Have you looked into the newspapers lately? Everyday there are atleast a couple of articles being published about some disgusting pervert indulging in stomach wrenching incest. It’s depressing. Can you even imagine the trauma it must be causing to the victim? First of all, being raped at such a young age, and to make matters worse being ravaged by the person who brought you into this world. Forget the physical assault, the physical abuse, think about how she must be feeling. It makes my eyes water, my hair to stand on ends just trying to put myself in her shoes.
Initially when there were just certain stray cases like this, I thought that maybe they’re just a few mentally retarded, sick people. But now when you look at the number of times this has happened, I am beginning to have second thoughts about the mind frame of the culprits. Maybe, there is some flaw in the system, in the society. There have been way too many such incidents to ignore such a possibility.
Maybe, the husband and wife do not have a clear understanding and do not fulfil each other’s sexual needs. Maybe, they were forced into this marriage and they don’t find each other attractive and they never did. The general middle class man does not have many avenues to explore other various options. I am not saying those options are justified or right. But they are definitely better than ruining the life of a poor little girl.
I think the problem lies in the fact that sex is still a taboo topic in our society. There lies the true problem. And if you think, that this is a part of our culture, think again. Pick up any of our original epics, original being the operative word here. I’m not talking about the Ramcharitramanas by Tulsidas. I’m talking about the original Ramayana by Valmiki. I’m not talking about the televisionised Mahabharat that has become so popular, I am talking about the original Mahabharat by Ved Vyas. You will find many references to sexual acts there. Almost all the kings had unknown number of concubines. The Pandvas father was basically cursed that if he slept with any woman again, he would die. The dasis in the palaces used to cover themselves up in almost no clothing whatsoever. That is how sexually ‘open’ and active our cultural text was. I’m not suggesting that we become as crude as them. That is a part of civilization. But, we cannot let it be a taboo. Even the husband and wife who perform the act together do not talk about it, because it makes them uncomfortable. Who is to blame for this if not the society, the system?
Things have to change. To safeguard the future and the integrity of the children to come, from their own. It will not happen overnight. It will not happen by itself. We have to take the steps. What is the point of being ‘educated’ if you can’t use that education for the betterment of the society that you live in?
