I, being a woman, certainly don’t advocate death penalty for rapists…it is too easy. Imagine the plight of a 23 year old girl: if being raped by 6 men wasn’t bad enough, one of them inserted a rod in her vagina before tossing her out of a moving bus, rupturing her vagina and intestines, leaving her incapable of having a normal life…ever. If that doesn’t jolt your soul…nothing will. Rape is a heinous crime. Period. It is the worst form of humiliation a woman can be subjected to. So think about it…wont a death penalty be too easy? I highly recommend CASTRATION.
It is beyond outrage, discussions or even candle light marches. We demand action. It’s all very well to say that it’s a larger question. That punishment is not the real answer. That we need to fix the problem from the root. We all know India has a skewed sex ratio, there is lack of education, suppression, even prostitution isn’t legal blah blah blah. But these are problems which will take atleast 100 years to resolve. What until then? Should women continue being raped without anyone being held accountable?
The answer, I repeat, is castration. What prevents crime in other countries? It is the fear of being caught. Try stealing in an Arab country or even littering in America – the punishment is serious and will be meted out…no political connections, money or pleading will help. It is simple really. A man caught for rape will be castrated – no questions asked. Once this fear settles in…how many would dare do it? It is this fear that needs to be ingrained into the minds of men…fear of immediate consequences of their action…something that will leave them incapable of further action. What good is languishing in jail or a death penalty? Instead, you rape, you pay. Carry out this punishment publicly in one case and then see how many rape cases occur in the next year. Optimism says none.
As for the ladies, instead of waiting around for police or the government to get their act together, it is time to become self-sufficient. Carry pepper spray or/and a swiss knife at all times…It may not be much when 6 guys pounce upon you but it is always better to be prepared. Be on your guard. It is highly unfortunate that no one really comes forward to help, but as a woman, be willing to help another one. No woman is weak…infact our mental strength is more than any man can ever fathom…so much so that if proper justice is not carried out, I do see women becoming criminals - taking things in their own hands to preserve their integrity.
While that 23 year old girl struggles for her life – a life that may prove to be a bigger horror than what she has already gone through - it is unfortunate that a man really can’t be raped. If he could be…he would even shudder to think the R word. Castration seems befitting then doesn’t it. Incapacitate them and let them live – this will give them a faint idea of what a woman goes through.
It is beyond outrage, discussions or even candle light marches. We demand action. It’s all very well to say that it’s a larger question. That punishment is not the real answer. That we need to fix the problem from the root. We all know India has a skewed sex ratio, there is lack of education, suppression, even prostitution isn’t legal blah blah blah. But these are problems which will take atleast 100 years to resolve. What until then? Should women continue being raped without anyone being held accountable?
The answer, I repeat, is castration. What prevents crime in other countries? It is the fear of being caught. Try stealing in an Arab country or even littering in America – the punishment is serious and will be meted out…no political connections, money or pleading will help. It is simple really. A man caught for rape will be castrated – no questions asked. Once this fear settles in…how many would dare do it? It is this fear that needs to be ingrained into the minds of men…fear of immediate consequences of their action…something that will leave them incapable of further action. What good is languishing in jail or a death penalty? Instead, you rape, you pay. Carry out this punishment publicly in one case and then see how many rape cases occur in the next year. Optimism says none.
As for the ladies, instead of waiting around for police or the government to get their act together, it is time to become self-sufficient. Carry pepper spray or/and a swiss knife at all times…It may not be much when 6 guys pounce upon you but it is always better to be prepared. Be on your guard. It is highly unfortunate that no one really comes forward to help, but as a woman, be willing to help another one. No woman is weak…infact our mental strength is more than any man can ever fathom…so much so that if proper justice is not carried out, I do see women becoming criminals - taking things in their own hands to preserve their integrity.
While that 23 year old girl struggles for her life – a life that may prove to be a bigger horror than what she has already gone through - it is unfortunate that a man really can’t be raped. If he could be…he would even shudder to think the R word. Castration seems befitting then doesn’t it. Incapacitate them and let them live – this will give them a faint idea of what a woman goes through.
Castration seems to be the only way they could be taught a lesson. I don't advocate death penalty too. With the seemingly few cases that get registered compared to the crimes committed, i'm sure there will be 1 in 100 who's going to go scot free.
ReplyDeleteWe need to get our girls to be stronger and to go out there and report cases. And I as a mother would surely want to bring my son up respecting a woman no matter how or what her lifestyle is.
First of all - I love the passion and fire with which this piece was written. Ironically a few years ago this is the exact same sentiment I professed to a Professor of mine at Law School. She told me I was being idealistic and if I really thought that after doing research on it, to come back and talk to her.
