Dear sir/ mam.
You remember right that you were given birth by a woman herself. Who was once a teenager and a young girl. You remember this right that she cared for you, kept her in her womb for 9 months before dedicating her life to you. You remember right how she loves you and fights for you even when you are wrong right. I feel sorry to say, where did these qualities go? They didn’t transfer from her to you.
You, who thinks women, get raped because they go out in evening or stroll at night. Do you remember your mum picking you up from school and extra classes? Do you remember how your mum or elder sister took you out to the nearest shop for ice cream? Why didn’t you stop them then? Because going out means an open invitation for rape, right?
You, who thinks that wearing a jeans and “western clothes”, disrupts our Indian culture. Do you remember your grandmother wearing a blouse or covering her belly? You, who thinks women smoking are loose and asking for it, don’t remember your grandmother chewing tobacco? Why didn’t you stop them? Because we all know being what we are, doing what we want is asking for it, right?
You, who thinks that these late night movies and talking with boys get a good girl pregnant, tell me is that how you made your baby? You talked to your wife/ husband all night and 9 months later, bam! You, who thinks that putting on red lipstick and heels is because we want to lure men, tell me why did your wife dress in that for her wedding? Why didn’t you stop her? Because we know putting on makeup and having guy friends is wanting to be raped, right?
Let me tell you what you think. You think let them get raped or burned or churned because these women are not related to you. Let India’s daughters fight for themselves, defend themselves; hurt themselves why do we care? Our women are safe inside our home, in a pallu with a 6p.m. deadline, with no education and goons for her protection, right? Why have extra burden? Let me tell you sir/mam, we are women. We can fight, love, care and give birth to people like you. Imagine what we will be able to do with no one constantly shaming us, cat-calling us, throwing acid on our face, or threatening to kill us because of we do what we want to do.
So the next time, when you go on the microphone and bestow your knowledge on how a female peacock gets pregnant after drinking a male’s tears. Or how we should dress or when we should go out. Close your eyes and think of the women who made you.
Sincerely,
India’s Daughter.
