The launch of Raghu’s book ‘Return to Jammu’ went well, with lots of discussions and participation from the audience.
But I felt, through the event, a sense of sadness. Why? Because a good part of the book is set in J&K, with places near and like Kathua. And central to the book is a theme of violence against a young girl in communally troubled times.
Apart from feeling anger and outrage, sadness and despair, is there anything we can do? Is there something we can do? Is there nothing we can do?
I am sure all of us have been through this. What do we do? Join rallies, vigils? Write about it? Vent our frustration on social media? Does any of it help?
But I can’t even understand what is happening and why. Is it the depravity of individuals finding justification in ‘causes’? Is it because perpetrators are sure that they will suffer no consequences? Is it because violence like this is becoming more and more common—and when something becomes common, it slowly becomes more and more acceptable?
Is there anything I can do? Something I can do? Or nothing I can do?
Millennial Matriarchs 
There had to be something that we can that I can do. There had to be. Because otherwise we are all victims
Paro Anand
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There’s lot of anguish and frustration when we hear such incidents. I’m not sure if I can speak for the government, law or society, but a few things that would make a difference are – making self defence part of school curriculum, telling girls that they are stronger and not weaker section of the society, making laws stringent so that anyone would get scared to think of committing such a crime. Most important of all, as parents teach children to respect and know the difference between right and wrong.
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The horror of such crimes can never leave us. The worst is the shocking fact that basic human values have deserted us. It is essential to examine the root causes of such crimes, the attitudes behind such depravity. These men need to be punished but require psychological examination and extensive counselling too. Did no one impart the sense of right and wrong in them?
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