Curb the ogre in you

[1]

Father Dominic Emmanuel [1]

The 23-year-old gangrape victim will remain etched in our memories, less for what she suffered along with the millions of other females who suffer almost similar atrocities on a daily basis, but more for the pertinent outrage she sparked, moving the conscience of the nation.

Even though we never tire of glorifying our rich ancient Indian culture and do everything possible to protect it against the onslaught of evil of the so-called “Western culture”, India is rated as one of the worst countries when it comes to the issue of rapes and cruelties heaped upon women. The horror of female foeticide alone should be enough for us to hang our heads in utter shame.
In newspaper articles as well as in endless television debates, the role of education in families and schools laying emphasis on equality as well as role of women is being advocated as an important step. Unfortunately, hardly anyone is talking about accepting the harsh truth that this malaise exists in our society, culture and by extension within ourselves.
Jesus says, “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye…? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7: 3 & 5)
Now, instead of being sickened to discover that each time we kept quiet when a girl child was killed, a woman was raped, when in the family our brother was preferred over our sister and when we looked the other way when a woman was being burnt for dowry and umpteen other such cases, let us accept our role and responsibility in helping create an ogre who prowls around stealthily amongst us.
I don’t believe that merely expressing anger at such an incident helps the cause at all. What is required is to sit before our God and, after saying “sorry” to Him for our own share in allowing some of our brothers-turned-monsters to violate our sisters, promise God that we would do our utmost to prevent anyone desecrating His image in someone else. The Bible reminds us, “…in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1: 27).
And finally we would work hard to inculcate in our society the Golden rule, “Whatever you want people to do to you, do the same for them” (Luke 6:31), by improving our attitude towards others, especially towards women.

Father Dominic Emmanuel, a founder-member of Parliament of Religions, is currently the director of communication of the Delhi Catholic Church.