Dear Mr. Modi,
In the aftermath of the many tragic instances of rape of young children across our country, I have yet again been bombarded by a barrage of forwards, filled with tips on how I should educate my children about ‘good touch’ and ‘bad touch’ and videos on the same. And I have done so, as I have on several occasions before this. Along with teaching them how to read and write and grow up to be confident, happy and most importantly good citizens, I am, like every other mother of our country and sadly, the world, teaching them also how to scream for help should anyone violate them, to not visit isolated places, not sit on any grown up’s lap and to inform me, should they feel uncomfortable around anyone.
And once again I have seen the same look of confused-fear in their eyes after this speech, no matter how casually and nonchalantly I try to make it. While the purpose of my letter isn’t to accuse or blame you as you cannot be held accountable for our nation’s current disastrous situation….I am merely seeking your esteemed help on my parenting dilemma.Please do tell me how I should prepare my children to protect themselves against the brutal force of multiple grown deranged men? No matter how much a little child ‘screams’ from the supposed security of her school, school bus or from an unknown vehicle where men much stronger than her are holding her captive, there is not a chance her voice would reach her mother.
Our children do not dress provocatively, nor do they drink or do drugs or behave in any compromising manner that several disgustingly insensitive politicians usually use to justify rapists. Why then do you reckon, innocent babies are brutalised in this barbaric manner?And what then is the point of my explaining to my children the difference between good and bad touch as these countless forwarded messages recommend I do?? With what face do I promise them that their parents will always be there to protect them?
Would you suggest I give my children a gun along with their snack box and water bottle to defend themselves from any uninvited penetration? I’ve already considered installing a CCTV camera over their heads so I can track their movements at all times. If you have any better suggestions that would help me keep my promise to my children I am open to your valuable input.
In the meantime, since it is as much your job to keep my children safe as mine, may I suggest trying to permanently stop such crimes in their track NOW by brutally punishing all those accused so far?! These demons use such imaginative ways to torture and abuse women and children, should we not learn something from them? Until they aren’t publicly castrated, and that gruesome video isn’t circulated through every media and social networking site available, I do not see other perverts and pedophiles ever having even an iota of fear that would prevent them from repeating such heinous acts.
I believed you, dear Prime Minister, when you made those promises to me for a safer India in your campaigns and I dutifully voted for you. Similarly, my children and those of every other Indian mother, believe us when we promise them mama and papa will always be there for them. In order to keep my promise, I’m doing everything I can, short of putting my children back into my womb to keep them safe (believe me I’ve thought of that too)!!
So today I have decided to make a few promises about things that I am NOT going to do. As a mother of two innocent children, I promise today that I will NOT teach my children to be afraid! I REFUSE to tell them to look over their shoulder to see if they’re being followed! I will NOT personally follow them around everywhere they go, whether it’s to play outdoors, or to a class, or to school. I promise I will raise my son to respect every girl at every age but will NOT raise my daughter to ever feel vulnerable or fearful just because she is a girl. Her life will be a fairy tale but NOT Red Riding Hood’s!!
Now I DEMAND a promise from you!! That you will do everything in your power to provide me with a nation safe enough, only then will it be possible for me to keep mine!!!
Yours expectantly,
A.Mother
(This post can also be found on Mycity4kids.com on my page The Occupational Mother)
Sunset Effect - Nitya Satyani 