Never turn your back

Michael Bassey Johnson, a Nigerian author quoted, "Think twice before you pull your trouser and rape a woman; she may be your mother, sister or friend, and you know the consequences that follows." Yes, I agree with Johnson but along with it, I have the opinion that not only the rapist but even the other individuals should think that if you see any one misbehaving with a female or if your instinct says something is wrong, place the victim in your mother's, sister's or your friend's place and try to help her because she may be alone, or may need help and may be not being able to ask your help.

Most of the time, we turn a blind eye on these petty issues thinking the girl is not our mother, sister or a friend and later read in a big headline with the sip of our morning tea and warn the females around us. Remember, you will not be always around her to warn her and misfortune never comes with jingle bells  So if you become little bit conscious over the incident and help her then may be someone next time other person will save your mother, sister or a friend in a similar context.

The incident that I am going to talk is a gang rape case of an 18 year old girl who was raped in a parked bus at Nepalgunj a few days back. The victim had boarded the bus from Rukum to Shamshergunj in Banke to visit her maternal family members when the incident occurred. According to the description of police, the girl boarded a bus at 3 pm on Tuesday and when the girl tried to get at her destination area, the transport worker seized her mobile phone and belongings and forced her to go with him. After all passengers got out of the bus, the same transport workers along with their other friends raped her repeatedly at But Park in Nepalgunj. The description has given birth to questions in my mind which is whirling on and on to get the proper answer.

 Was there no one to see the act of harassment inside the bus before the big incident actually happened? There may be at least 10 to 15 people in a bus and the girl has reported that she was continuously trying to get off from the bus but wasn't being allowed. What were the other passengers thinking at that moment? Were all of them thinking that those boys may be her over protective brothers and were forcing their sister to drop by themselves in the concerned place? Why didn't anyone speak for her and let her off? The victim herself reported that one of the passengers dared to speak but was scolded, who later got off leaving the girl alone in the hands of those goons. Why didn't he sense a crime there and informed police before the incident actually happened as he had already got off from the bus and then had no any fear from them?

It's better not to put my brains on as the answer may be short and simple.  

The girl wasn't his relative and all the other passengers were only thinking of their safe destinations. Its human nature that we never realize the pain until it befalls on us.

Yes, the world has started thinking and praying for the victims. From the united efforts of the UN Women fighting against women violence and sexual abuse to the Women Commission of Nepal, different NGOs and INGOs working in the field; every day we have to read one or the other story of a woman being obliterated of her respect and dignity.

The act of rape not only inflicts wounds physically but it prolongs a potential effect on the psychological state of the victim which is very hard to cure. The criminal mind filled with lust may not remember the consequence of the crime written in the Muluki Ain; the social activist may not be in the scene to warn him but of course you may be there.  So, never turn your back when you notice a girl being harassed. Your small attempt may save her from leading an empty and despised life with oneself where there is no end of pain and suffering.

Published on Republica 29th November, 2014
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=87595