Editor,
In his article, “Agricultural on reverse” (ST, May 25, 2017), Moin Qazi has zeroed in on the plight of the small farmers of our country. As a matter of fact, step – motherly attitude towards agriculture and small enterprises is largely responsible for dismal scenario in our employment generation. A paradigm shift in the strategy on jobs is indeed a crying need of the hour as India is fighting shy of job creation. According to recent Labour Bureau data, India has been losing 550 jobs per day. Instead of protecting labour intensive sectors like farming, unorganised retail, micro and small enterprises that mainly contribute to current livelihoods in our country, we are going gaga over capital intensive technology forgetting our basic needs.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata
Women not safe at home too!
Editor,
Nothing can be so shocking and condemnable as the news, ‘Father-son duo molested daughter/sister’, (ST, May 24, 2017) The news should prompt hundreds of questions but we usually keep quiet by merely cursing the perpetrators. Of course, in a rage, we may add that the ‘sick-minded perverts’ must be hanged immediately, and women are never safe even at home, blah, blah, blah. And thereafter, we just retreat from the realities. We hardly make any attempt to cast our gaze beyond the horizon of “capital punishment.”
Frankly speaking, will harsher laws and “hanging” deter such sexual predators in future? Will our screaming and ranting solve the problem? I am doubtful. Yes, with every passing of a day, cases of rape and sexual violence are increasing by leaps and bounds, more particularly in Meghalaya. Some are very unspeakable in nature, even between blood relations!
Very shockingly, boys, as young as 10-11-years old, sexually assault minor girls. From where did they learn all such evil acts? As responsible and caring parents, should we not be serious and unprejudiced to dig deeper to identify the possible reasons why most of the children are becoming so sexually active at such a young age? No wonder, in due course of time, some might take very perverse turns. I think now we should not let ourselves by swayed by the glamour quotient in the media that has over the years occupied a cozy space in our mindset and subsequently distorted our perception to see the things as they are. Thank God, some still muster their courage to say that we are deliberately shutting our eyes to the potential factors which are adding fuel to the dormant sex-hormones of even tender children.
If we are seriously worried about the degradation of the society then why don’t we look for a permanent remedy to fix all ills? Let’s minutely examine what actually has been fanning the flame of sexuality in a certain breed of males including under-aged ones who have begun to venture to walk on the wrong path. One concerned US Christian organization had carried out a survey. Besides many other weird surprises, the NGO found that most of 10/11 year-olds know the nitty-gritty of carnal bestiality. Many teenage boys hold women only as objects of lust. Is it not a serious clarion call for us, and a matter of great humiliation? Should we still fiddle while the households around are burning in the fire of sinful lust? As guardians, is it not our foremost duty to see that our children are not affected by obscene stuff served by the media, or the filth readily available on the internet? Ms. Jenniefer Dkhar has rightly pointed out that the internet could be detrimental if the parents do not closely monitor their children.
To pinpoint the potential causes why not the Government use the expertise of the unbiased experts who can shed light on why the society has been so afflicted with the perverse sexuality? I think just a score of specialized intellectuals would suffice to help arrive at a decisive conclusion to address the issue. Two sexologists to provide the data about the physiological aspect of male sexuality, two psychologists to tell us why the rapists’ minds run riot before committing the crime and why they can’t control themselves. Then, gather the inputs from at least half a dozen policemen who would have interrogated the rapists in the past. We should also include our spiritual leaders — at least one from each major religion, who can share their ethical viewpoints. And finally and most importantly, a couple of dispassionate philosophers and level-headed court judges who can go deeper to analyze all data provided by the above experts. And thus, based on empirical deliberation and brainstorming we must not hesitate to make the sternest laws and that will address issues that contribute towards corrupting the mindset of society. Value-based education for children should be made compulsory.
It’s important that for the sake of our children we should not compromise anymore and remain mute. Full responsibility lies on our shoulders to save the society from falling. So, let’s have one voice to condemn the sex-peddlers of any kind. No pervert should violate the modesty of womanhood, and no fire of incest burn the very sacred fabric of the household.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong-2