IS IT RAPE AGE IN INDIA NOW? - How can India effectively Prevent Rapes / Eve-teasing?

IS IT

RAPE  AGE

IN INDIA NOW?

Suddenly, we, in India, seem to find our self in a RAPE AGE. We call the period of Guptas as Golden Age. Human civilization itself is divided into various ages like iron age.

Whatever change seems to be predominant, the period goes by that name. In India, for quite some time now, the media is full of news about Rapes and about Eve-Teasing cases. We don’t know if any city or state in India is free of RAPES- but we do seem to hear of RAPES from almost all states and cities.

Not that, rapes did not exist earlier. They always did. Ravan, of the threthayug, was the most famous RAPIST of his times. Nobody matched him in his victorious rapes. He even raped his brother(kuber)’s son (Nalakubar)’s  wife, Rambha – despite her pleadings that, I am your daughter-in-law, please spare me. He didn’t. It was against his goals. He was always trying to find someone or other’s wife to abduct , rape – and, if they later agree, marry them, as a consideration.

We don’t know much about other rapists of those times.

Ramayan was the first epic and it portrayed this ‘lust for woman’ as the biggest weakness of man, which is always responsible for his total downfall.

But, from threthayug to our days – this weakness of man remains as such – among the rapists. Not that rapists are the majority. They are not. They are a small minority. Society has taken care of that. At least in India.

For controlling this weakness of man and secure a happy life for the woman, Indian society had developed various ways and means. It had devised so many social behaviours and imposed so many restrictions, mainly on man and to an extent on woman.

We have not put the woman, head to foot, under compulsory Purda, nor have we given her licence to wear any sort of sexy and provocative dresses that she may like – or go without dress, as some in the west are now doing.

Both these extremes were avoided – and a mid-path was adopted in which, woman can decorate herself beautifully, yet not provocatively.

But, what about man. Man must learn the art and science of controlling himself first and foremost. The first skill, he must learn was precisely that – and that was called - Brahmacharya. His studies start with the skill of self control and then progresses to all other Sciences and arts. When he is ripe in all these skills, then, marriage happens.

By then, man is skilled in self control and skilled in the science and art of sex too.

Self control was the greatest skill – which was useful for the man, from going mad with sex desires (as is happening today), but at the same time, enjoy his marital life in a way that lasts a life time. A man with self control retains his sexual prowess for almost his entire life, whereas, a man without self control loses it very quickly even before his middle age, as is happening in many countries today.

Contrast this education of India of yesterday – with the education of India of today.

We are now importing all the mad-nesses of the west, and of course, their useful curriculum too – but blindly.

Today, our educations want to teach sex education in the classes – on how to go berserk in sex. Today, at the age of 14, both boys and Girls are getting exposure to sex education and their sex hormones are already active by then. They definitely want to try it now.

And they do try. But, who will teach them how to control themselves?  The person who is teaching them does not know how to control himself. The person who is setting the syllabus or training the teacher also has no knowledge of self control. 

So, what they teach is sex – without self control! And, it is having disastrous consequences – here in India now and earlier in the west from where India has imported this.

India has never said that sex is not important for life. In fact, India was the only country which made into a perfect science and art. But, this skill comes after the man especially attains self control through Brahmacharya. 

Sex has to be enjoyed in righteous ways, within the precincts of marital bliss. Sex enjoyed in this path, remains lifelong for both man and woman, but, beyond the marital relation, the sexual prowess blows out, looks big initially and then becomes extinct within a short time. The man loses all his sexual interest and sexual prowess in this extramarital path. He becomes a sexual vagabond hopping from one bed to another – not finding satisfaction anywhere.

The greatest sage Vasishta and his wife, Arundhati, had 101 sons – and they were considered the most ideal couple of any time.

Siva and Parvathi were the first ideal couple. Siva (not Rama) was the first to adopt the one man-one woman norm. Siva also holds the shape of Ardha Nareeswara – half of him representing the husband and half representing the wife – signifying that a man and his wife must live like that. The concept of Better Half is not really Western. It emanates from Siva. Siva taught the science of Yoga and also the science of Sex (and many other sciences) to Parvathi, his concert.

Rama in threthayug also followed the same norm. It then got diluted in Dwaapar and further diluted in Kaliyug.

