Dear India, You did not Fail This Sexual Harassment Survivor

Wonder what kind of a letter would a sexual harassment survivor write to India? Read to find out.

She’s one of the bravest daughters of India. She’s a fighter, she’s a survivor and she loves India. A survivor of sexual harassment at workplace, she didn’t sit quietly and blame herself or India. She thanked the India that supported her and helped her fight this battle.

 

Dear India,
     
How often is it that you have watched a change-oriented film or a show and got up from your seat feeling determined to bring about a change or simply make our county a better place?
     
The answer is, probably, very often.

Many of you may already have gone down that path and come out victorious while for some there may be a long way to go. Keep up your good fight. While work is in progress, energies and aspirations can dip. We then end up thinking 'India failed me'. Echoing the brave lady IAS officer who complained of sexual harassment against her senior, there definitely is no dearth of shallow and obnoxious people and they are lined up at every step. I had my share too. Does that mean India failed me?

It is more than 300 days since I lodged the FIR which has snow balled into four litigations. They say there is no chargesheet I continue to question why he is on bail? Was this because India failed me?

The so called fancy degree holders who are aware of the mistreatment, remained quiet . They continue to remain quiet, accept unjust promotions and continue to work. India deserves better than these set of so called educated urban individuals who are choosing to remain involved with the wrong. Some did put their foot down or in this case their papers down and spoke up. This attracted the usual “Why get involved?", "There is nothing that one can do", " We will wait for the courts to decide". I have always maintained that it is them who are involved. My father had only this to tell me, "Beta, being quiet in a crime is being a part of the crime". To date, this has remained engraved in my mind. This is what finally nudged into lodging that police complaint while my ex-fellow office-goers have brushed this issue aside. The same people who claim to be working on a sustainability. What an irony, for India too.

India did not fail me. India cannot fail anyone, it is the ones responsible for these situations who are failing India. Please don't give these set few individuals the right to fail all of us. A nation is bigger than a handful of regressive, irresponsible beings. They may hold influential and powerful positions but their very premise will crumble as their fundamentals are flawed.

Some of the best in the Indian legal fraternity have supported me selflessly. I had to scout for a job and was relieved to be accepted in a good role in a supportive and dignified working environment. My CV clearly shows where I am coming from, but I haven’t faced a single ridiculous question for the sake of gossip.

Because that is what professionalism is all about, unlike the corridors of fifth floor holding the DG's office.

We provide enough fodder for debates and opinions but is seldom channelised into action. Please do not be like these fancy degree holders and enforce real action for the cause that you believe in, for the premise that truth is always bigger. Please do not spare those who need to be held accountable for their (mis)deeds. No one else can do it for you, but you.

It is natural to think that bad things happen to others but not us. I had to stop living in denial and accept the wrong that was happening to me. Yes, it wasn't easy but now it feels liberating. Every single bad experience from this struggle has given me just two options - drown in it or get out of it stronger. The chances are that one will emerge out stronger and that does not come out of courage but from the strength of your own conviction.

Sincerely,  

 

Audi India is proud to be a part of India’s progressive growth and salutes the spirit of India.

(Do you ever feel like talking to India? Yes, perfect. This is your chance to write to her to tell her how you feel about her. You could be bitchy, angry, happy, emotional or spoofy. But if your answer is No – never mind, there is always a beginning. Let’s start here. Send us what you want to tell your India and we will publish it. Don’t be shy, just say it all. Mail us your letter at [e-mail]. We’ll ensure India gets your message.)