Evening at Zambezi River, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, May 2015
and so does everything around... the situation, the people, the perspective, the needs.... and we too change.... the wise and courageous seek change.. because only change is constant!

Sunday, January 6, 2013

188. Fear

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 35; the thirty-fifth edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. The theme for the month is "...and the world was silent again"
16 December 2012.
New Delhi. India

News spreads
Helplessness, Agony, Outcry, Anger,
Protests, Street March, Slogans, Candles, Fasts
Debates, Discussions, Editorials, Media coverage
Tweets, Facebook updates, Blogs
Poems, Articles
Commitments, Oaths, Schemes, Improvements
Calls for life punishment.
Calls for changes in the system.
Calls for changes in law.

Will history repeat itself?
That is the question.

Mathura. Suryanelli. Soumya
Helplessness, Agony, Outcry, Anger,
Protests, Street March, Slogans,
Debates, Discussions, Editorials,
Calls for changes in the system.
Calls for changes in law.

And the world was silent again.

Tulasa Thapa, Thangiam Manorama
Helplessness, Agony, Outcry, Anger,
Protests, Street March, Slogans,
Debates, Discussions, Editorials,
Calls for changes in the system.
Calls for changes in law.

And the world was silent again.

Jalagaon, Khairlanjee, Ajmer
Helplessness, Agony, Outcry, Anger,
Protests, Street March, Slogans,
Debates, Discussions, Editorials, Media coverage
Calls for changes in the system.
Calls for changes in law.

And the world was silent again.

Anjana Mishra, Bhanvari Devi,
Helplessness, Agony, Outcry, Anger,
Protests, Street March, Slogans,
Debates, Discussions, Editorials, Media coverage
Calls for changes in the system.
Calls for changes in law.

And the world was silent again.

Soni Sori, Nayana Pujari, Jyoti Kumari Chaudhari
and so many others,
Helplessness, Agony, Outcry, Anger,
Protests, Street March, Slogans,
Debates, Discussions, Editorials, Media coverage
Calls for changes in the system.
Calls for changes in law.

And the world was silent again.

Aruna Shanbhag?
Who was she?
Oh..right. Unfortunate indeed.

And the world was silent again.

Jammu and Kashmir.
Hmm! It is easy to talk about it,
But you know,
Our soldiers are doing a good job there.
Don’t discuss.
Aren’t you patriotic?
Someone has to pay the price. Keep quiet.

And the world was silent again.

North East?
What happened there?
Oh! It must be some foreign hand.
Who knows what the fact is!
The media has no other story
Let it be, who cares?

And the world was silent again.

Thousands, nay millions of
'Nameless' and 'Faceless'
Go through the agony.
Four year young and seventy year old,
Poor and Middle class and Wealthy,
Dalit and tribal and the upper caste,
Educated and uneducated,
Working in the public sector, private sector, unorganized sector, domestic workers.
Everyday. Every moment.
Some have courage to say it loudly.
Many die a silent death.

Pending cases.
Conviction rate?
Social taboo.
Police attitude,
No help from passers by ....

Well, it is still a concern. 

And the newspaper writes about one more rape.
From somewhere, around the corner.

“Women! “
“You know, it is not actually rape.”
“When they are caught red-handed, they want to save their skin by framing the man.”
“Why do they wear such provocative clothes?”
“Why do they move out in the evening?”
“Don’t they understand the world around is not good.”
“Women – they want independence!! These are the fruits of their independence.”
“This is all impact of westernization.”
“This is not our culture. We need to go back to our culture.”
“It does not happen to us because we are good.”
“Rape happens to only those who are ‘characterless’”
“Leave it. It is not our problem.”

And the world becomes silent
Again and again.

16 December 2012.
New Delhi. India
Agony, Outcry, Anger
Continue to grow.

29 December, Singapore.
The last breath.

I wish; we all wish that
At least now
The world would not remain silent!

However, I fear that the world will be silent again! 
The fellow Blog-a-Tonics who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective posts can be checked here. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. Introduced By: Vipul Grover, Participation Count: 30
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56 comments:

  1. viva_andyaJanuary 6, 2013 at 11:20 AM

    As always... It's a splendid pleasure to read your well-structured thoughts on the topic :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. aativasJanuary 6, 2013 at 11:40 AM

    Thanks viva_andya.

    ReplyDelete
  3. GuriaJanuary 6, 2013 at 12:24 PM

    Wonderfully expressed... and so very eloquent! It's weird that we thought of "the world being silent again" for the same reason but in different terms.

    ReplyDelete
  4. aativasJanuary 6, 2013 at 2:19 PM

    Thanks Guria.
    What are the different terms - I will explore BAT to know those!