Yet, very significantly, woman was always considered a mother, whether she is a just born child or a 99 year old woman, by all men and called so – till recently. Even now, many men in India call other women as Maa, Amma and so on. Some so called modern women, stupidly object to such words. 

Swami Vivekananda addressed people at Chicago – as brothers and sisters, in the best Indian tradition. That was the norm in India up to those days. The Rakhi festival in India is intended to bind men in a relationship of brothers and sisters with women in his circle. These are healthy traditions – which both men and women are slowly renouncing – not knowing how healthy traditions these are.

India recognized Kaama or Lust as the greatest weakness of man and the greatest cause of all his sins. No doubt Kaama means desire, But the biggest weakness of  man is his desire for woman.

One this lust for a woman enters man’s brain, it goes on tormenting him in a variety of ways. It does not allow him to care for law, propriety, righteousness, social stigma or whatever. It makes friends into enemies and parents look like the first enemies. Even Gurus will look like big enemies. Man’s lust ofr woman is so strong.

An ancient Indian saying says “kaamaathuraanaam na bhayam na lajja”. The man possessed by lust knows no fear not shame. The lust goes on growing in him until his whole mind is full of lust only. There is no more place in him for studies, job, society – until his lust is satiated. He doesn’t care whether it is his house, or the road, or a prayer hall, or a cinema hall, or an office room. Any place becomes good enough for him.

Let people laugh, I don’t care – will be his attitude. This is basically – a male’s predominant weakness. Therefore, the science of self control is essentially required for him – before any other studies.

With self control man retains sex ability for life. Sans self control, man loses sex ability very quickly. 

Now, in developed countries, this self control level is coming to zero level and along with it, the sex ability too. They are changing partners too often – but, nowhere they will find an ideal partner they are searching for – as long as, they don’t know self control.  Being a fourth husband or a fifth wife is becoming common – clearly implying that all earlier relationships were dissatisfying to them – not that this latest one will be more satisfying. Bearing children has dropped down considerably.

Further progress being achieved is – now man likes woman no more and vice versa. Man likes man more and woman likes woman more. But persistent demand of these people, their “marriage” is being legalized in many states/countries.

There is still no clear proof that this is not a genetic aberration, some sort of disability, if not a disease. There is not much scientific investigation and experimentation of this phenomenon.

But, people with this intra-sexual lust becoming more and more and seeking to “marry”, the Governments are inclined to agree with them.

For several thousands of years, man marrying woman has been called “marriage”. Why should intra-sexual relation be called marriage too? It can be called something else – but not marriage. Give it a different Name.

If all secretaries, governors, prime ministers and ministers are named “President” – how does it look? Why should every ODD relationship be called marriage? Call it something else. That is the minimum – the world should think of.

As these ODD relationships are proliferating for some unknown reason, now the news is that the male chromosome “Y” is in the downtrend. Will the Y chromosome become extinct some time soon? How soon? We really do not know. But, scientists confirm its downtrend. Women can’t become XY or YY with all their aggressive behavior. But, their male-like aggressiveness can perhaps make the man from XY to XX or X-, or Something like that.

Probably-woman is not to blame at all for disappearance of Y chromosome. God is active these days again, making new permutations and combinations and setting new rules for man and woman. He is probably horrified to see the progeny of his creation, Adam and eve, in so different mental Avtars.

We know it as a scientific fact now – that whatever happens strongly in the mind happens gradually in the body too, even at genetic level.

India knew it several thousands of years ago.

Yoga sutras of Patanjali – is not a religious text at all. It is the most scientific exploration of man. Patanjali’s definition of the science of Yoga is – control of mind. The whole of his treatise is solely and exclusively intended for that one single purpose – since, the man’s life goals are all linked to that one primary goal.

Same is the case with Lord Krishna’s Bhagavad Gita. It has 18 chapters, each named as a different yoga; and Krishna covers a greater gamut of this science of self control, from different angles, explaining which yoga is suitable for which type of man very clearly.

Bhagavad Gita is an exposition of MANY SCIENCES. Karma yoga chapter is a science – largely misunderstood by modern man – but perhaps the best of all sciences applicable to our earthly life. Guna thraya Vibhaga Yoga chapter is a beautiful science. Dhyana Yoga is another – and actually a precursor of the yoga sutras of Patanjali. Properly understood, each of the 18 chapters is a distinct science – having nothing to do with religion. Humanity would be severely at loss – if these are misconstrued as religious books.

