I do not know how many of you have read my book; but if you have read it, then you must have read that chapter called “Power of streets”. If you have, then you must have known what I am talking about. If you have read it then, you must have been realizing why I say that not many celebrities much really care about what happens to their countrymen. And let me say you, unfortunately I was never wrong.
Yes might be people whom I know in the real world do not feel I am intelligent; but I am glad that people of my country have reacted the same way as I always wished and hoped. After a girl gang raped by six men, in front of her boy friend; we the people of India are now on streets. I am living in a different city, so I can’t join them; but I feel proud for what they are doing. We do not know that girl and its fine; but it makes me proud and somehow satisfied, when I think and realize that so many people are fighting for her. Some among those people might have registered their presence on streets for some selfish intentions, some of them are also reacting violently while they are protesting; but I am completely ignoring them and their behavior and intention. I am seeing a bigger picture here. For the first time since I was born in this country called India, I have seen so many people realizing the power of the street for a common reason which is “safety of women“. And I really appreciate it. I always knew the power of streets of India; but I am happy and satisfied that people of India are now realizing it.
It’s a protest that millions people of our country are doing. They are not coming out of their homes, offices, schools or colleges having any selfish intention in their hearts, bodies, minds or souls like reservation for minority or increase in salaries; but they are coming out to give women of this country a better and safe environment, where they can roam anywhere, anytime without any fear in them. And the best thing is that millions of young people are leading this protest without any leader. This shows somehow we all now do not have much faith in our leaders. And it’s a reality we all need to accept.
I do not know what will happen to that innocent girl in future. But every minute, every second I pray a better future for her. We all need to think what we would have done, if the same thing has happened to girlfriend of any of us, sisters of any of us, daughters of any of us or wife of any us. Even I want to say that, forget about every relationship, what if she is just a common girl like billions of other of this planet; won’t you fight for her, won’t you pray for her.
I know you must be celebrating your Christmas with your loved ones; but do me a favor and pray with me for that girl. I want to see her happy, healthy. She deserves it my friends. She has fought the battle till now all alone; now we must support her in whatever small way we can; may it be by keeping her in our prayers or protesting on street for her and millions of other women.
Merry Christmas to you all and your family; but honestly, more than celebrating I want you all to pray for her just for a minute with me. She needs to win this battle against those devils and what they did with her. Those devils not only raped her but also us as humans and our humanity. And we have no rights to stay at our homes and celebrate Christmas in whatever country we are living in after something like this happen to an innocent girl, who also lives in the same planet. So we all need to try to bring back that humanity to our society.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Elyse
December 25, 2012
You’re right Arindam. I Wish and Hope that we restore sanity to man/woman kind.
Arindam
December 25, 2012
I too wish and hope Elyse. It’s something I am not able to get rid off. Every time I think about that girl, I ask to my self what if this is what happened to a girl whom I know. And believe me I still find it difficult to resist that few humans could able to do something like this to an innocent girl.
elisaruland
December 25, 2012
She and her family are in my prayers, Arindam. Thanks for your important post.
Arindam
December 25, 2012
Thanks Elisa. Merry Christmas to you and your family. DO not forget to keep this girl in your prayers.
Amy@SoulDipper
December 25, 2012
This was in the news on our national radio station…there will be many of us praying for her and for some form of alteration in the hearts of men who would do such a thing.
It matters not whether we know her or if she is from any particular nation. What is done to one is done to all. I’m very grateful the Internet shows us our connectivity every time we use a computer.
If it doesn’t, we need to polish our souls.
Arindam
December 27, 2012
Thanks Amy Auntie. This news was heart wrenching. I feel ashamed thinking that, few people of my own gender could something like this to a girl. She is now fighting for her life. Yesterday night, our government transferred her to Singapore for better treatment. Let’s pray together for quick recovery of that girl; both physically and mentally.
Life With The Top Down
December 25, 2012
We can not loose faith in humanity. Sometimes horrific acts occur that knock us down, but we must get back up stronger. I will certainly pray for this young girl and her family that they are able to get back up and enjoy they life she was intended to live. Thanks for this important message Arindam.
