The recent tragedy at Galwanpora Budgam has shaken us to the core, and our minds are yet to find their way back from the shock. The horror of the harrowing incident has sent shivers down our spines. It is a grievous blemish on our collective identity, and an affront to the principles of our upbringing and education.
It is a harsh rebuke to the values, ethos and morals we were raised and educated with. The scar will never vanish from our psyche and canvas of reminiscences. Ironically, it is neither the first nor the last outrageous incident inflicted upon Binti Hawa. The barbarity meted out to the innocent daughter is buried beyond the prison bars. But, the Devil’s Trumpet is growing silently, for mere pruning can not purge us all from its poison. We must uproot the pernicious plant entirely and burn it down to ashes. Life imprisonment alone is not the panacea for the extirpation of such odious vileness.
The heinous episode has ignited a firestorm of public fury. Social media platforms are brimmed with the rage of netizens, and streets across the region are filled with protesters demanding capital punishment for the perpetrator. Even the incumbent Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir UT visited the bereaved family to express his solidarity, and share the grief and sorrow of the mourners. But, he haplessly swallowed his tongue when the infuriated people demanded exemplary punishment for the culprit. The statutes presently in force are too feeble to bring criminals to justice.
Islamic jurisprudence decrees Rajm (The punishment of stoning to death) for acts of adultery and fornication, and exacts Qisas ( A life for a life ) in the case of a murder. A legal order of such gravity would breed a wholesome fear of transgression, and chronicles of Islamic rule note the scarcity of rape and murder under its sway. We demand such exemplary penalties and retributions to be implemented by our highest seat of legislation called ” The Parliament “.
Crimes against women are not confined to any single area or region. Entire country is battling with the burgeoning menace of women abuse. According to National Crime Records Bureau ( NCRB ), 85 to 90 cases of rape are reported every day across the country. Chastity of Eve’s daughter is torn into shreds on roads. Sexual assaults, molestation bids and other crimes against women are growing rapidly. But, the laws and legislations that ensure safety of women against these offences look outdated, obsolete and inadequate today. The rules and regulations in place look too weak to safeguard the dignity and honour of our daughters. It is imperative that our legislators amend the Constitution to create a deterrent so strong that potential offenders would hesitate a thousand times before committing a crime. The sole punishment for rape must be death. Justice should not be impeded by protracted trials or procedural red-tapism within the judiciary. Fast-track courts must be entrusted with the responsibility of bringing criminals to their logical and lawful conclusions.
An apt and powerful system of justice in place is not the absolute remedy to eradicate the menace of women abuse from our social setup. We must delve deep into our priorities and interests. We should revisit the parameters of our education, parenting and upbringing. The foundation of our core principles must be the respect for women.
We should teach our children the mantra of treating women with all possible esteem and veneration. We should instill this seed in our children at an early age. But, contrarily, we exhibit a brazen show of masculine hegemony and dominance on women in our homes and workplaces. Hurling invectives upon women in front of children influences their perception regarding women in a negative way. Our words are brushes that paint the canvas of our children. The children are keen observers and imitators, and parents are their first heroes and role models whom they admire and emulate. Such demeanors of parents shape their view of women through a lens of inferiority.
Our homes should produce progeny like Isma-eel AS to construct an exemplary society. But, parents must follow the suit of Ibrahim and Hajira AS to beget the gems like Isma-eel AS. Syed Abu Saleh Musa Jangidost AR – Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani’s AR father, went through rigorous trials of labour for several years for he had eaten a floating apple from a river which he considered forbidden. It is another dimension of good parenting.
But, our parenting is totally flawed. Raising children laden with values is the best parenting otherwise beasts too suckle and protect their young ones. Essence of life is beyond books and degrees. Besides food, shelter and schooling, we must take care of the ethereal needs of our children. Spiritual, moral and emotional wellbeing of our children is vitally important as is their physical health. We need to be the embodiments of values and ethics.
If the moral and ethical disintegration of our generations is not checked, we are bound to drown in an anarchy and chaos. Let’s all work together to educate and raise our children with the truest essence of life. Perhaps my message will strike a chord in your heart…
The Author is a Teacher and a Columnist from Bandipora, writing regularly on culture, climate, education, folklore, history and social issues. He can be reached at mushtaqhurra143@gmail.com
