Independence

Re: # 1

Ill treatment of women is despicable and cannot and should not be condoned. However, your point regarding `character and progress of a state is directly relevant to the treatment of women in that state` is debatable. The issue of treatment of women is a 20th century phenomenon. Their were countries and empires that were considered progressive and were indeed amongst the most powerful of their times where the women were burned alive. Women in Great Britain were not allowed to vote till the early 20th Century, whereas it was the most progressive state of its time.
[Reply to interact #1]

your anguish falls on deaf ears. people are too dumb and numb to respond such social evils; and have come to see at as one of the norms in that part of the world.

I read somewhere that the character and progress of a state is directly relevant to the treatment of women in that state.

What do you think after the rape of Dr Shazia at Sui. Here is an excerpt from the `satribune.com`:-

``The despicable circus going on under the cover of judicial tribunal, TV interviews and so on is indicative of the entire top brass covering a monster without any qualms. Think, it is gang-rape not breaking a red light at a traffic intersection we are talking about. Are we asking the generals to undo the public relations disaster of Sui? That can`t happen.

But we can surely ask the defenders of our geographical and ideological borders to demonstrate, as a bare minimum, that when military officers commit dreadful crimes like gang-rape there are consequences. Sexual predators don’t go free at our officers’ mess is the least we as a nation are entitled to demand. That goal is easily achievable. This case will write history, affect the course of politics, shape the role of military and have a profound impact on the overall image of the military.``

Won`t you change the last sentence of Faiz`s poem as ``We who were raped in the unlit pathways``.

well cuntry`s not to blame such things happens everywhere !!

Eve-teasing is a shameful thing, which is unfortunately too common in the subcontinent. In Delhi, the Holi festival has degenerated into an all-out license for eve-teasing. In the name of holi festivities, women are harassed, groped, water-filled baloons are lobbed at them, etc. In fact, one week prior to Holi, my sister would not step out of the house or go to college for fear of harassment. It is an outrage!! Looks like our desi genes are alive and kicking on your side as well.

``And why do I still cringe with shame when I think of my country and my people, and independence. ``

How does any of this reflect on the country? You`re blaming the country for the attitude of some horny goons? Wow, makes a heck of a lot of sense.

BTW, when something like this happens, it is a lot more useful and effective to react immediately and physically instead of writing on an article on a website blaming the whole country for such unfortunate incidents.

Hira Nabi, well written, though if I may add, a wee bit naive.

Here are my observations:-

# I hope things improve in your country for you. For that alone you need to work more towards making things improve instead of cringing in defeat or angst.

# It used to be terrible in some parts of India, it is terrible in some parts of India now. But it has also become better in some parts, as it has become worse in some parts. I say this just to show how things can be cyclical?

# Much of the improvement of status for women can be linked directly to female education at the lower-middle-class and below levels, at least in semi-urban/semi-rural India.

# Urbanisation has its own dynamics.

Good luck. I think the fact that the usual Pakistani shouting brigade have not come down on you like a tonne of bricks and nor have they called you anti-Islam and unpatriotic is itself a good sign.

Re: # 8
Lol. what is it with you people?
if there were any more people like you in india, i doubt anybody could see the `possitive aspects` to a skip across the border.

Hira,

I am delighted to see the possitive aspects of people to people contacts. You at least have a chance to see what TNT has delivered, what that picture of a man on the walls of govt offices really stand for. I am happy to note that no one refused to take money for the tea you drank, or the saree you bought in India. For most indians, pakistani is yet another tourist, yet another customer.

I find it really repulsive that pakistanis are offering free stuff to the indians. More than that it is scarry, as anything non-normal should be. It only shows the duplicity of the pakistanis, they fund the laskers, put money into the numerous jihadi collecio boxes, while putting up a facade of welcome to the indians. Indians who visit pakistan should expose this sharade and insist on paying the monies owed to the shpkeepers while making them aware of their duplicity.

#3,

It is not right to compare 20the century England with 21st century England. Compare them to the 20th century rest of the world. Vote or no vote, there lives were much better than most of the world where the miserable women were looked at as a piece of property.

#5,

I was dismayed at the kanjarpana during Holi. In Chandigarh, chooras and bhaias get free license to do this. I was shocked at the silence. People just don`t go out. I did and got into cussing matches. Some have started to beat up these basturds. I`ve seen Punjab Police take a few whack at these idiots. Religious and politics refrains them from doing more.

#7,

Besides education, I`ve noticed that women who fight back are less likely to get harrassed. Silence attracts more harrassment. Last year, in Chd. a youth confronted several youths on eve teasing. Outnumbered, he was chased. He came back with his friends and ended up killing one of the culprits. I don`t know how it ended.