Daily Times

Sir: Another rape case has shocked India, this time in the country’s financial capital of Mumbai. Delhi has already taken pride in calling itself the ‘rape capital of the world’, wherein women are now generally advised not to travel alone after nine pm. This incident in Mumbai has again raised those questions that were buried in the aftermath of the uproar over the infamous bus gang rape in Delhi last year. This time, the victim was a 22-year-old photojournalist working as an intern with an English magazine; she went to an abandoned textile mill along with a male colleague for a photo shoot of the ruined building. In view of the widespread protest after the December gang rape, this time the police have acted quite promptly, as they were able to track the alleged culprits. However, is this what will bring an end to the long drawn battle against inhuman and regressive attitudes towards womenfolk? I doubt it.

India needs some soul searching. These are not isolated rape cases but, in fact, are just the tip of the iceberg as countless rape cases are not reported because of social stigma attached with family honour. It is time to look inwards for introspection as to why such attitudes towards women are so prevalent in India despite the respect and honour demanded by religious scriptures and traditions. It is a complex problem concerning the criminal mindset and, regrettably, there is no simple solution. Years old preference for sons has affected the natural boys-to-girls ratio to a dangerous point, uncontrolled sprawling of urban centres dotted with slums and shanty towns inhabited by single men from impoverished rural areas, the attitude of the police, prosecutors and justice system towards these crimes, which look at the victim as the party-at-fault, lack of fast track courts and a criminal justice system favouring the victim and inability of the system to prosecute and punish the rapist in months (not in years), which is torturous for the victim and her family. Bollywood should also take the blame for glamourising rape scenes, which are viewed by hundreds of millions of youth unable to control their urges.

It is time for sociologists, lawyers and jurists, educationalists, social trendsetters, religious leaders, media gurus and political leaders to join hands to attempt to change this mindset, and to break the legal and cultural taboos to stand along with the rape victims. This is a joint responsibility as this rape culture is affecting the whole population.

MASOOD KHAN

Jubail,

Saudi Arabia

Sir: Another rape case has shocked India, this time in the country’s financial capital of Mumbai. Delhi has already taken pride in calling itself the ‘rape capital of the world’, wherein women are now generally advised not to travel alone after nine pm. This incident in Mumbai has again raised those questions that were buried in the aftermath of the uproar over the infamous bus gang rape in Delhi last year. This time, the victim was a 22-year-old photojournalist working as an intern with an English magazine; she went to an abandoned textile mill along with a male colleague for a photo shoot of the ruined building. In view of the widespread protest after the December gang rape, this time the police have acted quite promptly, as they were able to track the alleged culprits. However, is this what will bring an end to the long drawn battle against inhuman and regressive attitudes towards womenfolk? I doubt it.

India needs some soul searching. These are not isolated rape cases but, in fact, are just the tip of the iceberg as countless rape cases are not reported because of social stigma attached with family honour. It is time to look inwards for introspection as to why such attitudes towards women are so prevalent in India despite the respect and honour demanded by religious scriptures and traditions. It is a complex problem concerning the criminal mindset and, regrettably, there is no simple solution. Years old preference for sons has affected the natural boys-to-girls ratio to a dangerous point, uncontrolled sprawling of urban centres dotted with slums and shanty towns inhabited by single men from impoverished rural areas, the attitude of the police, prosecutors and justice system towards these crimes, which look at the victim as the party-at-fault, lack of fast track courts and a criminal justice system favouring the victim and inability of the system to prosecute and punish the rapist in months (not in years), which is torturous for the victim and her family. Bollywood should also take the blame for glamourising rape scenes, which are viewed by hundreds of millions of youth unable to control their urges.

It is time for sociologists, lawyers and jurists, educationalists, social trendsetters, religious leaders, media gurus and political leaders to join hands to attempt to change this mindset, and to break the legal and cultural taboos to stand along with the rape victims. This is a joint responsibility as this rape culture is affecting the whole population.

MASOOD KHAN

Jubail,

Saudi Arabia