It is 2020; the world is grappling with a pandemic. But guess what we are busy doing in our country- adding on to the statistics of violence and crimes against women. I don’t have a theme for my blog posts this year, but what I have is a lot of anger and frustration to vent out. So, my 8 posts are going to be rant posts that will make you uncomfortable. And, I am not sorry to stir up the conscience of a sleeping nation.
Yesterday, I woke up to the news of the Hathras Dalit victim succumbing to death. The brutality of the crime managed to ‘shake’ up the nation again. I feel numb; I feel disgusted. The way her body was burned late in the night without her family’s consent proves my faith in #nocountryforwomen. All these PRs of saving the daughters are falsified narratives by the rich and the mighty. You and I have the battle to fight alone.
Before I could call it a day, I witnessed a senior DGP beating up his wife on video just because she objected to his extra-marital affair. Slow claps! A two-year-old baby girl stabbed 100 times by a screwdriver. Another Dalit rape victim dies at Balrampur in UP, 8-year-old raped and critical in Azamgarh in U.P., and a minor girl is raped by three men in M.P. Also, these are just a few of the national average of 87 rapes that get reported per day. Focus on the word ‘reported’; the actual number would be much higher.
The sheer brutality of the crimes makes me question the audacity of the criminals. Why isn’t there any fear in the mind of the predators? After the Hyderabad encounter, people had lauded the police about serving quick justice. Today I want to ask everyone if that incident was powerful enough to induce fear of the law in the minds of the criminals? Did it serve the purpose of stopping any such future heinous crimes? NO! All it did was to give a quick-fix cover-up to cater to the rising resentment in the country.
What we need is a sustainable system that ensures a safe environment for women, an assurance of quick justice, and severe punishment for the guilty. Looking at the present scenario, where the media is filled with men barking for TRPs and self-declared feminists (read opportunists) are too busy in seeking fulfilment of their vendetta, the future looks bleak and dangerous.
Before I leave, let me tell you that women are at war in this country. And if it doesn’t bother you today because of your privileged status, remember “Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are” – Benjamin Franklin.
“I am taking my blog to the next level with Blogchatter‘s My Friend Alexa 2020″ campaign. Stay tuned to read my second rant post in this series.
soniasmusings 
I’m drained with whatever is being lapped up by my mind.
Nirbhaya, Shakti Mills, Kathua, Priyanka…& lakhs of brutalities. And this ain’t stopping at all. When are we going to stop raising beasts? And when we rant about feeling ashamed to be a woman in India, the only defence those people would spit in our face- “Is it? You need to go to places in Syria & you’d feel safer.”
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I don’t know where we are heading to. What kind of a world are we leaving for our children?
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You’re right. Just listing them out is enough to make us sick to the core. This is no country for women indeed.
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Seriously, it breaks my heart.
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There are people who are undisturbed.. then there are ppl who justify or try to cover it up. Yesterday the first comment on a tweet about Balrampur news was “paise mil gayi, ab bas kar”.. an assumption that women outraging against these horrific crimes must be paid. Why else would anyone talk about it, without an agenda
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This makes me so, so angry!
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The Hathras incident wiped out the only smidgen of hope I had for the country. We must raise our voices, till they cannot be drowned out anymore. Glad you wrote this Sonia, hope more women add their voices too.
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I feel so drained out that I had to get it out of my system. Indeed, the only way is to fight the system that fails us everytime.
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I think there’s no privilege status in this country for women. Some may be better off but only better. When privileged women move out alone here, they prefer sharing their location with their folks lest… and even among them some are in a worst case scenario for their caste, religion, etc, etc. I fail to understand our blabbermouth leaders who cannot get the basics in place.
So glad you choose to write about all these Sonia. Amplifying your voice all the way!
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It breaks my heart to even write this. I shudder at what these women would have endured.
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Thank you, Sonia, for ever being a source of support.
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Until now, I would shield myself from such news. It depresses me and then I keep thinking about it all day. I generally refrain from posting and reading. It gets so exhausting. But now I think if I can’t use the power of my pen and my presence on social media to oppose than I have failed myself. And I have now decided the least I can do is sharing posts which question the administration and Government.
