An Unfortunate Union

Although reports of rape are routine stuff on most channels, one such report shocked me no end. Unfortunate as it is, our country capital, Delhi also holds the distinction of being the rape capital based on statistics, even though that can be accounted for because rapes are actually registered here unlike other rural or semi-urban areas where victims would rather keep quiet to avoid ostracization. Holding on to its reputation, however, Delhi came up with another of its bizarre cases which reported that a newly wed man ‘organized’ a gang-rape of his wife by his “oh-so loyal” friends because she did not bring enough dowry. Dumbfounded?? I am not surprised because even I remain perplexed for quite a few days. Unable to purge this episode, I dwelt on a few questions which could not stop playing the Brownian motion in my head. Do provide me the answers if you have them. First, why do grooms of the latter category bother to embark onto the journey of marriage at all when they are better off without it? Commitment, loyalty, fidelity, relationship, family—it is more than obvious that none of these are on their cards. If not, do they get their objectives (in all likelihood, a source of income and at-your-will-sex) muddled up somewhere down the line in the process of achieving them? If I had a chance, I would love to counsel such creatures free of cost—maybe it would save some women from becoming victims of such atrocities. I would never go into lengths explaining how horrendous the dowry system is and pleading that women be respected because such characters are more knowledgeable than me in theory, only that they prefer to act otherwise—it has something to do with immediate gains. Some may have learnt this from posh business schools, you never know. As for sins, what are they? They vanish with one dip in the Ganges and a few rituals, "samadhan", performed by deity controlling priests. Well, what I would like to convey is that prospective grooms with big plans based on marriage-derived income should garner some courage and play their cards honestly. I assure one and all, this process will be less awkward than going behind bars after committing rape or murder (or both). After all, since money is the basis of such negotiations, there is no harm being realistic. It is any day better than allegations of rape and murder. Most probably, grooms and their families of this category become unrealistic because the poor creatures get embroiled in greed issues after being indulged in all the pomp and show put up by the bride’s family during the ceremony. Therefore, I intend to ‘help’ such cases from being misguided, not lose sight of their objectives and most importantly, not let them forget the dire consequences of the crimes they may have to ruthlessly commit if their targets are not met. I am convinced, more than a quarter of this category would reconsider marriage as an option at all and the rest would at least have the haze of evil intentions removed from their eyes. After all, what does money mean if you have to bargain it with your life? This is what needs to be reminded day in and day out—that apart from money, there is also the jail, a life sentence or a death sentence you may have to consider post marriage. If I were to unleash my sadistic desires, I would love to do up a marriage venue with a prison theme so that the thought never escapes the ‘prospective’ guilty.

The second question which kept banging against the walls of my head is that how is it possible for a man devoid of a conscience or any moral to make friends who are epitomes of loyalty? What bonhomie, I am impressed. Even dogs are not as obedient. I am sure half the world would simply vie for such characters to replace thinking servants. I wonder if such friends would extend support in the same faith in a different situation, say a less gratifying one or rather a demanding one. Simply put, is it that even the integrity of level-headed individuals melts away on being served certain pleasures on a golden platter as in this case? If not, there was also the possibility that the gang could have ganged up against the mongrel and taught him a lesson or two instead of ganging up against the poor bride?

The third question is more of an irony as I see it and wonder if you have noticed, too. Any person acquainted with the Delhi belt will tell you of one of the most common sights seen as you pass by any colony. It is called “Mata ki Chowki” or “Jagran”—a ritual performed in reverence to Durga, the Goddess of strength (good over evil is a common linkage to all deities so is obvious and forgettable). In fact, the entire belt boasts of a proliferation of female Goddesses (Devis), the most popular being Vaishno Devi where, in all possibility, even the ‘man of the moment’ must have paid a visit at least once in his lifetime, such is the popularity. So, is there a bifurcation of the female gender, namely that of the Goddesses fit to be worshipped and the earthlings fit to be raped, that we are not aware of? If not, how is it possible for these Goddess worshippers to be so differentiating in their reverence? At least some should be able to visualize even a minuscule part of the Goddess in the women on earth. Unfortunately, the atrocities against women in this belt tell a different story.