Ay, You? Yes, Me Too!

The disclaimer associated with the topic is very loud and clear – “Forgetting is difficult and remembering gets worst”, so don’t you dare say to let go of it because harassment is not something to be ignored and overseen. It is something that disturbs someone mentally , physically and emotionally altogether.

Talking about this, the recent outburst on standing against it has got huge publicity with the advent of #me too movement originated in The States in October 2017. It gained huge popularity with the help ofthe internet ofcourse,with girls and boys coming up daily and talking openly about it. The government there is also working on formulating laws which will categorize it in an even complex crime. While this is the status abroad, talking about the movement's coverage in our country and reactions here, the situation's a bit different. There the people tend to listen and also are enthusiastic and supporting to work for it unlike in our country where lending money is fine but lending an ear is not everyone’s cup of tea.

The people need to understand that it’s the society who needs to listen and take action and not the victim alone. It is more of a holistic and an inclusive effort by all of us to create a comfortable environment for them to freely speak about it. No doubt the movement is getting a lot of thumbs ups with all the empathetic hashtags but are we really supporting it practically or is it just to be a part of the wave which is given a blow? Not only this, the question that comes immediately after it is that, will the support of just a mere section of such a diversified society, given not all are socially active, be effective enough for the change to happen?

The ironic part js that the answer lies in these questions itself. My personal experience has it,the first thing we ask the victim after hearing to such an incident is why the victim was quiet until then and what was the plan of action then? Like really, who are we fooling? First of all, the whole point of bringing it out in public is to bring to the notice of the people such an obscene act and to gather support, it is not to invite the respectable tags of being a desperate woman or a hoe. The only possible help anybody can offer is to lend an ear or a pair with a tint of patience and empathy combined smartly.

And for all those who think that feminism is being dragged here, then let me make myself crystal clear-Harassment of any being , anywhere is likewise and also is a crime keeping in view the humanitarian values and section 354(A) of the Constitution in mind. The movement will bring a change only and only if a comfortable environment is created and not the mindless arguments that pop up following the speech.

Change is and has always been a gradual process. It takes time, thought and consideration. One more thing that needs to be given importance is that the burden of the proof should lie on the accused and not the victim. The accused should be made answerable not only to the law but the society as a whole. To wind up, I would like to say that our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter, so, hear , support and acknowledge the courage of the one who speaks because change demands revolution and every revolution begins with a spark and that spark has now been lighted.