    ReplyDelete
  5. C SureshJanuary 6, 2013 at 11:29 PM

    I am afraid that you are right. It is a sad commentary on the state of our Society that the world will go silent again. I wish that I am proved wrong - but the fate of the Lokpal agitation does not hold out much promise for the current agitation.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Shashiprakash SainiJanuary 7, 2013 at 1:26 PM

    सुन्दर और अनोखी पेशकश
    बधाई स्वीकारे

    ReplyDelete
  7. aativasJanuary 7, 2013 at 2:55 PM

    Suresh, it is a sad state of affairs!

    ReplyDelete
  8. aativasJanuary 7, 2013 at 2:57 PM

    शशिप्रकाश, धन्यवाद.

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  9. MenacheryJanuary 7, 2013 at 3:13 PM

    first of congrats on the 30th entry!!!! :) ...

    Secondly your post is APT , and so freaking true...loved the way you have described it with details.

    ATB for BAT

    ReplyDelete
  10. AmitAagJanuary 7, 2013 at 4:43 PM

    Splendid! Unique! Awesome!!

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  11. Chetan MaheshwariJanuary 7, 2013 at 9:52 PM

    i think u have posted many facets of the society, in a very well manner...atb

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  12. Vinay Leo R.January 7, 2013 at 10:03 PM

    I pray the world doesn't go silent often from now. But it is a sad state of things that our country is in. You could call it a little turmoil perhaps...

    ReplyDelete
  13. aativasJanuary 7, 2013 at 10:34 PM

    Thanks Chetan.

    ReplyDelete
  14. aativasJanuary 7, 2013 at 10:35 PM

    Let us hope and pray, Leo. And let us try as well!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Unknown ShriJanuary 7, 2013 at 11:06 PM

    :) Had anticipated such a resonance in thought from blogatonics. Nicely written.

    BTW, any thoughts on how the world might not be silent again?

    ReplyDelete
  16. aativasJanuary 8, 2013 at 3:24 PM

    Thanks Unknown Shri.

    There are many thoughts on 'how not to be silent again' - maybe some other time!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Nivedita ChirantanJanuary 8, 2013 at 5:10 PM

    Very nicely written.. all the best for BAT

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  18. GoddessChhaviJanuary 8, 2013 at 8:07 PM

    "Jammu and Kashmir.
    Hmm! It is easy to talk about it,
    But you know,
    Our soldiers are doing a good job there.
    Don’t discuss.
    Aren’t you patriotic?"

    Right you are aativas!! Good going!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. aativasJanuary 8, 2013 at 8:14 PM

    Thanks Nivedita.

    ReplyDelete
  20. aativasJanuary 8, 2013 at 8:14 PM

    Thanks Chhavi.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Jayashree SrivatsanJanuary 8, 2013 at 8:18 PM

    Have read quite a few posts recently on this topic but this one was very strong and seemed to be full of emotion and honest feelings....Hope the world does not remain silent Aativas !

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  22. aativasJanuary 8, 2013 at 10:53 PM

    Let us hope for better Jayashreejee!

    ReplyDelete
  23. asteria's canvassJanuary 9, 2013 at 5:12 PM

    i just hope we do not remain silent any more.

    ReplyDelete
  24. MalinyJanuary 9, 2013 at 6:14 PM

    this post was intense to the core . . and indeed an eye opener to the many egoistic minds out there , including our politicians . wonderful write up !

    ReplyDelete
  25. aativasJanuary 9, 2013 at 6:18 PM

    chips from a life, let us hope for something better than what has happened in the past.

    ReplyDelete
  26. aativasJanuary 9, 2013 at 6:18 PM

    Thanks Maliny.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Cherry BlossomJanuary 9, 2013 at 9:48 PM

    The structuring of the poem made it a very forceful piece of writing, dealing with an issue that's most crucial in present times. As the saying goes...'silence is virtue', here, silence is fatal.
    Good work.

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  28. MeghaJanuary 9, 2013 at 11:36 PM

    thoughtful post and equally forceful...every word shouting of the agitation.
    Nice. All the best for BATOM

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  29. aativasJanuary 10, 2013 at 1:39 PM

    Cherry Blossom, certainly for this issue, silence has proved to be fatal - unfortunately!

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  30. aativasJanuary 10, 2013 at 1:40 PM

    Megha, thanks. Don't know how long it will last!!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Woman'n'BeyondJanuary 10, 2013 at 1:48 PM

    Silence is not always golden!

    very well conceived, structured and penned!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. PanchaliJanuary 10, 2013 at 2:14 PM

    Beautiful ...You are an adorable writer here with remarkable style of your own...My best wishes for BAT!

    ReplyDelete
  33. aativasJanuary 10, 2013 at 6:34 PM

    Meenakshi, yes, silence is not always golden - we need to speak (and listen) now!

    ReplyDelete
  34. aativasJanuary 10, 2013 at 6:34 PM

    Thanks Panchali for your encouraging words.

