The day my daughter started her college, my dad told me to get her enrolled in self-defense classes. That is how we live today - in fear!
As a woman, I cannot even fathom what a rape victim goes through. I shudder even at the thought of it.
Recently in Mumbai, a young lady lawyer was murdered in her apartment by the security guard of that apartment building.He lusted for her. Sadly, he is booked for murder and not attempted rape!
Whom do we trust?
A father keeps his own daughter imprisoned for years raping her repeatedly and impregnates her several times. She is helpless. She gives birth to his children without any medical help. A couple of them die. The rest she brings up in that hell hole. She does not have any option.
I saw a caption on a social networking site - "RAPE PREDATES MINISKIRTS".
If the cause of rape is the way a woman dresses, then is there any logic when a man rapes a 2 year old baby girl?
How can anyone explain the rape of of 60 year old woman in her house?
Women do not think of rape.
Women do not invite rape or rapist.
Women do not dress up for rape.
Women want to live their life on their own terms without the fear of their bodies being compromised for the lusty feelings of some sick men.
She is stuck
In that cold place
A deep, black hole
The only sounds are her screams
Pleas and moans,
Her cries for help and whimpers
The exhausted sobs.
She is sucked
Again and again
Into the grim pit
Of blood and gory
The muck and dirt
As she fights
To free herself
She scrubs and scratches
Again and again
To rub off
The loveless touches
The animal imprints
That violated
Her body, mind and soul
She is blind
To the world
Has visions only of
His cold eyes,
His breath, his lust
His assault and his thrusts
That ripped her life apart
She is stuck
In a place she didn't want to be
Battered , bruised and scarred
Permanently...she is stuck
In a place she didn't want to be.
Fear is part of our life...especially for girls. we cant step out of the house without fear of our safety....mentality of men has to change & not the way for dressing by fairer sex ...Nicely written Janu... :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing your thoughts Aparna. Even, some educated men consider that the woman can be bracketed by the way she dresses.
DeleteThis post expresses what precisely goes on in the mind of every 'thinking' woman. Imagining what a woman undergoes itself seems very hurting to me. Last week in crime Patrol - Dastak, I saw the case where four men repeatedly sexually molested a mentally challenged girl and the girl did not even know what was going on. she was pregnant and also delivered the baby. I was in tears and the episodes still haunt me. I can't imagine how any one could be so callous and insensitive. I wonder what can drive sense into the heads of those men.
ReplyDeleteJoy always,
Susa
I watched that particular and also an earlier episode where a woman was raped in a moving car in Kolkata. She had met them in a bar where she had gone for a drink. The sad part was that the police did not believe her till she went to the media.
DeleteThank you.
I was squirming as I read your outpourings.
ReplyDeleteBut what follows the assault is even worse - the disbelief, the hushed whispers behind her back, the self-loathing.
It's a nightmare that never ends.
We need to rehabilitate the woman more than just educating men.
DeleteThanks Purba.
It is every woman's nagging fear, it never ends...
ReplyDeleteTrue..
DeleteThanks Bindu.
damg...powerful...it should not happen...
ReplyDeletei am glad you got her self defense classes because we can not be safe enough...statistics show 1 in 5 women have been raped at some point in their life...
this is pretty big here right now as they argue whether a rpaed woman can have an abortion or not...
tight emotions in this....
Thanks for sharing your thought Brian.
DeleteThe debate never ends.
Powerful words. It is so sad that in the world we live in, we have to constantly convince people that we are the victims and that we did not invite this upon us :(.
ReplyDeleteRightly put Rachna. Thanks.
DeleteIt's so sad that so many men feel so inadequate within themselves that in their pursuit to feel a sense of control have to resort towards dominating a woman in that way, indeed..tearing her sense of security, self-worth and life apart.
ReplyDeleteI pray for all the victims of rape. That is something surely nobody should have to endure. Such a sad reality.
I don't understand what sort of 'kick' they get from these acts of cowardice.
DeleteThanks Jessica.
A woman has to live in fear of so many things. And rapes have been happening even when there was no mini skirt in India. It is a shame when people especially men will justify their actions by pointing a finger at women.
ReplyDeleteTrue...thanks.
DeleteJanaki, you have portrayed the fears of women so aptly, there is no sense of security in a woman's mind ever. I loved your poem, it's simply awesome.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Sulekkha.
DeleteNow this is something I will agree with... Men writing about rape and how women fantasize about it is unacceptable. I am still in a grumpy mood...
ReplyDeleteWe all need to be.
DeleteThanks Farida.
What a strong and brave poem you have written...and insightful comments that have followed. Rape is a violent act. It should be punished in the same way as the violet act of premeditated shooting or knifing. You have given so many examples in your poem, so many sad examples. Rape should not be justified by any person, any country, any way, anywhere!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your thought Mary.
