Yet Another South Asian Story

I am most disturbed. Is it the same god that allowed this to happen and the same god that has protected me (as yet) from the likes of the Sohanlal? (what an ironic name). Atleast in 1973, a sub inspector himself became a complainant. I wonder if any inspector today would do the same? I am sure my ``pak`` soil will match this horror story and worse anyday.

R.Saxena, Reply #4

Literacy, was not that much of an issue in this case. From the article, it seemed to me that Aruna had a very sad tryst with misfortune at a time in her life, where people dream of doing something worthwhile with it.

A rapist, is just that, ``A rapist`` in any society(eastern or western);At best an animal unleashing the selfish desires through infringment and destruction.

Now, personally, in Aruna`s case, it does not seem to me that she was really screwed over by the system as much as she actually suffered for life in terms of a never ending vegetable existence.

To throw some light on that train of thought...I meant that regardless of the loophole that him being a first time offender served two 7 year sentences concurrently, he still had to cool off his heels in the jail.

I am sure, it is not a matter of literate/illiterate society as much as the fact that it is a bleeding, carcass of emotions, zest and aspirations. It could happen in some old southern white neighbourhood; I am sure with the breed of ``proficient conscience-free`` lawyers the rapist could still find loopholes in the judiciary. As for the rest, there arent any parameters to define the south asian rapist has more venom in his phallus than your average run of the mill international psycho.

An extremely tough and sad story to write and the author has done it effectively, IMO.

It was a bit confusing whether the victim was still alive or dead since her present age is left to the reader to compute and because of ``even as Aruna`s body cries out for a decent burial``.

`small everyday heros` is a very apt phrase and maybe each one of us has encountered some of these and thanked God for them.

Here is a related story that doesnot reflect well on `small everyday` people, unfortunately:
http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2000/nov/02prit.htm

Sadhana

Sad and shameful indeed....rape happens everywhere but in the armpit (courtesy hamidm) of the world known as South Asia, we make the victims pay after the crime too.

What more do we expect when our literacy rate is equivalent to that of France in 1789??

I feel ashamed to be an Indian when I read stuff like this.

I dont know how to express my angst and sadness.

Certainly Very evocative writing; and the fact that it`s every bit real adds to the melancholy.

I dont want to see it as being branded as a south asian/indian/pakistani affair...

To me it is a real life tragedy, one of those things that you wish happens to nobody in their lives.

This is soooo sad.

I don`t know what to say.

harish,

powerful..moving..this is not jaded journalism :))

shandana