In Our story, Mowgli is a Girl. Baloo and Bageera are her family and close friends. As this writing is related to molestation and rape (of course, of women), you can guess ‘who is playing Sher Khan’. For the want of a better word, we can call him maniac.
Thus goes the story, Mowgli loves to roam around alone, work alone sometimes, wonders what it would be like partying out till 3 or 4 in the mornings and is fascinated by the night sky. In all this, Mowgli does not know that she is being watched by Sher Khan. She is vulnerable when she is alone. Sher Khan may pounce on and manhandle her any time he feels like. So here, can we change Sher Khan into a Hyena? Such a person does not deserve to be called Sher. This is our civilized society- a jungle.
Here one is guaranteed freedom and justice in law books. Its implementation takes time and it feels like eons. The culprits are allowed to run amok on roads, railway platforms and trains, airplanes, market places, sea-shores, parks and where not. We already have many abuse cases from many places and corners of ‘our society’. Really speaking, these individuals should be brought down on roads to be manhandled by gays. No amount of forgiveness and pardon is going to turn these beasts into princes. These beasts will remain beasts. They are really ……. Uhh!!! I don’t find a worst word to write here, but you may fill in the gap as you wish.
What kind of reaction are we to express? Shock? Distress? Sympathy? Outrage? And, for how long? Once the story disappears from the front page of a newspaper, people tend to forget it. Some cases make an impact on an individual’s mind and it stays for long time. I have been reading such incidences from quite long time, I think since I started ‘understanding’ the world outside my primary school. This impact has been profound. These days my brain runs an ALERT signal whenever a stranger passes by my side. I can feel the adrenaline-rush and blood-flow to my hands and feet, preparing me for a combat- just in case! We never know what might happen.
All things considered, our Mowgli is not going to take any dictates from such men about what she should wear, how she should behave and what she should be doing at what time. And, come what may, she will continue to walk the streets alone or in groups, be it a day or night. She may do it in some fear, but she will do it. Nothing can confine her because she has the freedom. If all other characters of this Jungle Book have Freedom, she too is entitled to it. So what, if it comes at price of risking a priceless thing- her dignity!!
