78 Years of Independence, Yet Women’s Freedom Remains an Elusive Dream: The Unending Struggle for Safety and Equality by Prerna Bhat

As India celebrates its 78th year of independence, the nation is forced to confront the harsh reality that its women are still fighting for their own freedom – freedom from fear, freedom from violence, and freedom to live with dignity. I want to question everyone, where is your freedom? Where is my freedom? Whatever we commemorate every year on 15th Aug, Is it worth celebrating?

On a fine day of 9th Aug 2024, when nationwide students were practicing for the upcoming Independence day, A women doctor in Kolkata, busy doing her 36 hour shift was heedless that her freedom would be constrained that day. The irony is palpable, a country that boasts of its freedom from colonial rule, yet fails to guarantee the basic right to safety for half of its population.

Regarding the same matter, I was searching for information on net and found out that the one of the first rape cases that were reported was done by the police officials themselves in 1972. The case involved the alleged custodial rape of a teenage Adivasi girl, Mathura, by two policemen in the Desaiganj Police Station compound in Maharashtra. I mean where are we supposed to feel safe? The question echoes loud and clear: can we truly celebrate independence when our women live in a state of perpetual fear?

The statistics are staggering. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), a woman is raped every 16 minutes in India. The country witnesses over 300,000 reported cases of violence against women every year, with many more going unreported. The streets, public transport, workplaces, and even homes – no space is safe for women. The fear of harassment, molestation, and rape is a constant companion, dictating their daily lives. Yesterday it was Nirbhaya, today it is Dr. Moumita Debnath, tomorrow it can be any one of us. I don’t see any superior department or official paying any sort of heed to this serious matter that is our basic right. I see no one targeting the rapists and the murderers. Why is it always that the women has to be blamed? Your dress is too short, don’t go there, don’t wear this and don’t wear that. Why can’t people teach their sons about respect, esteem and regard for the fellow gender?

The root of the issue lies in the deep-seated patriarchal mindset that pervades Indian society. Undoubtedly, Women are often viewed as commodities, their bodies mere objects for male gratification. The lack of education, economic empowerment, and political representation further exacerbates the issue. The silence of bystanders, the apathy of authorities, and the victim-blaming culture only serve to embolden perpetrators.

So, how can we celebrate independence when our women are not free to live their lives with dignity? The answer lies in acknowledging the problem, taking collective responsibility, and working towards a solution. It begins with education – educating men and boys about consent, respect, and equality. It involves empowering women economically, politically, and socially, so they can break free from the shackles of patriarchy.

The government must take concrete steps to strengthen laws, improve law enforcement, and provide support to victims. The judiciary must ensure swift and severe punishment for perpetrators, sending a strong message that such crimes will not be tolerated. Civil society must raise its voice, demanding change and accountability.

As we mark 78 years of Indian independence, let us not forget the women who are still fighting for their own freedom. Let us recognize their struggles, their fears, and their resilience. Let us work together to create a nation where women can walk the streets without fear, where they can live their lives with dignity, and where they can truly celebrate independence.

Only then can we say, with conviction, that India is a free nation – free from the shackles of patriarchy, free from the fear of violence, and free to live with dignity.

Prerna Bhat

Prerna Bhat, is a mass communication and journalism student from Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi.