LETTERS TO THE EDITOR She’s NOT India’s effing daughter

Heinous. Grievous. Horrific. I sit here, blankly looking up dictionary.com trying to find words to describe the horror that was the ‘gang rape’ that occurred on December 16. I find nothing suitable. They are all woefully inadequate, all pathetic substitutes that we use because none of the language we know can capture the mind numbing, excruciating brutality inflicted upon ‘India’s Daughter’.

My blood runs cold, my insides turn to water and the hair on my body stands up as I read page after page of coverage of this horrifying assault. She was alone in her fight. She fought 6 fully grown men who raped her and brutally mutilated and assaulted her. She died of horrific injuries. India was never there for her, or for the thousands like her. So don’t call her India’s effing ‘daughter’. She never was!

I waver between despair, horror, rage and sobering grief. I’m not asking why. I’m not asking how. I’m asking, WHAT NOW? Thousands of years of oppression, prejudice and injustice have fuelled this monster which freely roams our streets and now stands at our doorsteps, promising to brutalise us into oblivion. And it IS a promise. And it is being fulfilled on a chilling scale: a rape is reported every 20 minutes in India, and many more go unreported. But the veil has been lifted. This event has branded the nation’s consciousness, shoved our faces into the toxic venom that courses through our country’s veins everyday – silently mutilating, maiming, torturing. She wasn’t the first, and she won’t be the last. India, we failed her. So what now?

The silence must go. Rape, domestic violence and sexual harassment must no longer be invisible. Talk about it at home, at work, with your friends, parents, relatives and children. Don’t tolerate sexual harassment. If you see it on the street, say something. I was 15 when someone brazenly yanked on my dupatta (scarf) as I walked down a bustling Hyderabad street at 3pm. I stopped and stared at the perpetrator, engaging in a battle of wits as his hand provocatively held tight onto one end of my dupatta, and my hand held onto it on my shoulder, protecting myself from the ‘uncovering’ he was threatening. Not one person stopped.

National Anthem, and reading of the speech of the Hon. President of India.

All Indians or persons of Indian origin and others are invited to attend on this auspicious day. Free parking is available at East Lindfield shopping centre, adjacent to the house. RSVP by email to indians@indianconsulatesydney.org

Remembrance Ceremony and Annual Gandhi Oration

Wednesday 30 January, 2013, Remembrance Ceremony 5:15pm onwards at the Gandhi bust on the UNSW Library Lawn. Followed by the Gandhi Oration at 5:45pm for 6:15pm start at the Sir John Clancy Auditorium, UNSW.

The annual Gandhi Oration commemorates Martyrs Day and will be delivered by The Honourable Michael Kirby AC CMG who will address the topic of “What would Gandhi do today? A meditation on the contemporary challenges of human rights.”

The Gandhi Oration will be preceded by a remembrance ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination on 30 January 1948. The event is free and all are welcome, however RSVPs are essential. Please click on http:// unswinternational.wufoo.com/forms/ m7x3q1/ to RSVP by 28 January.

Going to the Mahakumbh?

Australian independent documentary film-maker Mark Gould is searching for Hindu Australians who intend to go to the upcoming Maha Kumbh Mela at Allahabad (Prayag) in Feb 2013.

ABC TV’s religious program Compass (6.30pm Sundays) is keen to tell the story of this sacred journey and what it means to the devotees. The subjects of the film would need to be prepared to share their stories, their bhakti and relationship to their faith on camera in a documentary focussed on this special pilgrimage - why they are making it and what they hope to gain from this great event.The ideal subjects would be devout Australian Hindus - individuals or a family who are articulate about their faith and keen to reconnect with their Hindu traditions.

Details Mark Gould 0419 635 614 or email mark@BondiRocksMedia.tv

English conversation classes in 2013

Marrickville Council’s very popular English Conversation Classes will commence as follows:

Term 1: 28 January – 5 April 2013

Term 2: 22 April – 28 June 2013

Term 3: 15 July – 20 September 2013

Term 4: 7 October – 13 December 2013

The classes help participants improve their English, as they practise conversing in English and learning about Australian culture. The free classes will be held at Marrickville Library. Participants must register in person, and the registrations will be held at Marrickville Library on Friday 18 January from 1pm – 2pm. For more information please contact Marrickville Library on 9335 2173.

Not one person stepped up to help me in my fight with this unabashed offender. Never, bar once, in the many cities in India that I have lived in –Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad – has anyone EVER stood up for me. This needs to change. This is our duty, our responsibility.

Stop blaming the victim. If you do, you’re part of the problem. Get an education. Google rape, rape myths, sexual harassment, women’s oppression, sex selective abortion, acid attacks. The current environment blames the victim, and look where that’s got us. We need to change.

Don’t wait for others to do something. Be the change. Our leadership is primitive and outrageously patriarchal at best, callous and apathetic at worst. They’re not going to make this happen. In fact, they’ve LET this happen. You need to change it. WE need to change it. Blog, write, read, rally, protest, educate, lobby. NOW! And don’t stop till Indian women have freedom, dignity and opportunity. Then we would have earned the right to call her ‘India’s daughter’.

Dipanjali Rao Melbourne

Cannot wait to come home

As an Indian Australian visiting New Delhi since the past two weeks, I am deeply saddened by the events to have gripped the nation. What saddens me more is the lack of government and police response.

Speaking to locals I note they are not at all surprised by the lack of action. In post-British India, Indians have come to expect such inaction. Like many, I do not know the girl nor her family, and cannot imagine the grief they are experiencing.

I too have a daughter, and I am sad to say I cannot wait to board my plane back home.

Dr Raja Devanathan Melbourne