I consider myself very strong person and even the people around me think the same for me. However in reality, I am very emotional and sensitive at heart. Things around me which are not directly related also make me restless at times. And after reading about the recent Delhi rape case, I was really restless. I felt angry, annoyed, upset; I felt like I have to go out and do something, I have to stop all this. I know a lot of bloggers are writing about it and asking for strong law against such crime. I want that too, I want the rapists to get such harsh punishment, which becomes a lesson for everyone who ever had or will ever think of doing something close to harassing a women. I feel just putting them in prison is not enough, they should be punished publicly.
In a country where Aadi sakti is idolized as the symbol of power, where we worship small girls as Devi Durga there only girls are unsafe even in the day light, they are harassed in public places and their parents live under fear until their daughter comes back home safe and sound. If this is our reality then what is the use of portraying lady as a goddess and worshipping her for power, wealth & wisdom. I thought a lot about why all this is happening. Answer to this question varies from person to person. Some feel it is because of lack of education, then what about those highly educated people who raped or assaulted women. Some feel it is because of “improper dressing” of girls, then what about the rape cases in villages. Those ladies were wearing saree or other ethnic Indian cloths. I feel it has nothing to do with his education or her cloths it’s all about mentality. It’s about not considering women a thing for pleasure; it is about considering her equally human as you are.
I thought a lot about it, what we can do as women to stop such molestation. If not much then at least we can cultivate good values in our kids, we can teach our son, brothers and friends to respect women. And we can act more attentive, strong and defensive to keep ourselves protected.
Below are some of the tips and tricks I found at various places which women can use for self-defense.
1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do it.
2. Learned this from a tourist guide to New Orleans : if a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you…. chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!
3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car: Kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won’t see you but everybody else will. This has saved lives.
4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping,eating,working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc. DON’T DO THIS! The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side,put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU CLOSE the DOORS , LEAVE.
5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:
a. Be aware: look around your car as someone may be hiding at the passenger side , peek into your car, inside the passenger side floor, and in the back seat. ( DO THIS TOO BEFORE RIDING A TAXI CAB) .
b. If you! u are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.
c. Look at the car parked on the driver’s side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)
a. Be aware: look around your car as someone may be hiding at the passenger side , peek into your car, inside the passenger side floor, and in the back seat. ( DO THIS TOO BEFORE RIDING A TAXI CAB) .
b. If you! u are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.
c. Look at the car parked on the driver’s side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)
6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot).
7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN!
8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP IT! It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked “for help” into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.
It is always good to be safe than sorry. I wish and pray that government does take some strong action against accused and make some strong law to prevent such incidents in future. This should not became one such case again, about which everyone talked in past and forgot now. I request our leaders to handle this case with highest priority and punish the rapist as soon as possible, don’t let them walkout freely. If an Indian woman is not safe in her own country then it is a big shame for all of us. In Mahatma Gandhi’s words “India will attain full freedom on the day women can walk safely at night.” I request to each and every Indian, please work on taking our nation towards full freedom.
PS: Please pray for the brave girl who is fighting for her life.
