Tempest

Sunday 17 June 2007

Let us

Based on a real life incident. All names of characters are fictitious for reasons of maintaining anonymity.

Everyday

Meera jumps off the bus and runs to join the multitude of students streaming into school. Battling the hot loo and trying to avoid banging into any of the other babbling students and teachers who were scuttling along the corridors pretending to be busy, she keeps a look out for any of her friends on the way to class.

‘Hey! Tun-tun managed to come to school today, we’d better finish off the homework’, greeted Shruthi as she walked in.
‘Why can’t we change our class teacher? I mean we’re in 7th now…they can’t possibly keep giving us the same class teacher for 3 years in a row. Its like we aren’t really evolving in learning!’ Meera voiced the daily crib.
‘Just finish off that essay on sati and let me copy. Then I’ll come up with a plan to dispose her off’.
‘Lazy! It’s real sad what we read about sati yesterday right. I heard it happens in villages etc even today. Not just widows but brides as well. We’re so lucky we were born into such educated families.’ Meera commented while sitting down to write.
‘Yupp sounds unreal. Make it real sad and dramatic, Tun Tun will love it!’ laughed Shruthi.

Their days always began with a load of jokes, fun, cribbing, five minutes of intellectual talk habitual of any smart 12 year olds and jokes yet again.

One Day

Meera got off the school bus and caught sight of Shruthi’s bag in the crowd. She called out her name, once, twice loudly and didn’t get any response. She ran after her but it looked like Shruthi had picked up pace and was avoiding her. Indignant, Meera followed her to class all prepared for a confrontation and show down demanding explanation for her friend’s ‘stupid’ behaviour.

The minute she walked into class, she was assailed by Shruthi who hugged her and began sobbing uncontrollably. Immediately understanding that this was more serious than usual, Meera held her anguished friend and waited for the tide to abate. They got to miss assembly and sat in class together while Shruthi incoherently explained everything to Meera.

‘They burned her’, gasped Shruthi.
‘I wasn’t even supposed to know. How could they do this?’
‘Uncle called mom and I picked up the phone at the same time that she did.’
‘I didn’t mean to overhear. They burned her, Meera’, she continued sobbing.
‘My cousin...they tied her to a chair in the kitchen…Mom doesn’t even know that I know…she will be so angry…’
‘Who did? Why? Your uncle will tell the police don’t worry. You sure you heard right?’ asked Meera trying to get a hold on the situation.
‘I did…she didn’t give him enough money…uncle says they aren’t even sure he did it…they tied her to a chair Meera.’
‘They tied her up and burned her… my cousin…how could they…they went to school even and were educated…she died Meera, she died’.

They sat together for sometime not knowing what to say. Being kids, the tears abated soon enough and it became this entire discussion on what they would do to get justice. They psyched themselves up and talked each other into a frenzy of childlike passion on the subject.

Day one

‘Mom, why did they do it? What are the police saying? Has he been arrested yet?’ Shruthi demanded.
‘Don’t ask so many questions. He has not been arrested. They didn’t give a complaint. It was a kitchen fire.’
‘But aunty, you know that she was burned why not give a complaint? He surely will be put in jail. Why does the police need a complaint in the first place?’ persisted Meera.
‘That’s the way it is in this country. And we don’t have proof. Plus it looks like you girls are more worried about the case rather than hurt about what happened to Sheetal.’ replied Shrthi’s mom.
‘But, auty only if we investigate will we find proof…’, began Meera
‘And mom we do care but…’, said Shruthi at the same time.
‘That’s enough. Its degrading for the family. Everyone talks…I don’t want it to rub off on you. What can be done we will do. Please focus on your school work’ and aunty put an end to all discussions.

Day two

‘I heard mom and dad talking yesterday…’ started Shruthi.
‘Shruths you are going to get into trouble eaves dropping like this…’ Meera interrupted
‘You would’ve done it as well. It’s disgusting. You aren’t going to believe, the police inspector in Patna refused to file a case. Apparently he gave the cop money and convinced him it was a kitchen fire.’
‘What? Are they all mad? So she would tie herself up to a chair and purposely burn herself? Like she was a nutcase!’ shouted Meera.
‘Yes that’s exactly what they are alleging. We can’t do anything. Mom won’t listen to me.’ Shruthi said, crying helplessly.
‘But we have laws. We found out…why can’t the police see it’s a crime and do something?’ added Meera feeling as helpless.

Few days later

‘The guy is getting re-married. What if he does the same to her’ Shruthi said one morning.
‘Let’s write to your cousin’s sister and tell her to warn the girl’, replied Meera and set about it like a secret mission.

And yet

‘I wrote to Soumya. She dared reply…brave kid; her mom is a real strict monster. It’s unbelievable but the girl knows and her parents won’t listen to reason and since she is of age and he earns well and they can afford the dowry she will be marrying him.’ Shruthi looked flabbergasted.
‘He’s gone scot-free…’, Meera couldn’t say anything more.

Slowly they got back into their regular schedule and being kids forgot what had happened. The memory remained of an incident that had taken place, there was no reminisce of feeling associated to it left. Even when it had happened, they had gotten over their hurt and pain quickly which only kids are capable of. They had taken it as an event and had passionately wanted to do their bit. That they had not been able to was disappointing but then even that was forgotten.

Meera only remembered one thing…a single line that haunted her even when she grew up..

It happened next door. It happened next door. It happened next door.

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Educated families are not immune to bride burning. It isn’t restricted to villages or towns…it happens next door in cities like Delhi. Being educated people we turn a blind eye to such happenings. We talk about it for a few days, feel enraged, perhaps visit the police station once but then eventually let the matter go. I know we have read articles on the subject very often. I know that we intellectually debate it and are aware it happens. But all this media publicity has in a way made us immune, thick skinned to the trauma that such women go through in the name of dowry. We hear it, we raise voices for a few minutes and then we forget. We forget that it is a heinous crime. We forget that it is a crime against humanity and our very existence. Since they are now everyday words, words like rape, sati, bride burning have ceased to evoke any emotions of rage, compassion or even indignance.

It is sad that many families even today decide to keep quiet instead of taking action against this atrocious tradition to avoid shame that could be brought upon the family in the name of social stigma. And tradition it is. To keep quiet and watch for centuries is tradition. Let us not be too proud of being traditional.

I accept that not all of us can be journalists or activists but we can at least endeavour to be active citizens. In comparison to the population of India, we educated lot are just a handful. Even though we have stringent provisions against violence against women in the IPC, not even 2% of the population is aware of them. At least us, the handful, must try and educate ourselves on what can be done when the situation arises. If nothing else, it’s like having knowledge of first aid.

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Even today brides are burned alive if dowry is insufficient. At least 5000 women die each year from dowry murder, and the official cause of death is typically reported as a kitchen fire. The UN estimates that as many as 25000 women may be killed each year. In most cases, the husband is not punished.

In 1995, amendments were made to the Indian Penal Code, the Indian Evidence Act and the Dowry Prohibition Act, with the intention of protecting wives from marital violence, abuse and extortionist dowry demands. The most notable ones are sections 304B, 406 and 498A of the Indian Penal Code, and Section 113 A of the Indian Evidence Act. To know more about laws against domestic violence read up with Manushi at http://www.indiatogether.org/manushi/issue120/domestic.htm.

Labels: awareness, Bride burning

Posted by Pavitra :: 23:10 :: 15 comments