Let Her Light Shine On

Written for International Women's Day March 8
In memory of Jyoti Singh.

International Women's Day

"India's Daughter" a BBC documentary on the brutal rape and killing of a young medical student Jyoti Singh created an uproar in India and the Indian Parliament banned it.

But contrary to the opinion of some that the documentary focuses on the rapists and provides a platform for them to showcase their story, in my view it does not.

It is about raising awareness of insensitive, primitive and unacceptable behaviours in the hope that they can be changed. It alerts at how disturbing the thoughts of the rapist are and even more disturbing are thoughts of the defence lawyers. But more importantly it highlights that these are the mindsets of many and that if behaviours are to change then social conditioning needs to change. You cannot bring about change unless you understand the deep rooted thinking of people. What change can you implement if you haven't understood the psyche that causes these behaviours?

It is a tribute to a young, hard-working and compassionate soul who had many dreams that were torn apart horrifically by a bunch of callous men who thought they had the power to do anything because she was a woman. It is the story of a life in indescribable pain who even where death would have been much easier, had the courage to stay alive just enough to give a statement so her rapists could be convicted. Her story must be heard. 

It is about her parents who share precious memories of their beloved daughter, the last days and  moments of her life, her shattered dreams and their shattered lives and who are asking for justice. They have a right to. My heart aches for them and we should hear them. 

It is about those moments when the youth of India,  men and women, boys and girls, stood side by side and with courage and conviction demanded justice, demanded change, demanded respect for women. It is a reminder for us to keep fighting as we did in 2012 as a result of that tragic day on December 16. We should keep fighting and demanding. 

Jyoti's brutal gang rape sent shock waves across the world. It fuelled a movement that demanded voices be heard. Banning this documentary is like saying Jyoti and many others like her didn't exist and it trivialises her parent's pain. 

Sadly Jyoti Singh's light went out on 29 December 2012. 

Let us reignite it for if we stop now then we have failed Jyoti and others like her. Her death will have been in vain.

Let her silent voice be heard through the voices of many, let her light shine on through the actions of many, let us not give up nor give in so that one day women around the world can say "We are free". 

Jyoti means light

Regardless of your thoughts on whether this documentary should be banned or not, it has rekindled a fire in people. Perhaps a new wave of action will take this to the next level. Perhaps Jyoti herself made this happen from the other side so that we do not stagnate in the old unacceptable conditioning. RIP dear Jyoti and may your light always be seen. 

image taken from the documentary

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International Women's Day - Inspiring Change

Written for:
the Write Tribe Festival of Words #3 Day 7 - IWD Inspiring Change
 USC’s Women Inspire Campaign

                             

"At the stroke of the midnight hour when the world slept, India awoke to life and freedom" (Adapted from the speech by Jawaharlal Nehru on the eve of India's Independence)

15th August 1947, the Indian flag flew for the first time and the people of India rejoiced.

The great leaders of the time, Gandhiji, Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Sarojini Naidu, Rabindranath Tagore, Jinnah, Maulana Azad are the names that will forever be etched in history.

But what of the ones who worked quietly behind the scenes, the silent and forgotten heroes, the forgotten freedom fighters? Without them India would not have awoken to life and freedom.

My grandmother was one of them. Read her biography here and here for more details.

But I will share the aspects of her life that inspired changes because she dared to dream, because she dared to fight, because she dared to be unafraid, because she had the utmost faith in God and because she had a great generosity of spirit and love for mankind.

At 5 feet tall, gentle and demure, respectful and soft spoken, graceful and loving, kind, compassionate and humble, pious and dharmic (one who follows the path of right action, speech and thought), she looked like a little wisp of a lady who lived a simple life according to the precepts of the Gita (holy book of the Hindus), but she was a formidable power, with a great strength of character and mind, a leader and the ultimate diplomat. She commanded respect wherever she went.

During the Quit India Movement, she took part in freedom marches and spoke at the several rallies held in Bombay. One of the marches that she took part in was the famous Salt Satyagraha Dandi march. In fact she led one of the marches from Bombay to Dandi.

Post Independence she was dragged into politics and became a member of the first Lok Sabha (House of Commons) of India. While in Parliament, she introduced the following bills:

• Women's right to divorce
• Anti Dowry bill
• Indian Adoption of Children Bill
• Suppression of immoral trafficking of Women 

And she strongly opposed the bill to punish unfaithful wives with her famous speech in Parliament "In a society where we have such evil customs as child marriages permitting a girl of ten or twelve to be married to a man of forty or fifty, old enough to be her grandfather, how can we expect her to be loyal? In a society where girls are at times sold as slaves by her own parents, how can they be expected to be faithful to their husbands?"  The bill was withdrawn.

After her term in Parliament was over, she did not contest again and instead dedicated her life to humanitarian services, to the upliftment of the poor and oppressed particularly women and children. For her, service to humanity was service to God. 

She was a founder member of the Bhagini Samaj an organisation dedicated to the welfare of women and children and started the Adivasi Welfare Centre in Udvada, Gujarat for women and children providing education and training. She introduced the adoption of villages a UNICEF approved programme and she was the first recipient of the prestigious Jamnalal Bajaj Award for her outstanding services to humanity. She donated her entire award to the the Adivasi Centre.

She was also a Justice of Peace.

But to me she was Dadima (Paternal grandmother), an inspirational, exceptional and beautiful human being who left her family a legacy rich in culture and heritage. Who taught us all, through her life, the meaning of love.

My late father and I were at her side when she breathed her last on the 28th of August 1985. Graceful and respectful even in death, she joined her hands together in Namaste to my dad and me, looked heavenward, and with the words "Hey Ram" (Oh God) she passed over peacefully and quietly to the other side. Be at peace Dadima.

I hope someday my destiny will also lead me in service to humanity.

Jayashri Raiji 26 October 1895 - 28 August 1985

                  

pic 1: receiving her award from the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, 1980
pic 2: Dadima and me circa 1962


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“I’m celebrating Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day by blogging for the #WomenInspire Campaign sponsored by USC’s masters degree in social work program. Join the blog carnival to honor a woman who has inspired you!”


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