Male dominance over females has been from time immemorial, when females used to tend homes and males used to be bread winners and thus the society evolving as a patriarchal one. Female foeticides and infanticides have been common and strong legislation had to be enacted to stop the sins. The choice for a birth of boy still prevails in Indian homes, be it rural or urban.
Times have changed in the recent past and women have attained a visible growth and position in the society, though largely confined to urban and semi-urban areas. Though the highest office of the nation was until recent held by a lady, and there are three lady chief ministers in the country presently, increase instances of rapes are witnessed daily.
Nirbhaya’s case and the resultant public anger shook the Indian government, which enacted stringent laws against rapists. What was ending as rapes are now ending to more gruesome rapes and murders, so as not to leave any evidence.
Rapes cases were not heard as frequently in Bengal or Kolkata as frequently as it used to be from Bihar or UP, which used to witness notorious caste related gang rapes. Phoolan Devi turning into a dreaded bandit queen to avenge her gang rape is an example. Kolkata never witnessed such cases, which was considered a safer city as compared to several other metropolises in the country with Delhi leading the ignominy.
The revealing western outfits worn by the modern women are attributed as one of the reasons for increased incidence of rapes. However, comfort wear has come to stay and women cannot be forced to cocoon themselves in yards of saris.
The migrant labour, living in dorms and messes, devoid of any recreation was earlier perceived to be a threat. The apprehended culprits profile does not confirm this theory as far as Bengal cases are concerned. With the government keeping away from land acquisitions, a new band of acquirers have emerged, who are touts and wield considerable muscle power and influence in their respective localities. Sudden inflow of big sums have created a neo-rich, politically powerful young land mafia in every locality, who arrogantly tend to acquire anything with their money power. The new threats from these youngsters flaunting political affiliation from powerful politicians are the worst kind. Political bosses use them for wrong reasons and it is a quid pro quo that they are provided the necessary cloak of political security. Even if they are apprehended due to public outcry or pressure, liberal sections are slapped by the police, rendering the offenders obtain bail easily and thus getting back into business. The police have largely become helpless pawns in the hands of politicians setting a dangerous trend. Lack of severity of punishment, timely justice, lackadaisical attitude of the police and crooked stand of the political party is encouraging fence sitting offenders, who earlier limited their chivalry to eve-teasing, to now molest and rape hapless girls and women.
Lastly, there is an animal in most men. Some can rein it themselves, and for some others the society has to rein them in. If the government does not decisively act with force, the vulnerability of women would increase posing challenges to a civilized society like never before.