Management of change is always a challenging task and change is always
resisted in any organisation or society. What the country has been
witnessing and seized with in the last fortnight after the rape and
brutal injury of a Delhi girl has shamed one and all. May her soul rest
in peace.
Why did this happen? An analysis reveals that Indian
society, especially many males, have not been able to manage change and
transformation that has taken place as regards Indian women. Our
culture, traditions, ethics and values have taught us to respect women
and treat them equally at our respective homes and amongst relatives.
The moment we see a woman in public and who is not related our attitude
changes and we tend to pass sexist and snide comments. Wrong thoughts
also build up in the mind.
In earlier times women were tasked to
look after homes and rear children. They were treated with respect and
were nearly but not exactly equal. They were looked upon as the weaker
sex. Over the years women have transformed and are now taking on and
executing all tasks that had been earlier done only by males. They have
become equal and this is a huge change. This change requires to be
understood by all Indians.
Today, women, apart from doing many
other jobs, are commanding space stations, flying passenger as well as
military aircraft, captaining ships, participating in all sporting
activities, driving cars, buses and trains. They are heading
governments, business houses, industrial institutions and are holding
senior offices in the police, bureaucracy, military, medicine,
judiciary, scientific, educational institutions and any post of
responsibility that can be thought of. Not only are they holding top
posts but are more effective and efficient than their male counterparts.
It
is this change that needs to be understood by many men. The new mantra
that needs to be followed and understood is to treat women equally and
with respect not only in their respective homes but in the streets
outside all day and especially between sunset and sunrise. These two
values need to be ingrained and followed amongst those Indian men folk
that have not yet understood them. We are now in an era where we cannot
question what women feel, talk, wear or do as they are responsible
enough.
If they cross the boundaries of the law of the land, then
the law agencies would take care of the situation. This applies to men
folk too. This equality needs to be understood. There is no need for
moral policing by political, educational and religious agencies to tell
what a woman needs to wear or how to conduct herself. What is needed is
to respect women as they enter new fields of responsibility in Indian
society and treat them as equals.
Why is rape on the rise? Of the
many reasons why rape occurs, one of them is because men cannot
understand the change taking place as regards women. They still think of
them as inferior. As women take on responsibilities they rightly feel
that they are equal to men and would like to be given the space and
freedom to do what they want to do and what men normally do. They
venture out of the safe sanctuaries of their homes only to be sniggered,
teased and treated with indignity by some men outside. When some men
see women out in the street, they feel that they can take advantage and
sometimes overstep the 'Lakshman Rekha'. They lose sight of the mantra,
equality and respect.
It has to now be clearly understood that
the consent of the woman is required before any advancement having a
sexual overtone is done by any man. It is her right. It is so with men
too. A woman sexual worker cannot force herself unless the man consents.
So here again equality comes in. This intricate balance of equality and
respect needs to be understood. This applies both ways and whilst women
display these two virtues towards men it's some men folk who somehow
seem to lose it somewhere down the line.
The time is ripe now to
understand women, as they move about day and night doing their jobs and
take on new responsibilities. They need to be treated with respect and
equality. As regards rapists, they need to be punished severely and
justice needs to be delivered quickly so that it acts as a deterrent.
Stricter laws need to be enacted.
In summary, the days of telling
women what to do, say, dress or feel is over. They know their
responsibilities and if they do anything the law doesn't permit the law
agencies are there to handle the situation. It's high time we let them
enjoy their new found freedom and allow them to take on higher
responsibilities. The faster we manage this change the better. The
bottom line is to treat all women with respect and equality at all
places and at all times.
Though we lost an innocent life, her
soul will continue to be with us and remind us that we need to change
our mindset. As the new year ends with a sad note with our braveheart
dying after battling injury for 13 days in hospital let us all make a
new year resolution and pledge that henceforth, all we Indians
understand the change and treat our women with equality and respect.
