When the Protectors Lack the Potential: Cyber Violence against Women and the Consequences of Victims Who Dare to Raise Voice

When the Protectors Lack the Potential: Cyber Violence against Women and the Consequences of Victims Who Dare to Raise Voice

Violence against women is not a new issue to talk or write about. There have always been numerous seminars, discussions, lectures and camps taken along with umpteen columns and news articles on all kinds of media on various aspects of women’s protection and safety. As the virtual world created by the internet and apps based on internet spreads wide, the scope of violence also increases. If the old times had news about physical violence against women, these are the times of cyber harassments. Are we aware of this? Millions of women use Facebook and Whatsapp everyday and each one of them, their private information, pictures and so on, are under the risk of being misused by the cyber villains. Unfortunately such issues are not being taken seriously by the authorities, at least not yet. Maybe cyber violence don’t seem to be as wild as getting physical, but aren’t they?

‘Malayala Manorama’ has a testimony by a victim on the editorial page (2015 December 5, Saturday, pg 4) which gives us a clear picture of the situation. The column, titled as ‘Cyber Kerala to Women’, describes how women are being harassed online and how are they being treated when they dare to raise their voice to complain about it. The testimony describes how a woman’s mobile number was captured and misused with an app called ‘Who Has Me’ by a Whatsapp group in Kerala, using ‘True Caller’, another online app. Soon the owner of the number started receiving random calls and vulgar messages from numerous sources. The women approached cyber cell for help who traced the persons behind the scene and submitted the reports to the local police authority. They questioned the criminals who admitted their crime but no action was taken. And the case was suspended due to the removal of Section 66 A of The IT Act by the Supreme Court (which really has nothing to do with the case concerned). After approaching numerous other authorities who either refused to help the victim or diverted the case by delaying the procedures, causing the victim to run around endlessly for justice, the situation is just pathetic.

This is just one incident among hundreds of other stories of injustice. How is the state government supposed to serve their own people if the local government officials behave like this? Most often it is heard that this kind of violence continues to thrive because women never come forward to the concerned authorities and file complains, which could be true but why don’t they? The answer is they are afraid of being mocked by the same authorities and, to an extent, even by the media. By publishing testimonies like this on the public news papers, victims can reach out not only to the higher authorities who may notice and help but also to the people as a whole which would help in creating awareness.  

Don't Read This Please

Seriously, no one gives a damn, do they? I'm at the library in my college and it's 1:15 PM; Lunch Break.

Oh, I don't know. I have a feeling that no one is ever gonna lay an eye on this stuff I'm writing anyway. So, see... Help me, I beg you, somebody out there? I don't know a thing, a single damned thing. I'm trying so hard not to use the f-word here, for what? Maybe I don't like that word much. No, I really like it, kind of, oh, people these days use it a lot, for every this and that. For what? I guess, to look cool, hey, I'm using the f-word, see, I'm so freaking cool. Is being cool defined by the number of curse words you use? Oh, I don't know. Anyway, I don't wanna look cool so, oh, in my mind I'd like to think I am cool but, anyway, I don't care. Oh, what do I know?

I'm about to delete the paragraph above but you know what? I'm not going to. Why? I don't know, then, what do I know? I'm living in the rocking city of south India and doing my post graduation at one of the best universities in the country and my life is, for all I know now, at the rock bottom. I'm not smart, not good looking, not funny (I'm a joke though), I'm not brainy, can't do public speaking, my general knowledge is a general zero, my hair is not long and thick and straight, my body is not zero size, I rarely speak in class, I don't have any friends, I hate people, people hate me more. In fact, I don't know what was God thinking when He created me, I think He ran out of every possible supply of talents and plus all these good behavior stuff and since my parents were on the line and He had to do something about it, He must have had to make something up in a hurry and so, here I am.

Oh, so, I need help, I hate being weak but I can;t help it. I don't know. These days I spent my life watching sitcoms and Jimmy Fallon, I just want to escape. just want to forget, I just want to be happy, just want to laugh. I am hungry now. I don't eat though. I don't want to. I walk in to my class and keep a straight face and an aching heart. I hate everyone, everyone hates me more. No, it's all my fault, God, why do I have to be like this? I waste my time Googling handsome-hot movie stars and envying the fortunate. I don't bother anymore. I don't pray, can't pray anymore. I think God has given up on me, like everyone else had, like I had. I hurt people I love because I'm hurt. Nobody understands. Go on, stop reading, this blog is stupid and worth spit, just like me. I don't care, do I?

