Dear Nirbhaya,
You know how much I had lamented your death no? How much the country grieved! You were proudly tagged the ‘Daughter of the Nation’. Those days made the media people incur losses as they could hardly find a space in their newspapers to rent for the advertisements.
I hope you remember the brave people who stood up for you and the nation’s rest of the daughters ,who were lathi charged, were the victims of the tear-gas used by the Great Indian Police? They still hold a great deal of respect from my side, seriously! Sorry Nirbhaya,I couldn't join the nation-wide movement, not that I live in a village,but,I was too like million others ,sitting cowardly in front of my television,cursing those police-men & ultimately the government, for whom they work,who showed no mercy to those protestants.
Today, after almost 6 months since you left us-partially shaking the government and the judiciary, bringing some turmoil into the current system, I regret to inform you that your sacrifice went into vain. I know, it’s tough to accept, but how could have you ignored the fact that you were born in India, Nirbhaya?A country where people who console you in your presence, will leave no chance of mocking you behind your back? A country where a girl’s character is judged not by her conduct but by her clothes? A country where girls fear strolling on the streets of the national capital after 6 in the evening! And your fault? You tried to conquer that fear by daring to watch a post-evening movie show! You were born in a country,Nirbhaya,where the top leaders have forgotten to react & talk until & unless there’s some external force!Remember the ‘Theek Hai?’ mess by our own honorable PM?I tell you, he’s such an obedient man,yet,when he uttered those two words, just two extra words apart from what was pre-written in his speech, without “someone’s” permission, it resulted in a nationwide surge and anger!AH!How could I have left behind the great Indian Judiciary System?!I remember having spoken against the Indian Judiciary-tagged as the least corrupt systems of India (Sic!), and how the mister who was judging the event made me realize once again that the freedom of speech, granted by the Indian Constitution, is just a word of mouth!Nirbhaya, the country hasn't witnessed even the slightest of the changes since you passed. The rape cases are soaring higher than before. You see, the recent rape and assault case of the Mumbai based Journalist, who was out on a photo assignment to a mill? She too, was along with her male colleague but how can you expect a single man fight against such five devilish men? Its impossible no, Nirbhaya?
I wonder when we girls will learn to defend ourselves! When will a time come, when we don’t let our hearts skip a beat when someone tries an inappropriate touch and instead, learn to slap him back? The time when we all will dare to go alone for late night shows and return home without a single scratch on our body?
I hope the day comes soon, Nirbhaya. The day when you’ll finally find peace in heaven.
Good Bye, Pooja