DeleteThis post made me think of all our sisters throughout the ages up till today who have been the victim of this violence. My heart aches for them. You captured my feelings so perfectly Janu. There is NO excuse for rape! You said it well.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Leah
Hugging you back Leah. Thanks.
DeleteExactly my thoughts Janu..... fear is the only thought that comes to my mind.
ReplyDeleteI just wrote something on similar lines here:
http://wingstomywords.blogspot.in/2012/08/scared-scarred.html?utm_source=BP_recent
We are so helpless that equipping ourselves seems a better option than hoping for things to change around us.
Wonderful post there.
DeleteThanks for your comments here.
Your words resonated with me as I have a young daughter. Taking up that defense class would be a good idea. What is sad and painful are the family members taking advantage of the females. I hear you loud and strong ~
ReplyDeleteYou have expressed the fears of a woman raped so clearly in this post, Janaki. It gave me a shiver up my spine.
ReplyDeleteThank you Rim.
DeletePowerful word in rhyme as also text !
ReplyDeleteThanks Vasuda.
DeleteOMG. If this doesn't bring that experience home, nothing will. If you had to experience this to write it, even if empathy wrote it, I put my arms around you to give you some safety. "Please do not Trespass" Please do not trespass. Do not trespass.
ReplyDeleteI have been eve-teased and I would be left fuming for days. How I loathed it! Rape is beyond my comprehension.
DeleteThanks Susan.
I am overwhelmed today as I read your poem ... overwhelmed.
ReplyDeleteHelen..hugs.
Deleteheart-wrenching, janaki. i loathe rapists and feel so sad for the victims, most especially minors.
ReplyDeletegreat post <3
Thanks Irene.
DeleteMy beautiful Poetess,
ReplyDeleteYou left tears in my heart. I think I said this to Corrine yesterday...Man is foolish with his titles and his so-called education. He should remember that his "mother" is/was a woman. He may even have a wife and daughter(s). First of all, there is nothing sexy about a child and second, evil is what enters into the heart of such sick men that cause such pain. Here in the US...we have had stories where after the rape and murder...they touched the dead body in a sick way, if you know what I mean. This was well written and certainly touched me because I have a mother, sisters (4) and many, many nieces. Next time write about the beauty of love (smile). Great post my friend.
My dear Andy,
DeleteThanks a lot for sharing.
I will write a poem on beauty of love...:-)
That’s a shuddering post…..
ReplyDeleteThis dress code thing… well, if the dress is what causes the problems there should be rapes happening all over in the Western countries…
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Deep.
Deletea powerful write ~ and definitely a horrific tale. they say rape is an act of violence, not sex ~ what difference does HIS motivation make when the assault IS sexual to her, IS violent to her, IS an inhumane/unhuman act? i do fear for my daughter and granddaughter ~ even my grandson ~ hoping that if this horror must touch someone in our family that it be me, not them.
ReplyDeletei hope that if any man who reads your words has thoughts of rape, your poetry will change his mind.
thank you for participating at Poetry Jam!
♥
dani
No one should really face this Dani.
DeleteThank you so much.
Powerful read Janu, very accurate to the feelings as well. Stuck is a good word for it. I pray for all the women and children who are stuck, that they may find a kind of peace as I have.
ReplyDeleteJanu...
ReplyDeleteNice rant...No 55 this week?
You really write on this topic so well.
ReplyDeleteI have seen a lot of cases like that.
Try to help some by providing shelter but it is THEY themselves
who MUST realized it is NOT their fault and that they have a choice and DARE to take a step forward. Take a lot of courage and wisdom.
What a powerful poem, Janu. YOU GO GIRL!
hugs
shakira
Touching poem Janaki..
ReplyDeletemuch after the violation,the hurt stays...
Touching poem Janaki..
ReplyDeletemuch after the violation,the hurt stays...
Touching poem Janaki..
ReplyDeletemuch after the violation,the hurt stays...
oh dang that brought tears to my eyes... it's terrible that these things happen and i love that you gave that woman a voice.. it's sad that we have to live in fear and think it's wise to have her enrolled in a self-defense class
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for writing this. I think discussions about the issue of rape are more important than ever, especially with the Assange thing going on. People generally think of violent struggles and torn clothes when they think of rape, but it is much more insidious than that.
ReplyDeleteIt's a painful and sorry state. Actually I want a declaration from all those who narrow down on dressing that, if the all the females dress up as they prescribed, there won't be any rapes in India.
ReplyDeleteA touching poem, I could feel the pain in there...
Very well written Janu. I took up karate 4.5 years ago and I feel a whole lot more confident now. And my daughter took up tae kwon do. So self defence classes are definitely a wise thing to do.
ReplyDelete