The bell for next hour is about to ring and I better leave now. Bye.

Uncounted Daughters of India

Uncounted Daughters of India

Home is the only place where an individual would feel wanted, loved and protected. A person’s journey begins at home and it is where one’s true identity lies. It occupies a significant part in defining one’s personality in which he/she takes immense pride on. Is it possible for someone to let go of this identity? How will you feel when you are denied, deprived by your own countrymen? Here starts the never ending struggle of the kahmiris who lacks acknowledgment in their own motherland. This interview is not about the war between India and Pakistan nor does it record the terrorist attacks on Indo-Pakistan border rather it covers the real life struggle of Tasneem, a Kashmiri woman .She is one among the few who has raised their head and voice against the atrocities faced by Kashmiris, especially women due to militarization. She made an appearance recently for an International seminar titled women against war at Mount Carmel College. 

1 How is Kashmir different from the Kashmir portrayed in the media?

So much, so different. The Kashmir you tend to see on your Television and on the leaf of your newspapers is a mere projection. I am sure that none of you would expect to hear this but let me talk you his; Kashmiri is a secular state where the people are peace-loving and own beautiful hearts. We celebrate all religious festival with the same enthusiasm. The so called political turmoil and terrorist scenario is mainly put there by the media players and other powers of the government who seek for false attention and something to talk about. In our state people who seek for freedom and questions injustice are labelled as ‘terrorist’. Media fails to cover the larger issues faced by kashmiris like custodial rapes, immigrant issues and so on. Our Women have been subjugated to violence in Kashmir for the past two decades from Indian Security forces as well as rebel group. These issues are not treated with significance rather the prime focus of the media is to project Kashmir as a state which lacks religious tolerance.

2 What are the problems faced by Kashmiri women due to the political turmoil that exists in the land?

The most common threat faced by Kashmiri women is broken families. Many women have become a direct victim to this situation. Violence and inhuman treatment are exercised on them either in the form of death, loss of loved ones, torture and harassment.   Many of the families are left broken due to the struggle which is forced on us by the powers. And as the vulnerable element of a family, women and children are affected the most. Conflict in Kashmir has left behind a large number of widows whose husbands have been killed either by security force or militants. These women are left with the burden of raising their children alone but most often they turn out to be illiterate and lack awareness about the rights they hold as a citizen of this nation. And most importantly children also become a victim to the armed conflict. Therefore lot of women started migrating out of this land to ensure peaceful and decent life to their children.  Take for my instance; I migrated to south as I don’t want my son to witness the atrocities and violence happening in our own land.

3 Speaking about women, how does the militarization in Kashmir affects them as a whole?

An army man is often perceived as a saviour by his/her countrymen. But for most of the Kashmiri’s they are most often seen as a big threat, especially to their women. Militant rapes and murdering of innocent people by labeling them as rebels have become quite common to us. We have been experiencing the presence of military for almost years together. Due to this tourism industry is extremely affected which in turn has a serious impact on the economic status of the Kashmiris.

4 What is your opinion regarding the common assumptions imposed on all Kashmiris?

All of us are categorized as the traitors against our own land. People think that our heart lies in Pakistan and we are forced to stay back in this land. I can’t understand how can someone fail to love their own land? India is my country and it is the land where my true happiness lies. I would like to repeat my point that Kashmir is one of the secular states in India which is extensively misused by power play. It is almost heart-breaking to realize how a Kashmiri identity is viewed as something far removed from the identity of an Indian without realizing that we too are citizens of this land. Take for my instance; I have traveled to countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh. But those were just neighboring countries to me. I never found sense of belonging in those countries as I feel in my motherland. India belongs to all Indians and it is a land known for its diversity.

5 As a Kashmiri women, what would you like say as a response to the violence imposed on women in our country?

 No religion teaches hatred. I am sure that not a single religion in the world teaches us how to hate or kill our fellowmen. It seems almost senseless to fight in the name of religion. So let’s strive to establish peace and harmony in our land. I feel one should live and let others live in this land. And most importantly women should never be consider only as a sexual being .India being a motherland, I feel it is equally important to respect the daughters of this land. I feel extremely hurt to witness the frequent rapes happening in our country and with the special mention to the unrecorded custodial rapes in Kashmir. I feel all these happen mainly due to the lack of respect for fellow human beings. So I feel it’s important for each one of us to respect and accept every individual irrespective of gender and various other religious and socio-cultural backgrounds.