‘Ye mera India, I love my India…’, Vidya came to her bedroom window which overlooked the society garden and saw a bunch of little girls perfecting their moves to this song. Independence Day was round the corner and like every year the society was going to celebrate it.
Vidya remembered the last and all the previous years Independence Days, she would volunteer actively in all the preparations for the celebrations. She was a trained dancer and often choreographed the dance for these small girls. Vidya missed being there this year!
She pulled the curtains and came and sat on her bed. Dusk was falling rapidly, but it did not matter to her anymore, her life had already been taken over by complete darkness!
It was six months back, on Valentines Day. She and her fiancé, Rajiv, had gone out for a date. After spending a lovely evening they were heading back home, when Vidya got a call from her office. “Rajiv can you drop me to my office instead? There are some urgent deliverables and i need to be there.” “But it’s too late Vidya. How will you come home?” “Don’t worry I’ll get office cab.” Rajiv dropped her at the office. By the time the work was done it was around 12.30 midnight. The office cab dropped her at her society gate and while walking towards the gate she started searching for her keys, this was when she was attacked by two goons who took her to an isolated place and not only robbed her off her dignity but also ripped her soul apart.
The trauma which she and her family went through afterwards was even worse than what had happened that night. Initially people were sympathetic towards her, but after sometime they became restrained. She also came across few remarks about the incident being the result of her being ultramodern , her dressing style and the freedom her parents had given her. Even Rajiv, her fiancé, started becoming aloof. And as it always happens, the groom’s family finally called off the wedding. This shattered Vidya completely and she isolated herself from the world.
On the Independence Day eve, Vidya was sitting with her dad, when the doorbell rang. It was Shraddha Aunty, secretary of the society. It had become a ritual for Vidya to leave the living room when any guests came. She was about to leave when Shraddha Aunty stopped her, “Beta I have come to meet you specially. Please sit.” Vidya looked at her mom who signalled to abide. She sat down, clearly looking uncomfortable. “You know tomorrow is 15th August and we are celebrating it like every year in our society. Vidya I have come to invite you personally, please do come beta. And you both too.” She said addressing Vidya and her parents. “We all would be waiting for you.” Vidya’s parents were touched by her sweet gesture. They both looked at Vidya. She got up and went to her room.
Vidya had totally given up on the society. Facing them again was very strenuous for her. Moreover Independence Day did not have any significance for her. She had been bereaved by the society of her basic right in this independent India, the right to live with her head held high!
The next morning her parents were ready for the flag hoisting ceremony. “Vidya you are not ready yet? We will be late.” “I don’t want to come papa, you both carry on.” Her mother went close to her and caressed her hair, “Beta start meeting people. You need to come out of your past.” Vidya had so much to say but did not want to spoil her parents mood. She was seeing them smiling after a long time. She got up to get ready.
The garden was decorated for the event and everyone was gathered around the podium. On seeing Vidya, Shraddha Aunty came to her and embraced her warmly. “Thanks for coming dear, please have a seat, we are about to begin.”
She went on the stage, “Good morning everyone. As every year we have come together to celebrate Independence Day. Today we celebrate 70 years of India’s Independence, indeed a proud moment for every Indian. But what does this Independence mean for each one of us, I mean majority of us were not even born when India got its freedom. We have never known what it was like to be dependent to fully understand the meaning of Independence. The word Independence has different meanings for different people. For a homemaker Independence is ‘kitchen se ek din ki chutti ‘, for kids Independence is ‘no school, no homework ‘, for working people Independence is ‘a day off’, but for a victim of molestation Independence is ‘walking freely in the society without the fear of being judged, shamed and criticised.’ When a person is robbed of his belongings or theft takes place at his/her place or is a victim of road accident, the society consoles the person and helps him/her to recover from the incident. But when a woman is molested, the same society very conveniently blame her, sometimes for being out too late, or her clothes or her character. Instead of helping her come out she is victim shamed, judged and blamed by the society. And being a part of this society I am also guilty of this crime. Today I want to extend my sorry, being a human, being a woman, I failed you Vidya, we failed you as a society. You were never at fault, we victimised you. Please forgive us my child.” There was deep silence in the garden. Vidya had tears in her eyes.
Shraddha Aunty stepped down from the Dias and came to Vidya. She held out her hand and took Vidya to the stage. “Vidya you are brave and we all are proud of you. Please do the honour of hoisting our national flag today. You deserve it.” Vidya was dumbstruck. She kept looking at Shraddha Aunty with moist eyes. She felt the burden had been eased off her shoulders, her pain became bearable, she felt the acceptance, she felt she could smile again.
Vidya hoisted the flag proudly, it was independence for her in true sense.
K A L E I D O S C O P E 