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I totally understand, Aesha! I avoided topics that took away my mental peace but I can’t look away anymore, even if it breaks my heart to write this.
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You wrote everything that I am feeling and probably couldn’t express. It’s sickening and sad and so heartbreaking. The incidents and the reactions of some people.
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Aren’t we tired of rant and rave and seems that too on deaf ears.
A post well in time and glad you expressed it in this post…
We are sitting among sick thoughts and it hurts deep.
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So true,Pragun! I feel so helpless that even anger is not a strong enough emotion anymore.
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So good to read you after such a long time. Anger is actually underrated ..the post totally resonates it’s no world for women
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So good to see you again, bestie. It breaks my heart to even write this.
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I feel your anger, Sonia, and in fact, want to vent it all out as well. It’s unsettling, and until there’s closure on this case, and sustainable system in place, which makes all women feel safe, this country is not ours.
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I feel your anger, Sonia, and want to vent it out as well. It’s unsettling, and until there’s closure in this case, and a sustainable system which ensures the safety of all women, this country is not ours.
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Nice blog
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Actually in India, we are just helpless as a woman. You are right – no country for women.
https://swarnaz.com/
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It’s true, recent news tells us how power is misused.. It is enraging indeed. One case after another. Despicable times.
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It is indeed a pity that every time something like this happens the nation shows a lot of rage and soon things quieten down but no concrete steps are taken and we are in waiting for the next incident. And the cycle repeats itself. What is more, I heard that the District Magistrate in the Hathras case even threatened the family of the victim saying something like ‘remember the media will go away but we will be here all the time’. This is the height of callousness. One of my distant relatives was the DGP of Gujarat police and I asked him once why the police are so insensitive and he told me that they do get enough training and all that and if they had some autonomy they would function well but they are so much under the thumb of the politicians that they cannot do anything about it. We need a systemic change. I understand your anger, Sonia. Even I am absolutely outraged by the kind of animal cruelty a person must possess to hack off a woman’s tongue.
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Indeed these heinous acts are crushing every woman inside; even if we call ourselves seated on the privilege side ; i can’t help but think this could be me any time of the day or night.
We think we are modern, progressive & empowered lot & maybe , just maybe the victim not so much. But fear of safety lurks in all of us. And what is this if not third grade citizenship! Pained
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It’s a sad reality of todays world. Even the hanging of the culprits of Nirbhaya case doesnt set any fear in the mind of offenders.
Also, its not just india but each and every country that is facing this. I have read so many articles about USA wer girls are raped by family members the most.
It enrages me and has set a fear in my heart as I have my daughter, niece and many such small girls whom I care about n fear leaving them alone.
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Its shameful and scary what’s happening out there. News is just being reported, nothing is being done. We seem to be moving backwards day by day, our minds getting narrower and smaller still. Its sick. You have written well. If even one voice raised makes a difference we shoulf do it.
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Sonia I feel the same anger and frustration that you are feeling now… I keep on asking when will things get better for the women of the society… Rape, eve-teasing, groping, molestation and what not! Women, all across the nation or better the world should unite and call for a war against these power plays NOW!
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I feel numb now, Sonia and honestly I have no hope left that situation will ever improve. No matter how positive I want to be, every now and then the horrific news of heinous crimes against women in our country shakes me up. Dont know how many Nirbhayas and how many more candle marches do we need and dont know how these marches help? We get angry and raise our voices everytime such incident takes place and then we calm down only to protest again after a few months. But sadly, the situation is still the same as it was years ago. Its indeed no country for woman!!!
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I can’t make out what I feel after what is happening all around. There is fear, anger, frustration, sadness and a lot more. But I am still trying to find some hope around here.
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It is so difficult to write a comment on this post. You have put into words what most of us women think every day. If we have daughters we are worried for their safety, and if we have sons we are worried that our upbringing should be strong enough that they respect women. Rape in it’s simplest form is about power, and the Harthras case shows where the power lies. They are and will continue to misuse their power. It is we, the women who need to band together and raise our voices.
