Sexual predators, beware. The movement "#Me too" has come to India and has already claimed a few scalps. Emboldened by the favourable public reactions, more and more women are willing to come out with the sordid details of the tormenting times that they have been through, naming the ones who'd caused them the angst despite the fact that quite a few of them adorn 'haloed' positions! Consequently, many carefully built reputations lay destroyed and the ruinous heap is only gonna swell over the days.
The Indian woman had taken it over a long time and has now found the courage to stand up to public scrutiny with the sole aim of bringing the guilty to book.
There are umpteen stories of unsuspecting women who've suffered sexual exploitation at the hands of their own close relatives - why talk of only sexual exploitation at the workplace? I go back in time when a couple, residing at Bombay and who were good friends of mine, wanted me to find time to speak to their elder daughter - she was fond of this uncle - during one of my many trips to the city, on duty. The young lady was refusing to get married as matrimonial alliances came from far and wide; she found fault with every 'suitable boy' that came her way! I'd descended upon their house on such an outing only to be emotionally drained over those few hours because the story of the young lady was sad, though explosive.
From her story, her mom's brother - a successful man, working for a blue chip company and who'd a family of his own - had been taking advantage of her, right from her teens and had threatened her if she ever were to spill the beans. The result - she dreaded the days that he visited them, abhorred men who tried to be friendly with her and detested any form of physical relationship! Her words at the end of her bitter narrative still rings in my mind when I said that I'd broach the topic with her parents to bring about an end to the state of affairs and I quote, "Uncle they, and especially my mom, wouldn't believe you and will say that I'm cooking up stories to mislead you". Sure enough, her mom was scathing in her reaction saying that I, too, was swallowing her daughter's words, hook, line and sinker with a final statement, "My brother is the most thorough gentleman that I've come across and don't you say anything about him!"
The family, subsequently, had confronted the issue with the sexual predator and the young lady was able to come out of her trauma, though it was a long drawn out process. Why I had lingered on the story was to just show that sexual predators could be anywhere and everywhere, coming from the most unexpected quarters. Period!
Thankfully, the media has begun to give attention to this vexed problem. I came across a guy - in one of the channel discussions - asking as to why the charges were surfacing now - almost 20 years after its happening! To me, it appeared as though he was either he was play acting or he was a plain dumbo because there could be very many reasons for the victim to clam up. There's no expiry date in such experiences and I shall just cite a few that come to my mind, which are:-
(a) The victim is too stunned to react and at a loss of a sane thought process in the immediate
aftermath.
(b) The consequent investigations can upset the mental balance of any individual.
(c) Dreads society's reactions and the repercussions it could bring to the family.
(d) The agony of being in the limelight for no rhyme or reason.
(e) The influx of people who'd try to take advantage because she's, now, 'available' and can be
exploited!
Tailpiece.
Had a few anxious moments when my sister, from Bangalore, rang up to say that Vichani kunjamma was not well and had been giving anxious moments. Thankfully, got a call that all was well, shortly after. Phew!
The Indian woman had taken it over a long time and has now found the courage to stand up to public scrutiny with the sole aim of bringing the guilty to book.
There are umpteen stories of unsuspecting women who've suffered sexual exploitation at the hands of their own close relatives - why talk of only sexual exploitation at the workplace? I go back in time when a couple, residing at Bombay and who were good friends of mine, wanted me to find time to speak to their elder daughter - she was fond of this uncle - during one of my many trips to the city, on duty. The young lady was refusing to get married as matrimonial alliances came from far and wide; she found fault with every 'suitable boy' that came her way! I'd descended upon their house on such an outing only to be emotionally drained over those few hours because the story of the young lady was sad, though explosive.
From her story, her mom's brother - a successful man, working for a blue chip company and who'd a family of his own - had been taking advantage of her, right from her teens and had threatened her if she ever were to spill the beans. The result - she dreaded the days that he visited them, abhorred men who tried to be friendly with her and detested any form of physical relationship! Her words at the end of her bitter narrative still rings in my mind when I said that I'd broach the topic with her parents to bring about an end to the state of affairs and I quote, "Uncle they, and especially my mom, wouldn't believe you and will say that I'm cooking up stories to mislead you". Sure enough, her mom was scathing in her reaction saying that I, too, was swallowing her daughter's words, hook, line and sinker with a final statement, "My brother is the most thorough gentleman that I've come across and don't you say anything about him!"
The family, subsequently, had confronted the issue with the sexual predator and the young lady was able to come out of her trauma, though it was a long drawn out process. Why I had lingered on the story was to just show that sexual predators could be anywhere and everywhere, coming from the most unexpected quarters. Period!
Thankfully, the media has begun to give attention to this vexed problem. I came across a guy - in one of the channel discussions - asking as to why the charges were surfacing now - almost 20 years after its happening! To me, it appeared as though he was either he was play acting or he was a plain dumbo because there could be very many reasons for the victim to clam up. There's no expiry date in such experiences and I shall just cite a few that come to my mind, which are:-
(a) The victim is too stunned to react and at a loss of a sane thought process in the immediate
aftermath.
(b) The consequent investigations can upset the mental balance of any individual.
(c) Dreads society's reactions and the repercussions it could bring to the family.
(d) The agony of being in the limelight for no rhyme or reason.
(e) The influx of people who'd try to take advantage because she's, now, 'available' and can be
exploited!
Tailpiece.
Had a few anxious moments when my sister, from Bangalore, rang up to say that Vichani kunjamma was not well and had been giving anxious moments. Thankfully, got a call that all was well, shortly after. Phew!
No comments:
Post a Comment