Unbound: A Loud Renaissance

(This is my entry for Ring The Bell for IndiChange)

Being a woman is a difficult task since it includes dealing with men.

Indeed, the words holds good. She is fighting and facilitating at the same time. A woman gives birth to a male and he goes out looting a woman’s charm and honor. How ironical the situation is. What should be done? Curbing the ready to take flight of females or cleaning the soiled brains of males- which is better.

The debate has been going on since ages. Solutions have been suggested, mistaken to be executed to ensure the safety of women. Meanwhile the crime graph keeps elevating with more proportion of severity and cruelty which leaves us startle always. Few days back I wasn't surprised to get a mail from my father who is posted out of city and is obviously worried about his daughter’s safety, elaborating the safety tips to be observed while alone and providing some emergency numbers.

I would like to narrate an incident which shook me to the reality of dishonor inflicted by the opposite sex. When in college I used to board my bus with a bunch of other girls. Once while waiting, we all saw one of the girl talking to a group of boys in corner. With the tone and gestures we felt it was not a friendly conversation. Well, the rule of not to intrude in other’s personal matters was followed quietly. The bus arrived and we all were ready to go in. The other girl with the boys tried to do so but was stopped. The boys blocked her way and one of them hold her hand while she tried to make her way and was detained by them forcefully.

I shall not forget to mention that the Bus was a college bus wherein 3 of our teachers were sitting along with other college staff and the incident took place at one of the busiest road of Jaipur at peak office hours. She never came to the bus stop again and neither did I saw her in college. Insulted she must have felt.

But she was not. The feel of dishonor or insult was shared by us. We, her batch mates, teachers, college staff and her friends who looked at her, pitied her and gossiped the whole day.

I wish I could have RANG or rather BANGED a Bell….

She was physically hampered and WE ? Our blocked mentality stopped us. I will not use the word Scared, and how could it be. What if a bus full of girls with a handful of male support staff asked them to leave her? She would have not faced all this. But we didn't…..

If I talk about the causes of such incidents the first and foremost thing which hits my mind is “Gender Differentiation . Not only in terms of education, liberty, health (which existed long back and our society has eliminated it to a significant extent) but in terms of imparting morality. Yes, we girls are frequently reminded of the Do’s and Dont’s while the standards for the males are still non-existent. We ourselves are the cause and beneficiaries are the criminal minds. We take no time in labeling a girl while laugh off the sins of boy. Underlying differentiation is omnipresent and its the root cause.

Voice is raised every time and is easily trampled. We talk of changing the system and the other moment says its not an easy task. Agreed and everyone forming a part of system is not possible. I suggest improve your own system. The system which originates from your grey cells and guide your limbs. Let not leave it clogged, drain it and clean it. See, Think and Act. Before being a part of miles long parade, learn to stop every small crime happening around you and trust me you ll find many. Everybody’s bit will do multiple wonders.

Remember, a criminal mind should be curbed at the start. Do not hesitate To RING A BELL or visit http://www.bellbajao.org/ when:

Woman is slapped or hit, threatened, abused, forced to take alcohol/drugs, touched sexually, isolated from her family, insulted publicly, denied of her basic rights and Humiliated in any other way….

If you are hesitant or scared to voice your strength, RING on these numbers….

DCP Night Duty Delhi Police Hotline – +91 875 0870 099
Police Control room (Noida) – 8800199955, (0120) 2522023, 2518063, 2521420, 2528051 – 56
Police Control room (Gurgaon) – 0124-2320100, 2316100
Police Control room (All over India) – 100 (in case your phone can’t dial this add area code before 100 for example for Delhi 011 100)

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR WOMEN (Headquarters in Delhi)
Contact number: +91-11-23237166
Complaints Cell: +91-11-23219750

DELHI
Women helpline: 1091 ; +91-11-24121234
Anti-stalking and anti-obscene calls: 1096 ; +91-11-27894455. Also,
SMS can be sent at +91- 9911135446

NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION (NCR)
Gurgaon (Haryana state) - Women helpline: 1091; +91-124-2335100
Noida (Uttar Pradesh state) - Women helpline: 1091; +91-120-252500

MUMBAI (Maharashtra state)
Women helpline: 103
SMS to the following numbers: +91-22-7738133133;+91-22-7738144144

CHENNAI (Tamil Nadu state)- Women helpline: 1091

KOLKATA (West Bengal state)-Helpline: 1091
Women helpline, known as ‘Anti-Stalking (ASK)’ help line:+91-33-8017-100-100 (primarily aimed at dealing with obscene SMS/ MMS and stalking)

HYDERABAD (Andhra Pradesh state)
Women protection cell: +91- 40-23240663 40-23240663

Women police station: +91-0-27853508
Andhra Pradesh Women’s network: +91-40-27014394
BHUMIKA Women’s group: +91-40-27660173
BHUMIKA Helpline for Women in Distress: Toll free number – 1800 425 2908; +91-40-27605316

GUWAHATI
Police control room: +91-361-2540138; +91-361-2540113
Women helpline: 1091; 1092

LUCKNOW (Uttar Pradesh state)
Toll-free women helpline: 1800-180-5220
Women ‘power line’: 1090

BHOPAL (Madhya Pradesh state)

Police helpline: 100; +91-755-2443711
Women helpline: 1090