Bhanwari Devi Incident

Whenever her case appears on mind, a pain, but at the same time, respect also appears. Pain for the grave injustice that was done to the woman. Respect for the fact that she never gave up her fight, and finally led to formulation of what are now famously known as Vishakha Guidelines, in attempt to protect women at workplace.

I first came to know about this case while watching a crime show on TV. While Bhanwari Devi had gone to Police station to lodge her complaint, the policemen there were reluctant and as a proof that she was indeed gang raped, they took her lehenga (long skirt) and asked her to depart. Just thinking of it brings a sense of anger towards the insensitivity of the policemen. She had to go without her lehenga, exposing her legs bare, had there been no support for her fight from her husband.

In the TV show, some dramatisation is always implicit, but the dialogues for these scene were put so aptly that I still remember them. When Bhanwari had to decide on leaving the police station without skirt, or remain locked up in the cell, her husband said that a woman’s respect is lost when her legs are exposed. And a man’s respect lies in his turban. Tonight, a woman’s respect would be guarded by a symbol for man’s respect. Saying this, he took away his turban, unfurled it, and Bhanwari wrapped it around her waist.

In the night at 1 am, they were walking from the police station to the nearest saathin’s village, only to further strengthen the fight to victory.

Unjust to a great extent, but in such tough situations only is the best brought out of us humans.