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The South
Asian Life & Times - SALT |
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Contents Cover Story
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Editor’s Note The year 2012 was celebrated in the Indian
sub-continent as the centenary year of Saadat Hasan Manto – the defiant and
the merciless writer who chronicled the pain and torture suffered especially
by women at the time of the partition, through his short stories. He wrote
of rape and murder. He wrote of depravity. As we came to the close of Manto
centenary year, a tragedy –heinous and barbaric in its execution – left the
world stunned and shocked. It happened in Delhi on a wintry night when in a
moving bus a young lady was gang-raped and brutally assaulted. The young
lady fought bravely for her life for a fortnight but eventually succumbed to
the trauma that her body had been subjected to. It seemed like another Manto
narrative – or worse.
Sixty-five years after he wrote of the ordeal that women faced at the time
of the partition, his writings remain just as relevant. Women are still
facing it. It has been said by many that the public outrage
against the heinous crime is in global spotlight because it happened in the
nation’s capital. I disagree. The
nation’s capital has been humiliated time and again with violent crimes
against women. This particular incident was the last drop in a vessel ready
to spill over. Enough is enough.
The public outcry was all about – “No More” There has to be zero tolerance towards violence
against women. Culprits should be given the maximum sentence possible. Such
offences should be made non-bailable.
The need of the hour also is male support to fight and eradicate this
evil from our society. We need to emphasise moral and spiritual values both
at school and at home. Two women from the Indian Police Service – Kiran
Bedi (now retired), and Suman Nalwa, the Deputy Police Commissioner for
Security of Women & Children in Delhi, very kindly spoke with SALT on the
safety of women in public spaces. We share their views with our readers. Hoping 2013 will be the Year of the Woman in India, Roopa Bakshi
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