“Bring her down. Now! Just pull her hair & bring her down fast and, if she denies it, make sure she regrets saying that! Fasten her hands and pull her by her hair. She should know what a man is capable of!”
And her tears meant nothing, her words meant nothing and her screams meant nothing! She was pulled out of her chambers and into the open arena, amidst a thousand onlookers and then she was disrobed slowly while the crowd cheered on, their lusty eyes scanned her figure, judging her skin, the lines on it, trying to find traces of any scars. She looked into the set of five eyes, wanting badly to meet their gaze. But she could not. They all looked at the ground. Not into her eyes. Her husbands, five of them, the most desirable men alive in those times, still incapable of saving her pride, incapable of saving her from humility, incapable of being called men! Her father-in-law approved of it, the learned courtesans approved of it, and the law of the land approved of it. The then society approved of it … disrobing feminity amongst everyone to prove masculinity! Yes, you guessed it right… She is none other than Sati Draupadi. The divine power in the Dwapara Yuga was powerful enough to dismantle evil plans of parading her naked in front of everyone.
But in today’s era, even the divine power seems to have given up. The recent incident of a Spanish biker woman on a trip to roam the world being gang-raped in Jharkhand has surfaced and it is disturbing to see the woman who was with her husband, appealing for justice with bruises all over her face and body. And this, like many other incidents will be pushed under the carpet in a few days. After all, it must have been her mistake. She must have given out the hints. She must be the one trying to woo men to pounce on her! The question is: How can she do it? And why should she do it in the first place? Why should she think that this world is her home? How naïve of her to believe that her husband will be her protector when she travels to far-off lands? Is it not her duty to understand her boundaries? How can she possibly think that the world of a man and a woman is similar? And like many, even in this case, the woman has been judged as being too available for men, being too adventurous, being too ambitious …. or daring enough to be like Draupadi!
Yes, as sarcastic as it can sound, but it is a reality that many people think along these lines even today in our country. When the whole nation talks about how developed our nation has become in terms of women’s empowerment, regular incidents like these jolt the very conscience of our nation & raise serious questions about women’s safety, and compel women to remain as a vulnerable group rather than being an empowered group! A woman can be literate, she can be independent financially and still feel lesser than her male counterparts when her safety is a matter of question.
The laws of the land are very much on paper. Right to equal pay, right against sexual harassment at the workplace, right to deny being arrested at night, etc…there are innumerable rights enshrined in our Constitution and a considerable part of women are aware of them too. But in practical terms, when it comes to ground reality, only a woman understands what kind of ordeal it is to go through the hassle of legal complications, from registering an FIR to justice delivery, the path is nothing sort of a punishment for a layman. And trust me, even the ones dealing with the legal profession will advise you to not get into such hassles which will lead you to knock on the doors of the justice delivery system. It may sound strange, but it is a reality. So, what good it is to have all laws in place when almost half the population of the country lives in fear of their own safety, be it at their own home, workplace, or elsewhere?
Her intentions are questioned, her dressing sense is judged and her marital status can also be a factor where she is constantly judged. Even in the legal system, the onus on providing all the evidence is largely on the victim rather than the accused! So why should a woman not fear? Why should she even dare to dream? How can she ever have desires? How can she ever express her sensuality ? Why should she even rely on her own husband when he may be the one raping her inside the bedroom walls! We, as a society still do not understand the concept of marital rape. It is said that families will wither away if this is recognized. Yes, families should exist even if it means a woman has to undergo the trauma of being reduced to a sex object night after night. So, what if her inner soul cries out for help? How can she crave a little love and deny being treated just as an object of lust? She can not. She has no right. She is a woman. She has to be the glue that holds everything together! She is a woman. She has the responsibility of nurturing bonds no matter what. She is a woman. She has the burden of healing others even with her broken soul!
The point I am trying to make through my sarcasm is we can have the best laws in place, and the best infrastructure to guarantee the safety of women but till the time we, the citizens of the nation do not understand and realize that a woman is a human being first and as equal as a man with the same flesh, bones and having the same red colored blood, nothing is going to change! It is high time that such incidents are treated with gravity and women are not outcasted for dreaming big or taking on the path that is less traversed. If we, as a young and dynamic nation, want to progress, then certainly, there has to be a positive change in this regard.
It is high time, we train our daughters as Draupadis… ambitious, fearless, and bold enough to look into the eyes of inequality and daring enough to question it. One day, SHE will bloom completely and her fragrance will enchant everyone. One day, her journey will not be a tough one! One day we as a society will realise that women on the streets are as precious as women of the house. I certainly dream that one day, we will reach a point in time, where men and women see each other as counterparts and not as competitors, where men and women realize that they are two sides of the same coin and are meant to coexist in tandem, when equality exists in reality and not just on paper.
I am sure that day even Lord Krishna will do a ‘Shankhnaad’ with a smile on his lips!
This post is part of Her Journey Blog Hop hosted by Manali Desai and Sukaina Majeed.
Love,
Chinmayee
Chinmayee's Creations 
I too hope the day comes when we don’t just worship goddesses but also learn to respect the women in our families, our workplace, in the roads, in public transport and every space on earth. I thought the Nirbhaya episode would be a turning point to bring an end to all this and make our country a safe space for women, but i was wrong.
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Ah yes, there are no bigger hypocrites than us humans in this world. We say one thing and do another. But I will add that not just our daughters, we need to educate our sons too.
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Daring and independent women have brought the change in every era and there have always been a few. We just need to acknowledge them and start taking note of the their hardwork.
