Remembering the unfortunate Women of India

It is only a matter of the time all the outbursts across the nation, shock and grief would fade away once the great nation get into the joy of new year celebrations. Already, all the neta's and babu's have given their well prepared statements and, soon the Delhi rape case would enter the annals. The brave girl who fought for 13 days of post-brutalities would be forgotten by one and all. The common man would come to terms and get busy with the daily routine. The political class would score their points, by explaining that no stone was left unturned. Their "claim" of best medical treatment and chartered flights to Singapore would be suffice to beg for votes. The cynical opposition would call for the justice, abetting few hartals conveniently forgetting their own track record while in the power.

What baffles me is of accountability.  When I was a school, my teacher told me a story of moral accountability of a political leader. In 1950's while Lal bahadur Shastri was the Railway minister, a train accident in South India killed many passengers. Shastri immediately submitted his resignation to Nehru, then Prime Minister taking on full responsibility for the incident. Despite Nehru's persuasion, Shastri ji, did not yield. Finally, While accepting the resignation Nehru said "I personally do not believe Shastri ji was in any way responsible for this incident - yet, I am accepting his resignation to set high standards in public life" Shastri did not even use his official car to get back to his home. There are many train accidents since Shastri's decision, yet the decision was a moral high ground. The sense of guilt permeated across all those who failed in their duties.

Now coming back to the present incident, the political class, spin doctors and the media have conveniently shifted the blame and accountability on to those six beasts. All the powerful law makers and the law keepers - including but not limited to Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, Sheila Dixit, Sushil Kumar Shinde, Neeraj Kumar (the Delhi Police Commissioner),  Union Home Ministry, Delhi Law and Order have spent all time and energy to "damage control" or "media management". None of them have guts to come out any take moral responsibility for the shocking incident. In essence, this incident or series of incidents of this nature summarize the state of the nation. All of them are well aware of the proven fact "collective public memory is poor". Today the nation suffers from "excessive" paranoia

A permanent stark reminder is an imminent requirement of these times. On the lines of memories for the fallen soldiers, on the lines of the glorified graves for the political leaders who failed of their responsibilities. There is no better place than - area around India Gate in Central Delhi. A memorial for Bharat nari, with the in scripted names of known and unknown women who have fallen victims and brutalities on account of - lust of a man, greed of a woman, madness of a religion, convenience of a cast, arrogance of power, freedom of political class or any of the thousandth reason.

Let the nation remember them on 26th Jan and 15th Aug of each year!