Behead the rapists!

 

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We, the women,

we have suffered so

Since centuries, since decades,

Since years, since days.

Since minutes, since seconds.

In villages, in farms, in cities, in dark alleys

In buses, in call centre cars, in discotheques, in rallies.

We have suffered long enough.

And now we demand our share of blood.

 

We are angry, we are so angry

All we see is red, splashes of it, blots of it

Running down like tears, from irises to cheeks

Yes, we want blood. We crave it, we deserve it.

We want castration. We want death.

We want beheaded, naked bodies and heads.

We want to slay, like we have been slain.

 

For that’s the only answer.

Not love, not motherhood,

Not forbearance or brotherhood

No more will we turn the other cheek.

We will burn as we have been burnt.

 

For isn’t that the only answer?

Blood for blood

An eye for an eye

An ear for a ear

A leg for a leg

A penis for a fondled breast.

A blood drop for a tear.

 

© Shweta Taneja, March 2013

 

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I started to write a blog about it, but since my opinion on this is raw and emotional, this poem is what emerged. I am feeling sad about the rightful anger in a lot of men and women in the country about the violent death of Ram Singh, one of the Delhi rapists today. I am feeling sad that we can rejoice in violent deaths as a country, a community, a gender, a world. Don’t get me wrong. I am against gender inequality and gender violence in all forms that are embedded in our society. But is celebrating violence the solution? I hope that in craving the blood of someone who’s the monster, we don’t become monsters ourselves.

Photo courtesy kafila.org

Clothes and rape

The policeman said, don’t blame us if women get raped if they are dressed provocatively. Karnataka Women and Child Welfare Minister C C Patil said women should know how to dress or presumably face the consequences.

And here’s what the media said. I have used about 20 articles generated in the media (in English press) to see the words we use when faced with such a blatantly provocative statement from those in authority.

 

women war

 

Interesting. I wonder if these words alone express even an iota of the rage I feel inside me.