    ReplyDelete
  35. odyzzJanuary 10, 2013 at 10:18 PM

    Congratulations on your 30th post...brilliant approach to deal with this topic..I too poured down on the same lines...

    ReplyDelete
  36. anujnaJanuary 11, 2013 at 2:22 AM

    could mere phrases speak as you've made them do?!

    ReplyDelete
  37. aativasJanuary 11, 2013 at 11:10 AM

    odyzz, thanks. I am yet to reach your post - will certainly read it today.

    ReplyDelete
  38. aativasJanuary 11, 2013 at 11:12 AM

    anunja, the credit for the phrase goes to Blog a Ton. visit its page and you will know how a topic for BAT is chosen.

    ReplyDelete
  39. HarikrishnaJanuary 12, 2013 at 9:39 AM

    Congrats for your 30th blogaton! And you know what, the next day after the Delhi incident, a 13-year girl was brutally raped and murdered in TN. did anyone notice it? Two days later, a girl not even crossed 18, was killed in WB! Did we think about it? It happened because it is Delhi. A hard-hitting post!

    ReplyDelete
  40. aativasJanuary 12, 2013 at 10:49 AM

    Harikrishna, yes, almost every day I read one more woman/girl being raped - in the nooks and corners of the country.

    I won't say the media coverage was only because it happened in Delhi - the analysis has been going on. I won't say 'Why now?' or 'Why here?". I would say, "let this awakening and anger and urge for change spread everywhere".

    ReplyDelete
  41. RatJanuary 13, 2013 at 1:26 AM

    bitter truth.. brilliantly penned.. All the best.

    A Rat's Nibble

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  42. The Solitary WriterJanuary 13, 2013 at 10:25 AM

    Nailed it!

    Offcourse it will go on , the same issue in different places and with different people and the world will remain silent....Good one! Congrats on 30!

    ReplyDelete
  43. aativasJanuary 13, 2013 at 10:53 AM

    Thanks a Rat.

    ReplyDelete
  44. aativasJanuary 13, 2013 at 10:54 AM

    The Solitary Writer, hmm, the world will remain silent again .. unfortunately!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Kshitij KK KhuranaJanuary 13, 2013 at 5:07 PM

    oh man!! This seems to be a rapid fire of thoughts. Shot after shot.. para, poem everything. And very valid and anger inducing thoughts.

    This post is a little different... but nice.

    I liked the perspective you gave on Jammu... soldiers doing their job.

    .. and focussing on all the internal mess.

    ReplyDelete
  46. ekta khetanJanuary 13, 2013 at 8:23 PM

    Very well written and put across, Aativas. Good one. My vote goes for you!

    http://ektakhetan.blogspot.in/

    ReplyDelete
  47. aativasJanuary 13, 2013 at 9:56 PM

    Kshitij, actually it is not a poem - it just 'free' writing.

    And by the way, whatever is written in italics - I question that too, not that I stand by it!

    ReplyDelete
  48. aativasJanuary 13, 2013 at 9:57 PM

    numerounity, (you have such a philosophical and nice name), thanks. Additional thanks for the vote :-)

    ReplyDelete
  49. Kshitij KK KhuranaJanuary 14, 2013 at 11:18 AM

    Yes, you are right, am sorry. I misunderstood something.

    'Free' writing is a nice term.

    ReplyDelete
  50. aativasJanuary 14, 2013 at 11:21 AM

    Kshitij, :-)

    ReplyDelete
  51. KappuJanuary 15, 2013 at 11:59 PM

    It beats me to think that we are able to endure so much of agony without batting an eyelid. Yesterday me and my friends met at KFC by 10 PM I was calling everyone fanatically making sure they have reached their respective houses safe (like I can do anything about it). We live in FEAR, yes!

    Do visit my blog! Would love to see you by! *cheers*

    ReplyDelete
  52. aativasJanuary 17, 2013 at 12:16 PM

    Kappu, we don't have to FEAR, we just have to be careful enough.

    ReplyDelete
  53. G's Rich BlogJanuary 19, 2013 at 10:12 AM

    Wow -- I thoroughly enjoyed reading this post. You put your words in a very elegant manner. I, for one, find it much more enjoyable to read a well-written entry. What a pleasure to read such fabulous writing.

    Your ideas, too, are unique and quite intriguing. If and when I find out how to follow a blog, I will definitely follow yours.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Subhrashis AdhikariJanuary 23, 2013 at 7:03 PM

    it already is silent again... unfortunately....

    ReplyDelete
  55. aativasJanuary 24, 2013 at 11:17 PM

    Khoj, unfortunately... But with report of Justice Verma commitee, let us hope to have some change at least!

    ReplyDelete
  56. aativasJanuary 24, 2013 at 11:17 PM

    Thanks G's Rich Blog!

    ReplyDelete

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