No Fear of Rape Anymore

 I've written this article to promote martial art among girl students of schools and colleges and was published in a Guwahati Based English Magazine 'the Line', September 2014. I'm forwarding the same again in my blog for larger audiences targeting both the rural and urban girls; specially to let them know the importance of martial art for self-defence purpose. Hope after reading this article those girls who do not aware about it will show their interest and join martial art classes after realising the importance. Best of Luck for them. 

               

“I am afraid of Rape.

            July 12, 2014 at 2:13am

I am afraid of rape.

Because, I am a woman.

Because, they think I am an object of lust.

………………………………………………………………….”

I have seen this note above was shared by my sister Sehnaz of Tezpur University, in a social media was an update by Miss Serem Susmita Singha of St Edmunds College(Shillong) showing her anxiety and fear of an invisible predator who might target her next.

Trouble

 Mere laws against sexual harassment is not the sole solution in male dominated world, has already been proven over the years. The violation rate against women can be reduced by supporting women to come out from their shells and raise a strong voice against the rapist. In India women’s desires are buried by social burden.

But advocating capital punishment of the culprits publicly, is not possible in a complex social system and it is seen that after the announcement of capital punishment by GOI, rapist kill the victims after raping them. Some people speak about moral education and cultural control over the society, which can help building good mind-sets about females of our society. But in an era of free flow of information from multiple sources which has altered the socio-cultural picture of the world’s societies through the World Wide Web is a biggest achievement of this century. The government of different countries are concerned over control by filtering is also not possible without the proper international coordination. Even that also is difficult because servers are being operated by private parties and filtering becomes useless to the advance proxy servers. Hence once your secret leaks out, it will be out forever.

This is the situation of porn contents in the cyber world. The available contents instigate sexual desire in the minds of the people of all ages and this is another big reason of rapes in India .But, this again is partially true.

 I don’t want to elaborate more about rape which is known to everybody, all discussion is distinctly made there in newspapers, books and channels.  I only want to express my concern about the cause and my simple suggestion to solve this serious problem through the spirit of martial art.

 Sometimes it is seen that GOI/GOA take some interest in girl’s physical education by martial art experts, but in a slow pace with sudden stop, no regularity when they could have gain fertilities to give a life to the dying culture of morality through martial art education which consists lots of moral and spiritual instructions and oaths of do’s and do not’s. Respect others and refrain from violent behaviours are two very fundamental mandatory rule of every martial art form. 

       

Generally a hard core martial art has two basic part sparring and set movements (KATA), besides these there are very hard practices before sparring and set movements. To get skill in this way require time and potential involvement in regular exercises. But apart from all these there are certain techniques which require mental intelligence rather than physical boldness, with the minimum body fitness one can start learningthese techniques handle day-to-day hurdles. Tai Chi is a good meditational practice as well as one can use it in defensive purposes.

          The women who are afraid of social devils I’m requesting them; please do minimum exercise in daily basis like running, jumping, rolling and then join a martial art class to learn self-defence techniques from experts which will help you to eradicate your fear. The close fighting techniques specially holding and choking by using pressure points of the body, joint lock, throwing and the attack on the weaker parts ofthe opponent by using punches and kicks are the general criteria ofself-defence techniques. There are thousands of techniques originated from these criteria; all these techniques needs is instant mind and body coordination for quicker attack or defence. In this way without caring any weapon, pepper spray, GPS wears a girl/woman can be self-sufficient.

 When somebody is attacked by more than one person, people often get confused and nervous. So always be brave to face such situation and make a way to escape from the weakest link of the mob by a sudden attack; starts from the one whose position is nearer to you seem to be weaker in attention, attack quickly to give a serious injury. Do not worry, others will run away after this attack. And the very important point for women against rapist is the learning of the techniques which teaches to break a hold and joint locks.  Because to unzip a girl for unholy attempt one need to hold boldly, this holds can be break and lock back the joints by using certain techniques. A systematic practical study of Martial art and self-defence under good coaches by the women will certainly help to recover from the fear of being raped. Therefore this must be mandatory for women studying schools, colleges and universities which not only support your self-defensive mechanism from external threat but also help in improving health and skill in this sport; which again support to form a stronger and happier society.