I do agree with you in all respect as a human-being. But then, now-a-days women are getting married late. So in India sex should be treated as anmedicinal excercise for human-being and women and men should enjoy sex . Then only the problem of rape will be eliminated . In Europe , western countries, far east even in arab world practice sex friendly with each other . So there ios less rape in those copuntries. Hope you women will understand this simple thing.
pramodthomas
The topic is very relevant and the article is very well written.
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