A Cry for Justice: The Epidemic of Sexual Assault

Today we stand in front of the world where the headline can only shout horror, where the living and the dead can be abused. The memory of these monstrous acts remains with us in our mind, as a negative imprint which generates feelings of fear, anger, and disbelief. This is a nation under attack, but not by any foreign entity but by this twisted creature, which resides in the very nature of this nation.

The recent wave of attacks has left all the women feeling insecure about themselves and their surroundings. As we move from the interiors of a hospital to the purest shell of a nursery, nothing remains inviolate. The recent tragedy of a young doctor raped and killed in Kolkata put the nation on its heels, for even the doctors, who are dedicated to serving people, are not safe from the worst desires of some maniacs. Her white coat drenched in blood became a representation of a society that has turned horror.

But the darkness is deeper than this. Not even the dead are spared from the cold touch of death – they cannot find comfort even in the afterlife. A deluded and evil person who dug up corpses in graveyards is a sign of how evil human beings can be. These women, who were killed while still alive, were not even allowed the basic human right of eternal burial.

Innocence is no shield. The recent rape of two four year old girls in Badlapur speaks volumes on the state of the society which allows such cruelties to be unleashed on innocent children. These angels of the early years, who were just starting to open their eyes to the world, became victims of a nightmare that will affect their lives till eternity.

These are not isolated incidents. They are the grim face of a pervasive epidemic. Every day, women and girls live in fear, their freedom curtailed, their spirits crushed. The weight of this constant threat is a suffocating burden. The question is no longer "if" but "when" will be the next victim.

However, and despite the storm of horrors the world is experiencing at the moment, there are still people who can challenge the need for the Feminist movement. They simply write off all the screams of pain as complaints, as if the human desire for protection, dignity and fairness is just some grievance. To them, we say: Wake up and look around. Consider the hopeless statistics of the number of people destroyed. So pay attention to what the silenced ones have to say, although they themselves cannot make a sound.

Feminism is not a choice; it is a necessity. It is the unwavering demand for a world where women are not objects of desire but subjects of respect. It is the fight for a society where every individual, regardless of gender, can walk the streets without fear.

To those who trivialize our struggle, we say: this is something that has been lacking, your silence is deafening. You are a criminal for being indifferent or not caring for people around you. It is not a war of sexes but it is a war against sins and sexual immoralities that are a result of the devil’s temptations. Until every single drop of brutality against women is removed out of society’s systems, the battle will go on.

We refuse to be victims. We are survivors. And we will not rest until justice prevails and our daughters can grow up in a world free from fear.