Lord Krishna very clearly says that – there is no greater friend for you, other than your mind, if it stays under your control. But, there is no greater enemy for you, other than your mind, if it is not within your control.

This is the root law for human life. Not understanding this, humanity is moving in wayward and improper directions today – in fact, towards self destruction.

Coming back to the RAPE AGE IN INDIA, we begin to wonder, why this now?

Every day, news papers, radio, TV all are first flashing RAPE NEWS – to wake us up with a Good morning. The last news of the day and the first news of the day – are both probably RAPE NEWS only – unless, it reaches the media late.

Now, people are afraid of committing RAPES singly. Probably, the woman may have learnt karate or something like that. So, 3 or 4 men join together, carefully plan and come out successful in their plan. So, gang rapes, mass rapes are the order of the day.

Some people rape small children, and some go in for old women. No one is unfit for rapes – seems the slogan among rapists.

We have heard stories of women complaining to a police about a rape done on her. The Police himself is in a mood – and since a rape has already occurred, another doesn’t matter, feels he and rapes the complainant. Some more of his colleagues may join too. If she complains to their superior, he too is in a mood to rape and complete the rape history. Haven’t we heard of such incidents earlier? I have heard. Well, Our memory is short to remember all such incidents. The Police merely proved in those cases  that- I may not be in my own control – but you are in my control!.

As Indian Public – we are always callous. We don’t wake up until it happens to us, personally. Let’s see when it happens to us – is our mood.

But, why this Rape-veri..di..? Many reasons. As already said, man’s mind is like that of a monkey – until he develops self control. Now, that is not happening. The taught, the teacher, and the teacher’s teacher are all blissfully ignorant of the need for self-control, and if aware of the need also, they do not know the science of self control. The want to teach sex and not self control. This madness cannot but lead to disastrous consequences like rapes.

Second – we are actively promoting sex and violence – as two of our chief national traits, through every movie we make and every TV serial we produce. Exceptions are rare  and they are not on TV when we all sit for watching.

The Movie and TV serial producers individually will say – “no, watching my serial alone cannot make a man violent or sex-hungry”. He is right. But, 24 hours of the day, each day of the year, in many TV channels worth their salt, we see violence, villainy, sex, obscene dresses etc – and quite naturally, many men, have their sex hormones excited all the time and craving for some sort of satiation all the time. They may not be the majority – but they are a significant number. A  fraction of these sexually excited persons are likely to try to take advantage of some unsuspecting prey among women – either at home, or on roads, or in schools, colleges, offices, cinema halls  - just about anywhere. 

A fraction of them succeed in their efforts – for many reasons. Some women, may go to Night clubs, seek company of men, usually drunken, in such clubs, and then accept lift from unknown persons (again, usually drunk) at mid night. If some of them don’t get raped, to me, that seems like a wonder! Just a rare case is coming to light. Still, God is great. This is not about blaming X or Y. But, women need to take some precautions at least.

Some Girls want 4 or 5 boy-friends to move with always. They seem to think that, the more the number, the greater the security for them. Well, the less said, the better of such cases.

About female dress code – now, the old days are vanishing fast. Dresses should not be provocative is – becoming old hat. Dresses must be provocative – is becoming the in-thing. What will provocative  dresses – with provocative invitations written on them – do? They provoke. That is what they are intended for.

Many women don’t want to be called mothers or sisters. Many Men don’t want to be called brothers. We are friends. As simple as that. Don’t you understand friendship? See us all on valentine’s day. We are friends.

I am not here to blame any one individually for the rapes or other eve teasing that goes on every day. But, one way, we are all definitely responsible collectively for these happenings.

But, blaming anyway is of no use. We need remedies. Like these:

1.    First and foremost, the content in our movies and TV serials must become much less sexually provocative and much less violent. Otherwise, there is no hope that violence and rape in society can actually come down from present levels. We are becoming sexually provoked – sitting in our drawing rooms, 24 hours of the day – and seeing any of the many TV channels. Some channels are exceptions. But the great news, we are hearing is - that some people are thinking of introducing  action-packed, violence filled “win-or-die like sport” - on TV in India. As if, we are not already seeing violence enough. We are turning totally insensitive to violence – and that certainly is not good for us. When people go out of their homes, their minds must be in a more healthy state and friendly state than at present.

