Amanat - The girl who might change India's soul

I had this blog for a few years, it's full of random thoughts some funny and some outright silly, stupid but mostly happy ramblings.

When Amanat died yesterday, something rattled me to the core. Not because I was born in India, not because I'm part of the patriarchal society that is responsible for this act but as more than billion Indians on this earth, I felt responsible. I had to share this burden.

What have we become as a country, as a self -centered society ? When did we stop caring ? If this is the time that does not force you to introspect, nothing will. Amanat is not the first one to lose her life against the atrocities committed against her. There are countless others in small cities and villages before her. Amanat struck a chord with young India.

If we have to dissect the crossroads we are at as a society and subject of world's shame on treatment of women, we will have to look inwards and reinvent our way of life. Tendency to overlook common anomalies because it doesn't affect me, has to change. The judiciary, the keepers of law need to hold a mirror and re-evaluate , it's time for them to think since when did they start catering to just people with money and power.The greed for money, power has to change. Interference from politicians in each and every aspect of life in India has to stop and the time is NOW. Lets stop living in the glorious past and referring to our culture and tradition so often, it's beginning to sound like a blaring show tune at a funeral. About less than a month ago my classmate's father met with an accident while crossing a road in the capital and the car that hit him drove away with him unconscious on the roof top. His body was found dumped later in the outskirts, lifeless. How insensitive have we become as citizens ?

The ruthless use of power, the way silent protesters in the street were beaten and tear gassed is despicable. The very fact that tear gas is still used by police in India might tell you how outdated the law enforcement system in India is. Law enforcement has become a corrupt political wing by ruling parties to enforce their agenda and protect the corrupt leaders from the wrath of law and the common man. When was the last time common man, woman or child on street felt safe to approach a cop without being harassed ?  Police stations house public servants, salaried by tax dollars but rarely educated or coached on the concept of public service. As a society we don't take any kind of power/authority well, to utilise it to a better good. If I have a certain kinds of influence or power I have to misuse it.

Extreme politicization of Indian society is the foremost reason for where we are today. From a village panchayat to the position of a President, nominations small to big all are in hands of politicians. Free rides, holding politicians above law, power without accountability has given them free reins. It was then politicians no longer remained leaders but became rulers. It is this sick mentality that made Delhi a fortress, instead of grieving with India and leading the prayers government shut down metro stations and roads reaching India Gate , shameless lack of empathy with the very people who elected them in power and this being when the chief minister and the leader of the ruling party are both women. There is a huge disconnect, again not a sense of public service but treating the masses as voters and a supreme urge to manipulate them. This gets further validated on Amanat's hush hush cremation. In Amanat's case, politicians instead of apologising at any stage had a patronising attitude towards protesters.

This politicization right to the grass roots made people with even a little "reach" beyond the purview of law. This combined with greed and social evils has made India the capital of female infanticide. Millions of  girl children have been killed before being born. Doctors have become participants and law, a spectator. The utter disregard and lack of human dignity to a girl child now knows no boundary and has spread to women of all ages. All along while we continue building temples for mythological goddesses one magnificent and opulent than the other.

Lets hope Amanat's death doesn't go in vain, lets hope the laws will change, lets hope we will start caring. Lets see a world beyond our existence. Lets not be a self labelled numb society. Lets not wake up only when status quo is threatened. Lets be altruistic, lets start caring again, lets be inclusive of have nots and I don't mean just poor but the powerless too.  Lets not forget what happened to Amanat. Lets feel the pain that no parents should ever go through but her parents did. Lets stand with them in solidarity and in shame to have made them see this day. India needs a cry, let's hope she gets it....it's enough. Till then mothers, sisters and daughters walk alone, hope one day this country becomes worthy of you.