An unnecessary, unwanted, ruthless STREET gesture towards men, women and children….but WOMEN are its most familiar victims.

A nudge on the shoulder, a feel of the waist, a touch on the thighs, an intentional crude bodily contact are some of the very few characteristics, of street harassment faced by today’s women. A scare…a constant fear of being physically abused by alien hands, surrounds her day-in and day-out.

Women of all shapes, sizes and social standings experience this on a daily basis. Whether it is traveling by public transport or walking through a busy street or even taking an evening stroll. Often this kind of abuse is followed by a fake apology just so that it’s not made into a big deal, but at most times the offender walks off behaving as if nothing has happened. This kind of behavior not only affects the women but also the men-folk who’s loved one experiences it.

Harassment towards children by big road bullies is also rampant. Grown up adolescents keep looking for ways to tease small children, just to quench their growing egos.

Street harassment of any kind is a monstrous crime that needs to be faced with an iron hand. It needs women to toughen up and retaliate when faced with this kind of rude atrocity.

The Blank Noise Project team, to commemorate its first anniversary in Blogosphere, is making an effort towards bringing this crime into the open. Thereby making today’s woman aware of her underlying strengths, in order to fight street harassment till its very end!

I urge one and all to encourage this effort by participating in the Blog-a-thon 2006 organized by this project. All you need to do is write your thoughts on street harassment/ eve teasing or simply a small writeup on The Blank Noise Project.

There is a common saying in Hindi movies, “Kanoon andha hota hai” (Law is blind), this sentence stands true to every word in reality too. We are all aware of the fact that the ‘high class’, especially in India are capable of getting away with anything…even a Murder.

On 29th April night, seven years ago…a young model Jessica Lal who offered to act as a celebrity bar-tender was shot dead at a party in Tamarind Court (a newly opened bar then, in South Delhi) for refusing to serve drinks to a guest who landed up at 2 am, way after the bar was closed. This unfortunate incident took place in a ‘high class’ gathering were most of the guests were VIPs, businessmen, top industrialists and celebrities who showed up for the party thrown by Delhi socialite Bina Ramani and fashion designer Malini Ramani. More than 100 people were present that night and most likely had witnessed the death of an innocent women.

Click here to continue reading ‘Jessica Lal Case: Justice not served’