Women rights and safety is at its lowest in India. Pardon me if you think I’m blunt, but the culpable systems in place have left me no time and energy to share pleasantries. In fact, allow me to tell you about the scathing reality we live in.
As dismaying as it sounds, female students at the prestigious Banaras Hindu University (BHU) are facing the brunt of lathi charge, as we speak, because they decided to put their foot down to fight for their themselves. They were brutally hit because they’re fighting for a safe campus.Â
Woman student thrashed by cops at Varanasi University (#BHU): 10 points https://t.co/qocEAVzC13 pic.twitter.com/oHON6lplVM
— NDTV (@ndtv) September 25, 2017
If you are not in the know, BHU is in a boil because a female student was molested by bike-ridden miscreants a few days ago inside the most coveted campus in Uttar Pradesh. While the administration has already declared the dissent amongst students to be a ‘politically motivated‘ stint, the situation is deplorable, to say the least.
If you think I’m exaggerating, brace yourself for a reality check you wish weren’t true.
In a never-chilling Twitter thread, read the story of the molestation and its violent aftermath that has BHU turning in turmoil.Â
1. It started when…
BHU thread:
1. BHU is historically known for its pathetic record in dealing with sexual harassment cases. On Sep 21, a girl was sexually..
— Phone Waale Baba Ji (@iJasOberoi) September 25, 2017
2. Guards stood as mute spectators!
2. Assaulted on campus by 2 men while the security guards in the campus stood as mute spectators. The incident sparked protests from..
— Jas Oberoi (@iJasOberoi) September 25, 2017
3. The VC did nothing to help.
3. female students who sat on a dharna outside the main campus gate demanding the VC to meet them. The VC refused to come giving no reason.
— Jas Oberoi (@iJasOberoi) September 25, 2017
4. Ever heard of victim-shaming? Of course, you have!
4. The victim joined the protest with her tonsured head, protesting against the assault & victim shaming. The VC refused to meet even her. pic.twitter.com/CoWpwQVvBX
— Jas Oberoi (@iJasOberoi) September 25, 2017
5. The video will break your heart…
5. At 11:30 pm on Sep 23, police ordered a lathicharge on the students. You can see male policemen thrashing poor girls with full force. pic.twitter.com/mxzhkDdfDi
— Jas Oberoi (@iJasOberoi) September 25, 2017
6. Is this how we treat students?
6. The girls were severely injured & many were taken to the trauma centre. Few others explain the ordeal in this video. pic.twitter.com/Ke20hnGSrz
— Jas Oberoi (@iJasOberoi) September 25, 2017
7. HORRIBLE!
7. The complaints of the BHU girls include that guys flash their genitals to them, touch them inappropriately, guards take pleasure in this.
— Jas Oberoi (@iJasOberoi) September 25, 2017
This isn’t an isolated event. Reports suggest, that BHU and its administration have been sitting on a hotbed of gender-based discrimination and inequality that has left an inevitable dent on the Indian academia. It also stems from the fact that girls inside the campus have a long list of DONTs that very conveniently doesn’t apply for boys.
Not just that, girls allege perverts masturbate outside windows and the solution hostel authorities came up with is to keep the windows shut!
Is the progressive India we dreamt of?