2.     Second reform we need is – teach yoga and self control, especially to male students in India. The job of the female hormone is to attract and provoke. But, it is the male hormone which does the rest of the job. It troubles the male, who has no or less self control. So, on one side, women must become less provocative and on the other side, man must acquire self control.

3.    We must aim for more healthy, transparent relationships between males and females and not for pseudo, hypocratic friendships, which turn sexual, at the least provocation.

4.    If these are done, we can certainly hope for the day, when Indian woman can walk on any street in India at any time of the day or night – freely and without any fear. It is not difficult to achieve at all.

5.    But at the moment, we all are collectively responsible for the chaos we are in – and none of us may be individually responsible. We are just not responsible enough.

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MEDIA = SELF REGULATION = PRESENTING A POSITIVE INDIA = PRESS COUNCIL = JUSTICE KATZU

MEDIA & SELF REGULATION

The Newly-appointed Press Council of India (PCI) chairman Justice Markandey Katju has made certain pertinent observations about the Media.

Many of his observations are valid and I do agree with his observations. But, some are gross generalizations. I do not agree with them.

First and Foremost, it is essential in India to segregate the media into two distinct varieties. The Politically polarized Media and the Neutral Media. We must clearly distinguish between them. The facilities available to the Neutral media must be much more than those available to the Politically Polarized media.

Many news Papers and TV Channels are clearly owned by Political Parties, or their leaders or their henchmen. Their money power is therefore enormous. Their Political clout too is enormous. Their views will necessarily be one sided, favouring their Political bosses and mentors. So, their presentation of even the same NEWS – will be POLES APART – compared to the neutral media. Almost each Political Party has news Papers and  TV channels.

Most of the SLANTED NEWS, Twisted News etc – come from the Polarized Media. In case of some of these news papers and TV channels – most of their news may be biased, either less or more or totally. Some news are deliberately BLACKED OUT. Some news are deliberately FOCUSED. Some news are so badly twisted – that we will feel (for an example) that some how the murderer is the victim and the murdered is the culprit. In this aspect, I am totally with Justice Katzu’s assessment.

The Neutral Media – is far, far better in this respect. But, the neutral media needs much more freedom and Protection of the state, the Judiciary etc – than is available today. They also must be given more facilities at cheaper rates. The Neutral Media has to function in a hostile, even violent atmosphere – to secure real, factual, well documented news and present them on their Media. The Political class is not their best friend and therefore – India needs to make further laws to protect the neutral media from the Political class. At the same time, more screening and scanning of the Politically Polarized Media is also essential.

Justice Katzu says - “…the tendency is to brand all Muslims in the country as terrorists and bomb throwers.” In this observation, I think, I am not with Justice Katzu. I have not seen media – whether neutral media or even the politically Polarised media –with probably a few exceptions – doing any thing like what Justice Katzu has said. 

There is no attempt by the majority of Media to present all Muslims in the country as terrorists and bomb throwers. Let us face the facts. 99% of Muslims in India are all peace loving and non-violent. If you say, it is 99.99%, I will be more than willing to say, YES.

We love an Abdul Kalam, We love an Aaamir Khan, We love a Shabanaa Azmi, We love a Dileep Kumar, We love a Rehman and so many other Indian Muslims. There are so many illustrious Indians among Muslims – and we are all proud of them. Just from memory, we can fill this whole article with names of some of these most illustrious Indian Muslims.

Except mad men, no one can call ALL MUSLIMS of our country as terrorists and bombers. Let us go one step further. Even in Pakistan, our great western neighbor, – I am sure that -  about 99% of the Muslims are just as peace loving as Indians.

But, the problem comes with the balance 1%, sir. People who come from across the border with explosives and terrorist plans, and people who are undergoing trainings in terrorist camps in Pakistan and Afghanistan etc - are all Muslims with Muslim names and the media can only project them that way. That unfortunately may give the impression to some oversensitive people that media are branding all Muslims of our country as terrorists and bombers. There is no such branding. There can not be also.

Let us look at the other violent people in India. The Shri Ram Sene, The Bhagat Singh Sena and – may be a few more are also there. These people will have either Hindu Names and Sikh names. They can even take a few Photos with some Hindu or Sikh saints or politicians – who may not be aware of their background at all. And, these people show their violent colour on unsuspecting people.

