In the Roman era, there was a time when people demanded “an eye for an eye” as justice. But now, we don’t believe in “an eye for an eye,” as it is against human rights as well as society. If something like this happened in society, everyone on the planet would go blind. No one will be left to view this beautiful world. Transformation in nature as well as in society is a symbol that everything is going on according to the needs of time. If transformation is for the good, then it will be good for everyone, whether it’s in the environment or in society.
Crime against women has become common nowadays. If we see the statistics of last year then we will find that till last year every day nearly 86 ladies were raped and 49 different offenses have been reported in India. But apart from violence against women, there is another scenario of violence against men that mainly go unnoticed in our society.
Domestic violence and sexual harassment against males have also increased in the past few years. According to our experience and history of women suffering, legislation has drafted much social welfare legislation, criminal laws, economic laws, and constitutional provisions for the benefit and welfare of women from time to time. The law has taken every precaution to protect them from any kind of injustice or unjust act. However, we have seen an increase in cases where males have become victims, but the law of our land remains silent in this regard due to patriarchal society, which may say that men can be accused but not victims.
Crime against a male is something new in our society. This shows that society is transforming, but in a negative sense. It’s not because that only man has a right to commit an offense against women. It’s wrong because we don’t want crime against anyone. All are human beings first and then men, women, third-gender, and transgender. Crime against anyone is against society’s rules. In the jungle also, animals follow certain rules for their safety and their herd.
Recently, a piece of news came out of Jalandhar, Punjab, that four women in their 20s had committed rape on a male after abducting him. They kept him hostage for nearly 11 hours before releasing him, and they repeatedly raped him after giving him some drugs. Is this a warning to men that they are no longer as safe in our society as women? Or is it a warning to us that our future generations, whether male or female, are not safe? This case is a shameful act against the entire female class.
We never demanded or wanted an eye for an eye, but what we have wanted is strict punishment for the culprits. We talk about equality, but equality does not mean that if males commit rape on women, then females will also do the same thing. This thought will send the wrong message in our society. For a long time, lawmakers were trying their best to maintain a balance in society. But if incidents like Jalandhar increase, then it will hamper the social, moral, and legal balance in our culture.
Women are considered to be Devi, or goddesses, in Hindu mythology. Ravan from the Epic Ramayana and Duryodhana from the Epic Mahabharat were both men, and we know what they did. We are also familiar with and have heard about Shurpanakha’s story from the Epic Ramayana and the consequences of her wrongdoing. Now the question that comes up here in Kalyug is whether women are trying to become Ravan and Duryodhana through the acts they are committing against the men. Why are we changing our image from Devi Durga to Ravan or Duryodhana? We didn’t forget about the end of Ravan and Duryodhana.
We don’t want any nuisance in our society. What we want is a peaceful and safe environment for all. Rape is considered to be a heinous crime against the human body. Whether it’s male or female, rape has a severe impact on the body and mind of the victim, which we should not forget. The punishment should be equal for every culprit, whether it is a male or female.
Before the conditions of society deteriorate further, the legislature should amend the penal laws of India. Women, like men, should be held equally accountable for wrongdoing. Gender-neutral laws are the need of an hour. We have to control the negative transformation of society, as it will badly affect our current and future generations in every aspect. It’s a social as well as legal concern for every citizen of this country.
Dr Pyali Chatterjee is the HOD of Faculty of Law at ICFAI University in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
