Indore: A large number of people in the country experience frustration, hopelessness and despair as they witness brutality of police, insensitivity of the politicians who run the government, judges acquitting criminals despite presenting enough evidence and silence of religious leaders when women and minor girls are gangraped and killed.

In this land where people worship numerous goddesses like Durga, Sita, Sarswati and glorify heroic women like Draupati and Rani Lakshmi Bhai, hundreds of living Durgas and Sitas are raped and murdered every day. According to the latest report of NCRB, there were 45,845 cases of atrocities against women registered in 2019.

Every 17 minute a woman is raped in the country. If the accused belong to the upper caste or influential families the doctors who deal with the case, the forensic officials, police and the judge in the court declare that there was no rape and no evidence of murder. The accused walk free without any punishment and continue their criminal activities.

Despite repeated rape of women and girls, Smriti Irani, the federal Minister for Women and Child Welfare has never spoken a word of regret. She was eloquent in the protest against the rape and murder of Nirbhaya in New Delhi in 2012. Mayawati, who enjoyed power and amassed wealth in the name of Dalits only made statements sitting in the security of her home.

She questioned the motive of Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi who hit the streets to protest against the rape of a Dalit girl in Hathras. Mother of Nirbhaya who was shouting and screaming for justice after her daughter was gang raped and killed is silent when several girls are brutally attacked and murdered.

The Catholic Church that is called to be “a prophet to the nations” has been most indifferent to several national issues of human right violations. When thousands of people were killed in the communal violence after the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992 and the massacre of more than 2000 innocent people during the Gujarat communal riots in 2002 the Church was silent.

The Church in India failed to stand united and raise voice against the attack on Christians of Kandhamal in 2008. Why doesn’t the women’s desk of CBCI make any statement against the atrocities against women in the country? What is the use of a women’s desk, when it does not raise voice even when several women religious are attacked and exploited within the Church?

Instead of getting frustrated and discouraged because of these unjust and violent situations we shall dare to hope because there are several journalists, activists, artists, authors and lawyers who bravely challenge the government and the partisan ways of its law enforcing agencies. They dare to challenge the media, police, political leaders and judges who sell their souls for their vested interest.

We dare to hope because the large majorities who stand out and speak against the corruption, communal polarization and attack on women are Hindus. They are speaking to preserve the pluralistic heritage, rights and dignity of the minority and the marginalized. Being part of the Hindu community they don’t face any problem from this government that is executing the agenda of Hindu Rashtra. Yet they refuse to fit in and dare to stand out.

The leaders of the Church and the priests who are eloquent preachers should have been the first to stand out and speak against the attacks on women and exploitation of the marginalized? In fact Christians and Muslims are facing threat from the Hindutva forces. When, where and how is the Church going to fulfill its prophetic mission?

The present crisis is an opportunity, rather a call given by God to perform our mission. This is not a time to be frustrated and discouraged. It is time for each one to believe that nothing is impossible. The more the problems the greater should be our determination; the more the darkness, the greater the need for us to be the light; the more the indifference, the greater should be our sensitivity; the more the culture of revenge and hatred spreads, the greater should be our commitment to work for peace and reconciliation. Let us dare to hope!