Arindam
December 27, 2012
Yes it’s true that we must not loose faith on humanity; but when something like this happens, it somehow makes us both sorry and ashamed of us being humans so helpless. This one, shocked us all and might be it was also a wake up call for all of us. I am too praying for that girl’s health and a much better future for her. Thanks for reading, Lisa.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
renée a. schuls-jacobson
December 25, 2012
Arindam: I have to confess: I have heard nothing about this. I am in Florida without TV and with only limited access to wifi. I am so sorry to hear this news. But where there is power, there is always resistance. Be proud of the people of your country.
The rapists are NEVER the majority. But it is our job to remind them to not to allow their public, political angst to seep into the private lives of others. Have a beautiful day.
Arindam
December 27, 2012
Yes Renee, I do feel proud of my countrymen and how they are reacting after all this happened to that girl. Unfortunately, since past few years the number of men who think it’s their birth right to rape a girl is increasing and now it’s the time to make them pay for their shameless act. And I am glad that people of my country are now realizing it and reacting in a good way. The only fear is that, people of my country forget things too quickly; so I pray that this time people are going to take it as a wake up call for all humankind.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
dreamtheimmpossible
December 26, 2012
Amen..! May God bless her with normal life ahead….
Arindam
December 27, 2012
Yes I am also praying for a normal life for her a head. What happened with her was really unfortunate.
Snoring Dog Studio
December 26, 2012
Great post, Arindam. I, too, hope the protesting doesn’t stop until real change happens. The other half of society in a lot of countries live in fear. They aren’t allowed the safety and justice that men enjoy. Change must come soon because no nation is civilized until women have equal rights and can be assured safe travel in their country.
Arindam
December 27, 2012
Thank you! Yes I too have the same fear that people are not going to stop reacting until a real change happens. There are many such occasions when something like this happened before and after a couple of days people do not find enough time to think what happened a couple of days earlier. So I wish and hope it’s not going to add to that list. Women need to feel safe in this land which has a history of people worshiping female as goddess.
Patti Kuche
December 26, 2012
Best wishes to you all for the support so sorely needed, we are all with you in spirit.
Arindam
December 27, 2012
Thank you Patti!
belasbrightideas
December 27, 2012
Yes, praying for that girl. Heard about this atrocity on national public radio here. Horrible, and the hope is indeed that things will change for women in India. So her suffering will not have been in vain.
Arindam
December 27, 2012
It’s horrible for sure, Bela. This is not happening everywhere in India; but unfortunately the number is on higher side; so it should stop now. Do pray for that girl!
earthriderjudyberman
December 27, 2012
That little girl is in my thoughts and prayers. I wish that everyone can walk safely without fear of an attack. No one should be allowed to prey on the weakness of others. May those who raped her – or attack anyone who is vulnerable – be caught, stopped, and pay for their crimes.
Arindam
December 27, 2012
Thanks a lot Judy. Do keep her in your prayers. She is fighting bravely for her life and I believe only prayers can help her cause.
And all those people who raped her are now caught. We are just waiting for the verdict from court. I do not think life imprisonment is going to help the cause; they should either get death penalty or they should be treated the same way they did to that innocent girl.
rangewriter
December 27, 2012
Very sad, indeed. What you describe as people of India taking to the streets to advocate for change reminds me of my country during the late 60’s and early 70’s. It was an exciting time. Often, looking back on those times, we get sad and discouraged because it seems the fight has withered away. But even so, much has changed due to the courage of individual people coming together to force change.
Arindam
December 27, 2012
I had no Idea that something like this happened in your country during 60’s and 70’s. But yes, I have not seen many times people of my country reacting this way in past 27 years since I was born. But I know, protests here do not last long; because our people have so many other things to worry about, so they do not find it worth their time to fight for someone else. I am just hoping this time people are going to take it as wake up call and will try to bring a change for themselves and others before it will be too late.
rangewriter
December 27, 2012
Yes, you raise a good point. I think the upheavals here in the 60’s were able to succeed because actually our economy was quite strong at the time. Of course…we had a war time economy. It’s sickening but true…war as industry. The protests came on many levels, starting with social issues like racial discrimination and women’s rights and expanding to protests over our involvement in the Vietnam War.
