Wrestling with reality

Dangal war released December 23rd and it took less than ten days for India to have a reality check.
The new year did not dawn well for  some Bangalore girls. Apparently there is credible evidence that there was groping and molesting of girls at a new year eve celebration in the city.
I wonder if wrestling should be made a compulsory subject in all girls schools- might help them beat the s**t out of any bloke trying to lay a finger on them.
I watched Akshay Kumar's comments on the Bangalore issue and the fact that he said he was ashamed to be a man, said it all. Every Indian male needs to be embarassed. People need to look askance at any male who even remotely seems to even think of  looking at a woman the wrong way. I think the responsibility of righting this wrong needs to be handed to the men, not the women.The very dignity of the Indian male is at stake here.What represents an Indian male? Is he a chivalrous, protective believer in equality of the genders or is he a uncouth , uncontrolled caricature of a male who tried to cop a feel whenever a female crosses his path?
My previous blog post mentioned Haryana as being a backward place, but one would not ever think Bangalore would be in contention for that title. The supposed software capital of India is the boondocks did you know?!
At the end of the day, education does not necessarily broaden one's outlook in life. Baser instincts do take over, do they?
I am usually a proponent of a bit of decorum on the part of the 'weaker' sex just because we are supposedly weaker. Dangal turned that theory on its head for me. A woman at risk can be a tigress- if she is trained for it...And be brave enough to know that she can fight them off. Having been at the recieving end of sexist and vulgar comments and more, I know I was compelled to swallow my anger and pretend like I didn't hear it, or not visibly react to it. I remember the fury I felt and I know I have visualised beating such predators to a pulp..But that was always in my mind and it never ever happened in real life. No one ever comes to the defense of women being subjected to such
treatment...And it is sad that the situation hasn't changed in the twenty years since I've moved away. Women have progressed so much academically and in the employment sector..But the very core of their feminity is constantly under threat and that is holding them back.
When are the men going to wake up and say enough is enough...We will not sit by and watch the subjugation of an entire gender by our fellow men.
This is not a fight that can be fought by the women alone because the perpetrators need to know that it is not just a 'female' they are harassing,but that they are putting at risk the very dignity and self respect of every male in the country and no red blooded male will take that lying down,!
His prestige being dragged in the mud by a thug with no self control? Not riling you enough?
Men, rise up defend the women around you.We can't do this alone.  It is not just our freedom and liberty at stake. But your very pride and self esteem.  For every woman who is leered at, there are ten men that women look at with fear and trepidation wondering if he is a good man or a lecher.
All the good men out there who are as outraged as we are at this shameful behavior, has it crossed your mind that maybe at some point, some woman has looked at you and wondered if you are a cheap chap who was going to accidentally bump her, or subject her to unwanted attention?  No? I have looked askance at enough number of classmates, colleagues, acquaintances. The idea that someone who looks safe might not be and would consider you easy prey? That thought is in almost every woman's mind whenever she shares breathing space with a male. If that doesn't make you sit up in righteous indignation, nothing will. This is your opportunity- prove your mettle. Make is so that a woman will not hesitate to approach a perfect stranger of the opposite sex and ask for help without wondering what it would entail.
The whole," Don't these guys have mothers and sisters?" is old, old, old. Why should your protective instincts be unleashed only if your mother or sister is at risk? Are other women dispensable? Of no value?
There, I've said it. The ball is in the men's court. Let's see if they pick up the gauntlet- after all it's only our safety at stake. But for them it is more..Much much more. History will not be kind to men who stood by and watched the dragging down of an entire half of their world. And the fallout will not be mild. The repercussions will be felt for generations to come.The shame will take years to erase..Do something now before it is too late.