My Malayalam Blog

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Sunday 30 December 2012

From Damini to Women of India


My name is Damini
The name given by my parents

Some call me Nirbhay
Because I dared to challenge brutality
Some call me braveheart
Because I fought bravely (in vain) with death
And some even India’s daughter
Because I brought women of India together

I was just like one of you
An ordinary village girl
With small dreams and wishes
Working to help my family
Studying to build my future
Enjoying life the way I could
Like every other girl like me would

Then on one illfated Sunday evening
On a busy Delhi road in a bus
My world turned upside down
When I was raped and brutalised

I fought to save my honour
I fought to save my life
But I failed
Because they were many

How many times I died
In that one hour
I have no clue
I had lost my senses

I thank you, my sisters
Brothers, fathers, and mothers
From the bottom of my heart
You prayed for me
You cried for me
You fought for me

You came out on the streets
You demanded justice for me

Justice for every woman in this country
Safety for every woman in this country
Honour for every woman in this country
Dignity for every woman in this country

You braved police barricades
You suffered water cannons
You faced tear gas shells
You dared lathis of police

You shouted slogans for me
You displayed posters for me
You wrote poems for me
You sang songs for me
You wrote articles for me

Alas! Everything has been wasted
Doctors could not save me
Medicines could not save me
Instruments could not save me

I wanted to live for my parents
For my family and my friends
I wanted to enjoy life
In this beautiful world
In all its serenity and richness

But God willed otherwise
And I surrendered to his wish
There is a purpose for every birth
Maybe I have fulfilled mine

I have but one request to you
My brothers, sisters, and mothers
My fathers, uncles, and friends

You came together for me
Your voice became one for me
Your purpose became one for me
You became one soul with several faces

Please do not let this power go waste
Empower yourself, protect yourself
Demand your due, for your sake
Demand your rights, for women’s sake

Let there be not another Damini
Or any of those thousands of women
Raped and violated and brutalised
Let mine be the last sacrifice
I can then be happy in the other world!

Rise above politics!
Rise above police apathy!
Rise above human brutality!
Rise above public indifference!

8 comments:

  1. I AM MOVED AND SPEECHLESS! MY SALUTE TO THE WONDERFUL FEELINGS...LET'S FIGHT FOR A CHANGE...

    ReplyDelete
  2. A very heartfelt narration. congrats.
    when a huge crowd of people are uniting
    to fight ,Atrocities are happening simultaneously.
    How will it be tackled? Can law? can education ?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Received via e-mail:

    Very touching indeed.

    Moni Singh

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have no other word to say to thank you for this hearat felt naration.
    This should reach every one.

    ReplyDelete

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