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The comparison between Draupadi’s ordeal and the recent incident of a Spanish woman’s gang rape in Jharkhand serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for women’s safety and dignity. It’s a painful realization that even in today’s era, women continue to face judgment, blame, and violence simply for daring to exist in public spaces.
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Maybe because of such openness about ‘third class’ thoughts like this, India is a third-world country STILL. After all the development and IT booms and demonitization, even if God comes down, the country won’t increase it its status until the mentality changes.
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Your writing is incredibly powerful and evocative. You’ve taken a poignant look at the challenges women face in today’s society, drawing parallels to the struggles of figures like Draupadi from ancient times. The way you juxtapose these narratives highlights the unfortunate persistence of gender inequality and violence against women despite the progress we like to think we’ve made.
Your use of sarcasm effectively underscores the absurdity of the excuses and judgments often levied against women who face violence or discrimination. It’s a stark reminder of the deep-rooted biases that still permeate our culture and legal systems.
Your call to action at the end is particularly stirring. Encouraging the empowerment of women to be ambitious and fearless like Draupadi is a powerful vision for a future where gender equality is not just a concept but a lived reality. Your optimism shines through, reminding us that change is possible if we all work towards it together.
Your piece is thought-provoking and heartfelt, urging readers to confront uncomfortable truths and strive for a more just and equitable society. It’s a message that resonates deeply and inspires reflection on how we can all contribute to positive change.
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Gang rape has always been about power. Our government should make sure the survivor gets swift justice and help. It is for this reason India is not considered a safe country for solo women travellers.
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A hard-hitting post Chinmayee. Our country’s statistics speak for themselves about the true state of women’s saftey. And yet, when we try to raise our voices, we are told we are sullying the reputation of the country. People dont realise that it our society that needs to change first. We need to make a country that is safe for womne, whether she is in hijab or bikin, whether she is travelling at one in the night or during the day, whether she is a corporate honcho or a homemaker. We deserve to live in a country that respects our body.
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Chinmayee your poignant narrative powerfully highlights the systemic injustices and societal attitudes that lead to violence and discrimination against women. Through the lens of Draupadi’s harrowing ordeal and the contemporary incident of the Spanish biker woman, you shed light on the enduring struggles faced by women in our society. Your call for societal introspection and a paragon shift towards recognizing women as equal human beings is not just necessary but also urgent. Your voice for the need for genuine gender equality, where women are empowered to pursue their dreams and aspirations without fear or judgment, resonates deeply.Thank you for sharing this thought-provoking reflection and advocating for meaningful change. May your words bring greater awareness, empathy, and action towards creating a more equitable society for all.Bring more such powerful stories which can inspire women more.
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Women have indeed faced these challenges both in the present and in the past. It’s upsetting to see how Draupadi’s story connects to recent incidents like the Spanish biker woman in Jharkhand. Blaming victims and lack of safety for women are serious issues. Despite better laws, women still struggle. They often feel vulnerable and judged. Just yesterday, I was talking to my friend about the importance of teaching girls judo and karate nowadays. It could really help them feel more empowered and safe.
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This is such a hard hitting post, Chinmayee! The most stringent laws may exist but there are still loopholes that can dilute them. As you said, only when women are seen in the same light as men will true justice be meted out. Rapists and molesters must be given the harshest punishments ever and their faces must be revealed so that they do not repeat their crimes. Until our laws develop teeth, our wronged women will not get justice.
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I was so enraged when I read about this gang rape and felt so disgusted about our Indian men. Why is fair skin so tempting? Its just the lack of melanin in their skin tone. The lady even after going through this, said that she will move on and not blame the country . I felt that it was so brave on her part. Why are women objectified? I started working at 40 and every boss I worked for thought i was desperate and available coz i was single. It has been a battle for me warding off lecherous males and still continues even though I am 60 now.
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Hope people of our country will change. The case of rape, extortion will come down. Government will make new rules for such bastards. Hope and only hope. We woman can change it but it takes lots of time. We woman have to be strong to fights with all this.
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Amen to your positive and much needed wish. As a woman and a mother of 2 girls, each day I’m jaunted by the news and the increasing crimes against women. Even in the 21st century we women aren’t safe and judged and name-called for each action and decision of ours. Hope the mentality of people (women included) soon change and we see a world where women are safe and free to do as they please.
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That’s the sad reality Chinmayee… n we still have a looong way to go in this regard. Your post is a hard -hitter!
Thankfully, I come from a place that is relatively safer for women and women as a whole are treated equally. However, this is just a small piece of the BIG picture. The reality is something else. It is disheartening to realize that women are still not safe anymore as rapes, molestations are still rampant. Also, judging women by their clothes, their life choices, their voice… Phew!
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“we can have the best laws in place, and the best infrastructure to guarantee the safety of women but till the time we, the citizens of the nation do not understand and realize that a woman is a human being first…” THIS. This This! I felt every frustration you poured in this piece.
The simultaneous deitification of women, of us being these holy creatures that need to behave in a certain way to uphold that image…and being the bearers of “izzat of the family” it is a curse. We need to be seen as humans. And not be worshipped as baby making machines, that ironically brings violence at our doorstep. So well articulated~
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In our society, we worship Godess Kali for a son, and we hate our black daughter because of her skin while performing puja to Godess Kali. Our society is hypocritical, and until we women do not fight for our own rights, we won’t get them.
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Such a powerful start to your post and yes I have also read about the Spanish bikers case and my head hung in shame. I hope that someday we can have a world where there is more equality and respect in our minds than on just paper and in our gods.
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That incident was really an eye-opener and such a shameful thing to have happened to a tourist.
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