Long ago around the Rig Vedic times, men and women were equal in effect. Women had a stature of equality with men unsurpassed ever since. Sustaining education, participation in popular assemblies "Shashtrarthra" studying Vedas and composing hymns, etc. Everything was accepted by the society; by both men and women at that time. It was the time where women were free for anything and everything, marriage was sacrament and espoused was a general rule. Unknown were the things like child marriage, sati, polyandry, etc.
Regardless all the struggles we are again in a society where women are not yet free because of the snags left out in our culture after a long rebellion for equality of women in the mankind. Rape cases, monogamy(in some parts), etc. are a great and major issue in the world today. Many are the prey to such crimes found till date.
Literally, nothing is good or bad in this world, it is just we people who view things in a perspective of our own eyes. But forcing for something against once will? This can never ever have a place in to be given a second thought of it's actually good or bad. If someone is no for something than its only a "BIG NO" and that is when forcing is meant to be a subject as a sin or a crime or guilt realizing according to the situation. In this world there are two kinds of people:
- Those who fight bravely for themselves.
- Those who stay silent in the fear of shame, guilt and in search of support.
But as it is a true sign in this planet, that history sparkles lately, but brings out the most of the quirkiest results and leaves out a mark in the civilization for generations. One of a kind among those who fight bravely for themselves in any kind of occurrence was a girl of 17 and an heroic example in the society Today bring the one among all fought continuously for her life and won. Even though she's an inspiration for many on the other hand she's unknown to many
Back from the US after her graduation from high school to Bombay with her father during summers went out for a walk with a male friend at night when she was gang raped in 1980 and both were left wounded but alive after long and brutal night only after they were successful in convincing the culprits for not to speak about the crime to anybody.
Rapes or barbarous and shocking leading to traumas, streets, depression, anxiety and more for any person who becomes the victim in this world, be it men or women. We find many protestants after a rape but we never find people raising voice before deed happens rather than waiting for the mishaps to get on the track and after that the movie starts.
When Sohaila wrote an article 3 years after the attack for the Indian women magazine Manushi titled "I fought for my life... And won". And that was the time when she began the real fight for her own life and helped the other the raise their voice for the survival of women with safety in her book she write : it's the only crime that is so bad but victims or supposed to be destroyed beyond repair by it, but simultaneously not so bad that the men would do it should be treated like other criminal she also says that the word rape is so harsh which word probably come from the Latin word rapere which usually means to snatch or to carry off. For the last 700 years it is meant "to be taken by force."
As she says We will find parents and children, lovers and abusers, sex workers, dentists, army officers, drivers, teachers, therapists. Even we find herself in the book and find people in pain who are amazingly strong. We find villains and heroes in her book.
She literally tried to create a work of literary merit about a subject with absolutely no merit.
She's a fighter, she's a ruler who rules the era where women are found to be shameful or guilt for what they have been through, for what they couldn't do for a cruel matter beyond their imagination and their will. She stands as a queen in the civilization helping women to raise voice against crime, to play brave after the worst circumstances they went through. She gives a new way to people to talk about rape, she contradicts the views we think or talk about when we talk about rape. She's a true feminist who works along with a very strong and brave heart supporting herself continuously after being raped to and raised voice until she reached her destiny.
For people it has become a topic of shame if someone's raped, nobody has the courage to talk about it even though some play a role in this part not as much as it is needed to be. Many Cases of rape today goes viral on social media out of the blue for certain days and disappears. It has been a common crime in today's world. Every next day we hear out cases about abuse, rape, molestation, suicides out of guilt, death after rape, mercilessly killing of minors and girls above minors after rape. Culprits roaming freely in and around the community with not a bit of fear. The statistics show a case of 88 girls raped per day and many not reported out of shame. Cases stay pending as if it's not something big to be dealt with.
Our Indian society never talks about problems with girls at their early ages that they face. Parents do not give proper sex education to their children (both boys and girls) rather they expect their child to study hard and bring home a certificate with 97% marks. But nobody teaches how to grow well within a society throughout the lifetime nor parents or grandparents neither the teachers in school. Girls are not taught about what is it when they feel a good touch and a bad one, are not taught to act smartly and bravely when face such situation, boys aren't taught how to go through a teenage life, they aren't taught how to go through a well maintained life and the same goes for girls too.
Our Indian law defines rape in the following manner:
Before 3 February 2013, Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code defined rape as:
375. Rape. A man is said to commit "rape" who, except case hereinafter excepted, has sexual intercourse with a woman in circumstances falling under any of the six following descriptions:-
- Firstly. –– Against her will.
- Secondly. –– Without her consent.
- Third. –– With her consent, when her consent has been obtained by putting her or any person in whom she is interested, in fear of death or of hurt.
- Fourth. –– With her consent, when the man knows that he is not her husband, and that her consent is given because she believes that he is another man to whom she is or believes herself to be lawfully married.
- Fifth. –– With her consent, when, at the time of giving such consent, by reason of unsoundness of mind or intoxication or the administration by him personally or through another of any stupefying or unwholesome substance, she is unable to understand the nature and consequences of that to which she gives consent.
- Sixth. –– With or without her consent, when she is under sixteen years of age.
- Explanation. –– Penetration is sufficient to constitute the sexual intercourse necessary to the offence of rape.
- Exception. –– Sexual intercourse by a man with his own wife, the wife not being under fifteen years of age, is not rape.
And what if a women going through difficulty after getting married. What if she's forced to shut her mouth. People need to raise voice against these penal codes.
Sohaila Abdulali stays an unsung hero today but she's found to be brave one and a sparkling image in history as a feminist.