Paul Angami
Secretary NDPP Churches Colony, Dimapur
Of late we have been experiencing so many hue and cries regarding the two horrific rape incidents that shocked the whole nation and furthermore attracted condemnation even in the global front. It is the occurrences that brought to light once again, not only the plight of women and the poor, and the downtrodden minorities but also raised questions on the very essence and sanctity of the law and order and justice system of this world's largest democracy, where the label of democracy is proving to be ironic.
It was a black day in the history of India and a slap on the face of humanity, when the honour and chastity of these young daughters of the nation got outraged and their innocence crushed in the most ruthless and monstrous manner, degenerately falling short of any human behavior.
A young girl raped mercilessly and her poor father beaten and tortured to death, his only fault being the seeking of justice. What follows is the innocent victim being pushed to such depressed mental state that she tried to burn herself alive. Political power misuse case as reported.
What was even more tragic and frightful was the abduction, days of torture, rape and murder of the eighth year old innocent girl. Even the thought of the ' fury of hell" which this poor child passed through, sends a chill down the spine of the thinker. I guess we can barely even imagine the heights of pain and the trauma that this poor child went through as the victim herself.
What has happened has left all the right thinking people aggrieved and inflamed. But the worst of it all was the abuse of power and influence to suppress justice and conceal the murder of innocence. The actual crime was sidelined and the issues rather became a political and communal affair, when some political leaders and communalist people, instead of seeking justice for the poor victims rather had the audacity to exert their power and influence to suppress the truth and shield the perpetrators of the ghastly acts.
I bear no ill will or personal agenda against any party, community or society, be it in particular or in general. What I am rather trying here is to convey the message that 'what is wrong is wrong'. I am trying to point finger at and condemn those 'rotten apples', be it from whichever political or social institution, community or background… those blots in the name of mankind.
Leaders, irrespective of their affiliation to any political party or community, are blessed and chosen to serve the people. Not to enslave them or to trample upon their rights and sentiments. But, some unscrupulous ones defile the very essence of leadership. These 'fools' should understand the fact that it is not about which party's or community's members or supporters the culprits were. It is about what wrong they did. It is about who suffered and why they had to. It is about the innocent victims who underwent hell like trauma, and lost their God gifted lives. Today it was those poor victims. Tomorrow it can be your mother, your sister or your daughter. A crime is a crime and has no justification.
God beautifully made human beings and no community is bigger or greater than humanity. But it is us humans who divided ourselves in the lines of religion, caste or creed. And this is the biggest failure of mankind. But still, as far as I know and believe, no religion preaches hatred or dishonor. Crimes are committed by individuals, not by religion or communities. And, amongst all the crimes, rape is perhaps one of the most heinous ones. Because, rape I believe is not only destruction to the flesh but also the murder of the soul. What is again worse is the gift of social stigma and the torment that our 'heartless' society gives to these already suffering victims, which often leads to ex- communications and suicides.
Men who dishonor and defile women should not forget that, it was in a woman's womb that they were conceived. It was a woman's breasts that fed them. And it was a woman's love, care and sacrifices that nourished and nurtured them, and brought them up to this state of manhood, of which they are vainly proud of. It is seriously high time that we retrospect and start to act for a change. Is it not? God bless us all!
