Run, Lady Run

Rev. Fr. Paul Lelen Haokip *

The visual impact of it all . Pix Courtesy :: TSE

INTRODUCTION:

Imas, Ibems, Ichals, life seems to be getting enhanced for worse for your lot of being a woman. Sometime back, I read an article about a woman with HIV telling "I suffer the sins of my late husband". Painful expression. Irreversible. Sanaleipak claims to have lot of respect for women, but we have only 3 sitting MLA in the strong 60 member Legislative Assembly of Manipur. Either you run for recognition or you are forced to run to safeguard your modesty.

You are always on the run. You are like 'Run, Lady Run'. If you are fair looking - you are teased or stared at. If your are scantily dressed - you are inviting. If you are smart - people feel jealous. If you are outgoing - safety is minimized. If you are outspoken and brave - you are branded 'Miss Meirapaibi'. In all your movements there are slurs and threats.

COMMENDABLE WOMEN:

This year's High School Leaving Certificate Examination and Higher Secondary Examination were better booked for the women folk than the masculine-machos. July and August have some memorable leaves in the history of Manipur - Miss Lamneilhing Chongloi was crowned 4th Miss India North East, Sushila and her friends won the bronze medal in the Junior Women's World Hockey championship, World Women Boxing Champ Magnificient Mary Kom on whose life story a Bollywood film is being made. Ima Manipur, you have fashioned many good citizens, Congratulations!

DANGEROUS JOBS:

Imas, Ibens, Ichals, life seems to have changed a lot today. You are not only in the kitchen but also in the bandhs and blockades with sticks and old women garments to taunt or challenge the Government for change. You seem to dare the heavily armed Indian security forces while the men shy away in hidden places. Oh! My God. Where do you get such a courage? You are amazing. In these dangerous jobs, your husbands, boy friends, children were praying that you may come home safely.

Do you know that? In all these odd jobs, you seem to be either asked to run for the work, or you yourself run to these dangerous spots for recognition and respect. So you are still, 'Run, Lady Run'.

WAILING WOMEN:

Sanaleipak machas don't seem to respect you Imas, Ibens, Ichals. You are raped even when you are a minor, handicapped - mentally/physically. You may be even suspicious of your brother-in-laws, father-in-laws. I don't blame you for your mental framework that warns you of dangers around. Even when you go for study outside in orphanages, you end up in the hands of some men for sexual abuses.

According to a Home Ministry Statistics, a total of 555 cases of alleged fake encounters by police, defence and paramilitary forces were registered by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) since April 1, 2009 till February 15, 2013 (4 years span). In these fake encounters, Utter Pradesh records top with 138 and Manipur comes second with 62. Is Ima Manipur running for the top slot? Hopefully, not.

In all these, you suffer, cry, groan, moan and carry the memory of your lost sons and daughters. In almost all these cases, you were with tears at the dharnas, protest sites and submission of memorandums. Sometimes you become almost a human shield to protect the rest of us. What a sacrifice you are putting in. We the men folk will be eternally indebted to you all. At last, even your territorial boundary stands at the risk of loss - the size of Bishnupur District. Run, Ima Manipur Run. Let us prepare for the next assault.

CONCLUSION:

The National Crime Records Bureau reveals that a crime against a woman is committed every 3 minutes, a woman is raped every 20 minutes, a dowry death occurs every 77 minutes and 1 case of cruelty committed by either the husband or relative of the husband occurs every 9 minutes. UN ranks India among one of the most unsafe places in the world for women.

Under Anti-Rape Bill, the minimum sentence for gang rape, rape of minor or rape by police officers or a person in authority will be doubled to 20 years imprisonment and can be extended to life imprisonment without parole. The Bill also stipulates death penalty for repeated rapists and of the first times makes second occurrences of voyeurism and stalking as non-bailable offences.

Do the State Manipur need new constitution to safeguard you? I don't think. Perhaps, the men folk need new constitution in the mind, of accepting the rising force of our Imas, Ibems, Ichals who are able to compete and win laurels for us. May be there is also a sense of insecurity and diffidence that make the macho-men to subjugate the women through, teasing, domestic violence, rape and outrage of their modesty, etc.

There is an urgent need for joint homework of mutual acceptance and respectful recognition of each one's contribution to the society. Till then it is 'Run, Lady Run'. If the women keep running, the men will also keep running.