Angelia Sims
December 27, 2012
We are facing the same outcry here with all the children gunned down at Sandy Hook. So sad for the parents to lose these babies in such a senseless way near Christmas. Why? Why would anyone shoot young children. My youngest step-daughter is in first grade. The world needs to change. We need to pray. And to unite strong against these demons. God Bless your wonderful soul, Arindam.
Arindam
December 28, 2012
Yes Angelia, It mad me sad when I heard about what happened to those school going kids in your country. That’s why I always tell and also mention few times in my book, “Does not matter where we live, at the end of the day event like these occurs almost every day in one part of the same planet or other. We all need to reflect on every part of this world rather than just worrying about our own part; after all we all live in same planet. We all need to stand together when events like these attack the whole humankind. Thanks for taking your time to read this one, Angelia.
becwillmylife
December 27, 2012
As a mother and a woman events like this break my heart. That young girl is forever changed and not in a good way. I can’t imagine that type of violation of my personhood. It scares me to think of how my husband, son, or son in law would react if this happened to me, my daughter or my son’s girlfriend. Thanks for opening our eyes to the prayers we need to lift up for this young girl and also for our society as a whole. It definitely takes each and every one of us to evoke change. We can’t point the finger to someone else or pretend we are immune or things will never change. Blessings to you, Arindam.
soumyav
December 28, 2012
very true! Arindam! and so have I tried to put her voice in my words…and also to let the words be the courage for her
Arindam
December 28, 2012
It will be great Soumya. Looking forward to read your interpretation too.
soumyav
December 28, 2012
http://wp.me/p1Zs7k-Y1
soumyav
December 28, 2012
http://wp.me/p1Zs7k-Yg ..two of them in my lines of verse…
Sunshine
December 28, 2012
First, I must say I really like this new theme you selected. The text is much easier to read and I love the fresh clean look.
Second, for the young girl, yes, a prayer and hope she will find healing and peace after such a horrible crime. Have you heard about a saint named Maria Goretti? You may want to look her up via internet search. Briefly, she died from multiple stab wounds from her attempted rapist. The rapist later repented and he prayed to Maria daily after his conversion.
Perhaps we can pray that something good will come from this awful bus situation much like Maria’s story.
Thank you for sharing. May you be blessed with abundant peace + love.
earthriderjudyberman
December 28, 2012
Arindam, I just read the chapter “Never Underestimate Power of the Streets” in your book, “I Wish and I Hope.” Profound thoughts, indeed. Sad to say that what you write about is true here in the U.S. as well. We do put too high a price on celebrity and less on our ability to work together to cause a real positive change in our lives and others.
When I lived in Liverpool, N.Y., a woman jogger was raped and left for dead by two men in an isolated part of a popular park near our home. She survived and the men were caught – years later – and sent to jail. Before they were caught, I was alone on a well-traveled portion of the park and an older man told me that woman should have known better than to go there by herself. I told him many elderly are afraid to come out of their homes after students are released from school. It is no more right for them to be imprisoned in their homes by fear than for that woman to avoid a section of the park because “something bad” might happen. It hadn’t before. He had no response.
My Inner Chick
December 29, 2012
I totally believe in the power of prayer. I am praying now…
Arindam
December 29, 2012
Thanks a lot. But our prayers did not work this time. She took her last breath yesterday.
dearrosie
December 29, 2012
I just heard on National Public Radio that the poor girl died – peacefully – in a hospital in Singapore surrounded by her family. She was only 23.
The six thugs didn’t just rape her, and beat her boyfriend, they threw both off them off the bus. Weren’t other people on the bus?
I’m glad to hear the people of India have said ENOUGH. Though I’m not born in India I’m a woman! I am heartbroken…
Arindam
February 6, 2013
First of all I am really sorry for replying so late Rosie Auntie.
Yes this was a heart wrenching event that took place. They not only raped her but also performed some brutal act with her body which were completely inhuman. Justice is still pending. Let’s hope that girl’s soul will rest in peace seeing a fare trail.
Paula
December 30, 2012
😦
Teju
January 22, 2013
Praying for justice & for peace to be restored on our planet!
Arindam
February 6, 2013
I too pray for the same every day!!