Sshh! Raped by Her Pundit, She Was Subjected to a Two-Finger Test

If Meera* believed that her trauma would end with just the act of sexual violence, she was mistaken...

This story is a part of The Quint’s ongoing graphic novel series called ‘Sshh’ which focuses on the stories of rape survivors, beyond the headlines and the crime records. What is their life like, after and beyond the rape? Did they get the help and support they needed? Were legal-medical-psychological resources available?

This is the story of Meera (name changed to protect identity) who was subjected to an unspeakable horror, after she had been raped. Her story has been represented here through illustrations.

Meera* is a woman in her early thirties. She has a husband, two young children – a girl and a boy – and she lives in a small hamlet near Dewas in Madhya Pradesh. A few years ago, she appeared – with her husband – in an episode of the Aamir Khan-fronted social reality television show Satyameva Jayate.

The show was, at that time, featuring stories of sexual violence from across the country under the banner ‘Fighting Rape.’ And both Meera and her husband spoke vociferously and vehemently. Meera had been raped in 2011.

One afternoon in the month of May, 2011, when her husband was away, the village pundit, Jeevan Singh – who had been catcalling Meera for days – appeared at her house. While his goons guarded the entrance, the pundit raped her repeatedly.

When she tried to resist and started to scream, he hit her on the head with the blunt end of his stick – an instrument he would also use to execute his series of daily rituals at the village temple.

After threatening her that he’d make her life miserable if she reported the rape to anyone, Singh left with his henchmen. Undaunted, Meera ran to the cops.

However, if Meera believed that her trauma would end with just the act of sexual violence that had been carried out against her by someone she could point to and name, she was mistaken....

Meera’s* medical report can be seen below. If you’ll look closely, the “opinion” given by the medical superintendent reads: “No definite opinion can be given regarding recent sexual intercourse since she is habituated for (sic) it.”

Also highlighted in red at the top is an unnecessary entry to be filled in the form – that of ‘Jati’ or caste, next to which has been scribbled Chamar.

Exactly why is this qualification necessary on a medical report, that in any case denigrates itself with the inclusion of the humiliating two-finger test?

*Name changed to protect identity

(Illustrations: Erum Gour)