Dr Daisy Parihar
daisy.parihar@gmail.com
Many candles wept in silence, their flames dim with pain, Many slogans rose in anger, yet the world moved on again She is the strength behind creation, the heartbeat of every land Respect her presence, honor her life, shaped by God’s own hand
A girl is born into the world with innocence in her eyes and dreams that stretch far beyond the horizon. Yet from the day she takes her first steps, she is taught something no child should ever have to learn: be careful, stay alert, stay close, do not trust blindly. Whether she is a toddler learning to walk or a woman in her seventies holding a walking stick, the fear that shadows her existence remains the same. Safety is not age-bound for women in our society because danger does not choose age it chooses opportunity.
Every girl grows up with warnings whispered into her ears,do not go out alone, do not talk to strangers, do not stay late do not trust anyone too easily. But the question is why should she live like this? Why should her life be shaped by fear instead of freedom? Why should she begin her day thinking about danger instead of dreams?
The harsh reality is that crimes against women continue to rise even as we keep lighting candles and marching with placards. These candles melt like pearls of wax the tears of a nation that mourns again and again yet nothing truly changes. Every horrific incident becomes a headline. Every headline becomes a conversation. Every conversation slowly fades away. But the pain remains. The trauma remains. The fear remains.
The real question is why such crimes keep happening. Whose failure is it? Why do these criminals walk so boldly as if consequences do not exist? The country protects its borders with strength and discipline so that no enemy can step inside our land. But what about the enemies hiding inside the same streets we walk on? What about the monsters who look like ordinary men yet carry darkness in their intentions? Where is the safe corner for a woman? Is it inside her home? But many crimes begin inside those very walls. Is it outside? But every street every lane, every mode of transport tests her courage every single day.
She is teased when she walks to school. She is stared at on buses and trains. She is judged for her clothes, her voice, her choices. She carries the fear of being followed when she goes to tuition, college, office, or even a short walk to a shop. And when she grows older, the fear does not vanish,it only changes shape.
The recent incident in Jalandhar once again shattered the belief that age or appearance guarantees safety. A person with grey hair, a sign we associate with wisdom, turned out to be a predator. The shock of such cases leaves families trembling. It forces society to ask difficult questions. If a child cannot trust someone elderly, then who can she trust? How can parents raise daughters without constantly fearing for them? This incident reminded the nation that danger does not carry a face, a social status, or a label. A criminal is only a criminal.
Survivors face battles far beyond the crime. When a girl or woman goes through such trauma, her life changes in ways people cannot see. Her confidence drops, and her dreams freeze. She questions every decision she makes. Instead of receiving comfort from society, she often receives judgement. People look at her differently. They ask questions that reopen wounds. They whisper instead of supporting. She is forced to carry the burden of a crime she never caused. Healing becomes a long journey, and she must walk it with courage even when society does not understand.
Acid attack survivors face a deeper pain. Their world shifts in a moment, and they have to rebuild their identity. Their courage shines because despite everything, they learn to live again. But society must learn to support them not with pity but with acceptance. They need opportunities to work, study, and live like everyone else. They deserve dignity and equality.
While we express pain, we must also acknowledge the progress our nation has made. Laws have become stronger. Fast track courts have been created. Helplines and grievance mechanisms have expanded. Awareness campaigns have improved reporting. More girls today feel empowered to speak up and seek help. The government continues to work on safety policies, infrastructure improvements, police training, and digital monitoring systems. These steps matter and they must continue.
But for real change to happen, strict justice must stand above caste, religion, position, and power. A criminal should be seen simply as a criminal. Nothing more, nothing less. A society can progress only when the law does not discriminate. When punishment is swift, strong, and equal for every offender. When a culprit knows that he will face consequences so severe that the very thought of harming a woman becomes unthinkable.
Women are not weak. They are not helpless. They carry strength that has shaped civilizations. In our culture, women have been worshipped as symbols of power, knowledge, and purity. But today many live under shadows of fear instead of dignity. A society that cannot protect its women cannot call itself fully developed. A nation where daughters hesitate to step out freely cannot claim true progress.
Every crime against a woman is not just a crime against an individual but an attack on humanity. It shatters families and scars generations. It questions our values, our laws, our systems and our collective conscience. When a girl suffers, the entire nation should feel shaken because she represents every child, every sister, every mother, every citizen who deserves safety as a basic right.
A future where girls walk freely without fear is not impossible. It only requires commitment. It requires society to raise boys differently. It requires schools to teach respect as strongly as academics. It requires families to teach empathy. It requires communities to be alert and courageous enough to intervene instead of ignoring wrongs. It requires police and courts to act promptly. It requires governments to continue building stronger systems. And most importantly, it requires zero tolerance for crimes against women.
Safety cannot be a privilege for women. It has to be a guarantee. It has to be a promise. It has to be the foundation of a civilized nation. Let us create a society where a girl can walk fearlessly. A woman can speak boldly. A mother can live peacefully. Let us ensure that every child grows up believing not that the world is dangerous but that it is safe because people choose to be good.
The time has come for change not in speeches but in actions. Not in temporary anger but in permanent commitment. Not in symbolic gestures but in real justice. Let every culprit receive the same punishment without any bias. Let every survivor receive dignity ,support, and healing. Let every woman feel that her life, her safety and her dreams matter.
When justice becomes strong, consistent, and fair, only then will criminals fear the law. Only then will society truly evolve. Only then will the nation reclaim its pride. And only then will every woman in Bharat walk not in the shadow of fear but in the light of freedom.
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