Are Protests Enough?

((Un-)holy Crusades)

protest

n   noun 

1   a statement or action expressing disapproval of or objection to something. Øan organized public demonstration objecting to an official policy or course of action.

2   Law a written declaration, typically by a notary public that a bill has been presented and payment or acceptance refused.

n   verb 

1   express an objection to an action or remark. Øengage in public protest. ØNorth American publicly protest against.

2   make an emphatic declaration or denial in response to doubt or accusation.

It is a rather familiar word these days. The people of India have come up with one protest after another raising various issues such as corruption and crime against women. The common people have sent a strong message that the leaders need to answer their questions and perform their rightful duties. But in this cycle of protests and government counter-attacks, have we been able to achieve the desired goals? Yes, the recent protests against the gang-rape have forced the parliament to set up a few fast track courts and suspend a few police officers. But was this all we wanted? There are many more such questions which need answers, and answers not from some politician or some expert, but from each individual. Are protests enough to change the way India lives? Does the answer to every “wrong” lies within the government? Are only governments answerable and not the society?

Agreed, that the protests are needed to get the government into action. It is a medium of expression for the people through which they show their dissent. These bring people together and make them realize their rights in a democracy. But merely policies cannot change the way people think, work, and act, treat others, etc. The recent rape cases have clearly shown that the society, largely, has failed to treat women as an equal to their male counterparts. The people have demanded capital punishment for the perpetrators, but in this they ask for vengeance rather than justice for the victim. Such steps would create an atmosphere of fear, but not willingness against crime. The government has been irresponsible but blame games won’t help. We, as citizens of this country cannot and should not shy of off our responsibility. It is time for us bring that wave of change, and we have ourselves to begin with.

Few of the position holders and power-brokers such as certain police commissioners have held women and westernization for their apathy. They have not created this belief but merely adopted it from the society they live in. So if we want these people to change their mindset then it is the society which has to change first. Social stigmas such as female infanticide, dowry, etc. still exist in the modern Indian society and as statistics show, to my greater surprise, in the urban areas. So the need of the hour is introspection rather than stricter laws, suspensions and capital punishment.

The dividing line between justice and revenge is blurred. Justice doesn't only mean punishment to the perpetrator but also rehabilitation to the victim in every way possible. But, in our society rape victims are rarely allowed to breathe easy. It is the court’s duty to punish the accused, but it is for the society to help the victim overcome her scars and resume her life normally. On the contrary, we associate rape with terms like “loss of honor”, and the sufferer is forced to live a miserable life due to the taboo and taunts that engulf her life in the society. Why is she forced to a condition of mental and emotional trauma?

Conclusively, we cannot fight crime, especially against women and the weaker sections of the society, unless we do away with discrimination against them. Agreed the government institutions ought to be more responsible, but we are the ones who form these institutions. Look within and change shall follow. 

- The Analyst