For this reason - Can we brand all Hindus and Sikhs as terrorists and as violent, law less people. Definitely not. But, yes, some fools do coin terms like Hindu terrorism, right wing Hindu terrorism and so on – just to neutralize terms like Islamic terrorism which are prevalent in some Nations.

We must see the stupidity in all these terms. We must refrain from associating terrorism and violence with religion – per se. Just for a moment, let us look at Afghanistan. The non-violent, peace loving Afghanistan is battling the violent people over there. It is so very obvious. The efforts of the entire International community is to ensure that the Peace loving Afghanistan wins over the violent people there.

Terrorism or violence is Individualistic and is basically an Ego Problem of the Individual or the organization. But, terrorism must be handled firmly. Media is bound to go to the roots of the terrorists and their links in India and project all that through the media. We must not be oversensitive to it. But, if any small section of the Press and Media is actually doing what Justice Katzu has observed – branding a religion as such - they can even be banned and closed altogether. The state will be right in doing that.

Thirdly - Justice Katzu says, “The real issues are terrible economic conditions in which 80% of our people are living- poverty, unemployment, lack of housing and medical care etc.”  I am with Justice katzu in this observation. But, here also – Neutral media scores far better than the Polarized media in this aspect. The polarized Media takes an exception and presents it as the rule.

A well run state may be presented as an ill-run one and vice versa. One controversial example is Gujarat. Is there development or is it not there? Forget Politics when dealing with developmental issues. If media combines Politics and developmental issues – they present the most confusing Picture.

On this point – we can also say – one more significant slant in media. For Most English Channels – News means, news of Delhi and Bombay. It is very, very, very rare to cover news of other places. Had they covered KCR and his speeches in Telangana,  from a few years back – they could have understood and projected him in proper light. Probably, the Telangana Agitation would have taken some other turn, if the persons steering it – were properly analyzed by Media. Media is also hesitant to project News of some other Politicians and Political parties – God Knows what is the reason. Many Politicians and their innate intolerant and violent nature should have been exposed by media more vigorously. And, the state and Judiciary must protect media, especially the neutral media, in this attempt.

In a nut shell – there is no Balanced News – of all regions of India. We need that from the media.

Dr.Abdul Kalam had presented how Israeli News papers report Positive news and Negative News – in one of his writings. Positive news are front paged and bold. Negative news are some where in the interior in small corners. I am definitely impressed with what our ex president had said – and I feel, there is need for our press and electronic media also to present news in such Positive format. But, our media does the Opposite.

I have stopped reading news papers for that reason. Many spiritual and social thinkers in India also advise that one must not start his day with a news paper reading. If you feel so – read it after lunch time. Not at the start of the day. You will read of rapes, murders, thefts, decoities, Political plots and all sorts of negative news at the start of the day – in head lines – and your whole mindset becomes negative for the day.  

There are many good things happening in India too. There are many people in India doing great things for India’s development. They do not receive any attention at all in the media. There is a huge need to present this positive side of India. While on this topic – we must also say that there are many wonderful Muslims in India, who are doing great work for the country. Present them to correct the impression in the minds of some people, about media being biased against Muslims. It is necessary.

Most often, we see movie stars and Cricketers. They fill media screens for too long a time. You may not see the Prime Minister or the Principal Opposition leader for as long as you see a Salman Khan or Shah Rukh Khan. And, that, on a national News Channel! And what is the great News you see of them? Nothing almost.

The serials (or soaps) in some of the Media are especially disgusting. Most serials are polygamous invariably. Most serials present too many women villains – plotting their next crime in atrociously cruel manner. I don’t know what Justice Katzu thinks of them. But, I think, if a serial presents more than one woman as villain – it must be banned. I have seen some real life women behaving exactly like these soap villains. Likewise – presenting most Police officers in the cruelest fashion may actually make them so. Media must present more Police officers as upright, intelligent and law-abiding.

All in all – Justice Katzu has spurred a debate. It must be continued – and debated at length – so that some much needed reforms take place.

Media – at the end – must be acknowledged as the best protection for People – from Politicians, Rowdies, Police and any others who try to exercise undue power over them. Therefore, Media must never come under Government Control – but must have an effective self regulating mechanism – with primacy for Neutral Media.

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