When the
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint American – Israeli military
operation, a lot of people all over the world cheered the fall of a tyrant.
Trump, squatting on a precarious perch of self – righteousness, with
characteristic lack of delicacy commended himself for taking out ‘one of the
most evil men in history’. Naturally, he left out the part about how as part of
the massive strikes directed at about 24 Iranian provinces, the Shajareh
Tayyebeh girls’ elementary school in Minab was bombed and over a hundred
innocent children were casually killed and written off as collateral damage.
Ironically, it was while seeking to free the country from theocratical tyranny
which decreed Iranian women could face the death penalty for daring to break
chastity and hijab laws, that Iranian girls were senselessly annihilated. In
the killing games, overgrown boys play, it is always the girls who are usually
the convenient casualties.
In India,
the response as always was mixed – people celebrated, criticized or shrugged
off the fall of a radical Islamic cleric. Hardly anyone seemed particularly
concerned about the little girls. Which is hardly surprising, because in India,
shortly after the fall of the Supreme leader of Iran, another little girl was
killed when she fell through the rotting floor of a school bus and landed under
the rear wheel. There was a smattering of outrage, but it was drowned in the
deluge of voices debating whether the excessive gold jewellery sported by newly
wedded celeb couple – Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna looked
aristocratic or atrocious.
Unfortunately,
death is not always the worst of it. Girls who are not killed over routine
dowry harassment, suspicions of infidelity or unreciprocated love are subjected
to a more excruciating form of slow and painful leaching of the spirit and
soul. Surprisingly, it does not necessarily involve rape, sex slavery or severe
abuse. It is simply a persistent denial of basic rights. Girls in every part of
the world are still expected to dress and conduct themselves in ways that are
convenient and in keeping with the requirements of the supposedly superior sex.
A good education still remains elusive for most women who do not have rich
and/or progressive daddies. Even the lucky ones among the so – called fairer
sex who are educated are expected to marry quickly so that the financial burden
falls on the spouse and spares the parents. Too many are routinely denied their
inheritance and expected to survive on the scraps that come their way at the
discretion of those they find themselves dependent on.
Ambition
is considered to be an ugly shade on women. Those who aspire towards a career
need to be cut down to size for their own good. Women who leave the safety of
home and hearth to work do so at their own peril. Even if they do bring in the
big bucks, the pay cheques should be dutifully handed over to husbands or in –
laws as is only right and proper. An unhealthy preoccupation with making money
indicates a proclivity for prostitution. Which is why girls are taught to do
only as they are told. Especially if it makes no sense. All else is bound to
get them killed. If they are lucky. Nari Shakti be damned!
This column was originally published in TNIE Magazine.
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