Hello everyone!

I know that all of you on candlemonk know at least something about the Mahabharata. I have grown up watching mythologies like Mahabharata and Ramayana, and no doubt I still love watching it. No matter how modern we become, deep down most of us enjoy watching these. Even earlier, my heart sank while watching scenes of Draupadi being mis-treated by men of her own family, and I know others watching also must have felt like this because it is such a heart wrenching part of our history. And the irony is that our society feels disgusted while watching it, but they forget that the situation now is worse with women. 

Back then, Draupadi was molested, and that too being a princess of King Draupad, and wife of Pandavas; and even now women, no matter rich or poor, are harassed, molested, and killed by men. Then Draupadi was blamed by some, and even now you might find some who blame Draupadi as she was fierce, vengeful. And now when women raise their voice for their rights, and for discrimination they face, people try to blame them, and when women are raped, they are blamed for their clothing.

I believe Draupadi can be considered a feminist of her time, and first feminist of India, as she raised voice against heinous crime she had to go through. And even though her criminals, those who tried to molest her were killed, but in this struggle to get justice, she lost many of her closest ones. Nowadays, though most of the women are killed after going through such torture, and those who get to survive, and try to get justice, either their family is blackmailed, or sometimes they are paid some ransom amount to be quiet and to not fight for justice. I am not blaming parents or family members of those who keep quiet because it is indeed risky, but how will this end if these things don't stop?

All I am trying to say is that there is no change in society, even when they are aware of the consequences if a woman is tortured. Because our judicial system, and society is such that now no one wants to speak up against criminals, and those who try to do so, they have to go through hardships which lead to taking a step back from fighting for justice. This is how the situation has been for years, and nothing has changed.

I know that things take time, but even for that some steps need to be taken. I won't state what actions should be taken, as you all must be already aware about that. Think of this blog as a reminder to remind you all that it doesn't matter if she is Draupadi or today's Neha, Sakshi, and whosoever girl, the point is even then she was mis-treated, and now also she is physically, mentally and emotionally tortured. That's just one more reminder from today's girl to think about the urgent change we need in our society.

Thank you.