ReplyDeleteI took her advice and did the research. And that's when I got it.
See fact of the matter is - Castration -- physical or chemical -- does not guarantee that a man will forever be sexually dysfunctional or that he won't again commit rape.
Don't get me wrong - I fully think they should still be castrated on principal. But I think we as women and in extension the society needs to be smart enough to know that mere castration is not the solution. We need to understand that this could actually aggravate sociopaths further and instigate more rape-victims than before.
The ideal solution to rape you see, is not in protecting the women from the men - but in ensuring that we learn to earmark the little boys who have displayed such behaviour as children and instead of covering it up as 'loyal' parents - speak up and seek help. Adam Lanza killed 20 children last week - his own mother who was one of his victims kept handguns in a household where she knew her son was mentally unstable. In my books she is just as guilty as her son. The same applies to serial rapists and domestically violent spouses - you see they too were once children - not the cute cuddly one's, the one's who would peep into bathrooms as a child, or tear the limbs off a fly.
Women you see, are victims of not just their rapists, but of every person too afraid to speak up.
Kudos,
Nmyra
I am proud to be a girl but ashamed to live like "Always Vulnerable" If males are blessed that they can't be raped. then we are blessed to castrate those hypocrit "Y" bearers [rapist can't be male/man].
ReplyDelete3 years/23 years/83 years everytime strength of humaity is mainly maintained by extra all "X".
Hence proved, "Y" is making their owners weak day by day.Evolution of "Y" is really shocking...retrograde...
As a woman, I appreciate and even echo you.
ReplyDeleteWhile punishment to the offender is justice in every way. But that deals with only one aspect of the issue. How or what punishment is deserved is just one part of the story.
Again as a woman, I am bent to think - a life was destroyed and would remain without much repair, that is, if she lives. True - to know that her offenders were punished, might offer her some solace - but it doesn't help her live her life any better. Killing or demeaning him doesn’t help nourish her.
There is a bigger issue at hand - How can we, as a family, help one of us who went through hell? What can we do to tell her she is loved and cared for just as much? How can we make sure she lives - not just exists, but lives? How can we see to it that she is healed - in every way possible to us? How can we see to it that it doesn’t repeat?
It is up to us to see to that. I agree with you: this is beyond discussions and candle marches. I agree with you: it is up to the women to help women, and be self-sufficient for their safety and of other women.
Punishment - in whatever form - is but an attempt to give it back to the offender as they deserve.
Justice, however, doesn't take place until the wrong is made right - and that cannot work out unless we, as a family, step in.
Our responsibility isn’t just making sure offenders are punished. There is a greater responsibility to make sure that the woman & her family are well-supported throughout – by us.
IMO...
How do we punish him? Important.
How do we help her? Crucial.
~*~
Shalini.
As a women i totally agree to it....
ReplyDeleteThe women are not a vulnerable sex anymore......
Punishment in this condition is public humiliation and death...
a slow suffering death....
They should suffer like she is doing...
I just hope that she has enough strength to stand up once again and fight for justice...
She desreves Justice
I applaud the sentiment, but the solution is not a practical one. We don't love in the Stone Ages and I don't see the government castrating anyone...no matter how much I think they deserve it. The solution lies in teaching our young men to respect women. That begins at home. If he sees his Dad hitting/abusing Mom, he thinks its OK to do the same to all women. Stop using Maa-behen type gaalis at home. Because, when you do, you are insulting womanhood, and he thinks its fine to speak that way, and of course-to behave that way. The solution lies in educating an entire generation of girls. We need to speak up. When someone feels you up, turn around and tell him off, if he lays a hand on you, call the police. And then the solution lies in having an accountable Police and Judiciary. For this we need serious reform. You can't expect the havaldar being paid some pittance of 2k rupees a month to do his job properly. Recompense him properly, train him properly. And for heavens' sakes reform the fucking judiciary so they don't take years to hear one single case.
ReplyDeleteA point worth pondering: Ever thought of why this case has garnered so much attention? She's not the first girl to be gang-raped in Delhi, no? Unfortunately it takes one girl from a "decent" family who is a medical student to be raped before we wake up to rape as a society. The rapes of the thousands of slum dwellers, prostitutes, poor servant girls, children sold into brothels did not get this attention for years. Shame on all of us as a society.
Your post is brilliant. But wondering why incidents like rape are increasing in India esp in Delhi?
ReplyDeleteAgree with you. Death is too small a punishment for them. They should go theough the same pain and torture which the girl went through. Please keep the good work going. Your small efort counts. Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteVagmita