Friday, March 26, 2010

BRAVO, JYOTSNA BAPAT.

A 12 year old girl from Saki Naka, Mumbai is facing very cruel fate. Divorced parents have practically abandoned her. Both have married once again to different partners. The media tells us that the girl is living with her maternal aunt Mrs. Jyotsna Bapat. The girl is repeatedly raped by 7 men for long period of over one year. The first and main rapist is her own cousin living in the same house. who has let others take turns to rape her. One of the gang rapist is over 70 years of age and others young.

The media is telling us lot of stories raising lot of questions on the sensitivity of public mind. We have daughter of old man telling us that her father is framed. Not by the girl accusing of the rape but her aunt for financial reasons. The claim sounds very similar to another daughter of another old man in news recently. The daughters are confused as to who is victim and who is wrong doer. At least the daughters have reason to get confused since they are blood related. What about others ? We have medical examination report telling us the girl is not raped since her hymen is intact. Why the cousin absconding then ? Not to be out done some other section of media is telling us that does not disprove the rape. We are also told of the reaction of neighbors. They would not have let the family stay in the locality had they known what was going on. Not the rapist but the family as if the rapists are not bad but the family is bad. Not Unfortunate but bad. Why ? May be because one potential rapist exist in their house ! It is blood duty to protect him or even glorify him in private.

The reaction of the aunt to stand against her own son stands out exemplarily in all this. There is a saying in Marathi “ Mai maro pan mavashi jago”. ( Mother may die but let aunt live ) I am sure this is coined by examples like Mrs. Jyotsna Bapat.

The rape is outcome psychological disorder not only of the rapist but many others before rape and many more after the rape. The rapist, the victim, the relatives, neighbors, community all need to undergo counseling. It is heartening to note that at least the child victim is set for counseling by the police (More sensitive than society here). It is hoped that the social workers will take upon themselves to counsel others together being called as the society

Arvind Khare
Khare_am@yahoo.com
9820701210.

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