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It was my sister who got that anger going inside me. She read the news and asked me – am I safe. And when I couldn’t answer her, she asked – will I ever be safe. And I had nothing to say to her. And I wanted to rant and scream but I didn’t. Thank you for this post.
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I cannot even start or stop ranting about this issue! Thinking about such cases ignites a fire inside me but I feel so helpless for not being able to do anything about this. Hence I do only which is in my control, I keep a check on my brothers and their attitudes towards women.
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Such a sad state. Don’t know what people are turning into. Praying to God to give people some sensibility and kindness.
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We keep talking about it and feel disheartened, but no laws are helping to stop this nuisance. A daughter lost her life and people are trying to hush these things. And, even if caught the justice is so delayed…Your post sums up my feelings too!
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People have very short memory they pitty and move on too soon. Everyone has to make little change in mindset for the entire society to change.
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yes All these is really sad and disturbing. despite having good process and overall development, our county still consider as one of the most unsafe country in the world for women. being a mom of two girls, this stats scare me a lot. hope these things change in future and we had a safe nation for girls and women.
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Sad state of affairs for women in India…unless the men and women in the grassroots level are educated , these crimes will unfortunately go on..
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I think we are pretty safe in India as long as we don’t fall prey to anyone lusty eyes. Baby stabbed makes my heart, mind and soul so angry, that’s why I don’t watch the news because there is nothing I can do about it, besides teach my own daughter how to fight and my son how to respect women.
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Sonia, while i can relate to every word of your post, I can’t help but feel absolutely gutted that nothing seems to be changing. What have we learnt from all the “high publicity” crimes against women in the past few years – absolutely nothing. We remain a “no country for women”
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This is an unsafe time to live in. The crime against women are multiplying each day. As a nation we need to take a stance
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Years of suppression and brutality, I’m unable to find a single ray of hope for women. No, ours is not a civilized society that treats all humans equally!
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My heart cries when I see these heinous acts in a row, it turns into anger when I see sophisticated vultures encash the matter for few votes and so called celebrities choose to keep mum, family grief becomes the opportunity for some good for nothing netizens. Gosh!!!!!I wonder where are we heading?
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What is happening in this country is outrageous and heinous. The worst part is people are not bothered. Their mindset is still stuck to women’s clothing – even in 2020! No respect for women, now I can see no respect for the dead as well! Sad.
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This is no longer a country for women. Some call the new rape culture a backlash against feminism. But its just simply an absence of the basic humane qualities.
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All these incidents are very disheartening and it’s high time our nation wakes up. Difficult for parents like us who have daughters. What kind of a nation are going to have with these incidents on the rise.
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When you said that women are at war in this country, I feel it! I am just tired of the situation. thinking about it gives me chills. And sadly, I feel so helpless!
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It just angers me to think about the status of women in this country. Why, why couldn’t we upgrade from the Mediaeval ages?
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I know, we all are feeling the rage. But you know what is more frustrating is that we are so helpless and clueless that we don’t know what to do to help and stop these incidents.
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Sadly, the country who taught non-violence and dharma to the world. Today, that country has become the capital of rape, murder and brutality. The change will only happen if there is systemic change. At times I feel so nervous and sad. I had kids after a long span but now at times I repent. Why did I brought them to this cruel world?
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That’s thought provoking read. I don’t know where we are heading today. But the increase in number of crimes against women has out question mark on everything.
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This post really made me cry 😭 so much brutality with woman, don’t when this all will stop. #MyFriendAlexa
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It breaks my heart whenever I read such brutality against women. And being a mother of 2 girls, not a single day passes when I dont think about their safety once they are own their own.
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You get up another day learn the most pathetic news. I don’t know what are we heading towards.
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We fear raising our daughter here. India is not the same as it used to be.
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It’s sad to see the environment/ society we have created for our children. If you cannot respect others, especially women, you are not worth being human.
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I seriously am very disturbed by this news.. so much so that I had stopped watching news for the initial two days.. but the political drama that unfolded after these initial days made me feel even worse. What is the value of one simple life..? fake news, politicizing the incident and more.. I don’t know which news I should believe… I am left feeling obnoxious about the systems and falling democracy in india.
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