The attack on
Durga Gawade and her brave retaliation and the murder of Valencia Fernandes are making news. But is
that all? Are Goans afraid or plain indifferent in letting this pass off as
another mini wave of the news cycle, a mini storm?
According to
Especiosa Rodrigues Dias, homemaker, Goa is always safe for women, but crimes
are increasing. This is because people cannot control their anger. They don’t
have patience as was seen in the Curtorim murder case. “The reason why Goa is
silent about these incidents is because no one wants to interfere in anyone
else’s business. However, in Durga Gawade’s case, people have been constantly
supporting her through social media,” she says.
She feels that people
are not outraged because everyone is waiting for someone to start and raise
their voice. “Some of us are afraid and some have their own problems, but I
salute Durga for she had the courage to hit that man back.”
Similarly,
educationist Glenda Mascharenhas states, “These things should be sensitised
considering our own daughters, sisters or mothers at home. But we can’t help
being scared that if we interfere, something bad might happen.”
Glenda does add that
if we have to voice out, it should be together: “If there are more of us standing
together to fight against these brutal crimes done to women, I wouldn’t be
afraid. We cannot do it individually because of our fear, and even though some
aren’t afraid, they have families that they have to think of.”
Other locals express
that unless and until the judiciary is strong, the law enforcement and
punishment is better there would be no changes. “When they themselves take
things lightly, how are we to be encouraged,” claims Priscilla Janarthanan.
One fact that
everyone agrees on is the tolerance level. In case the boy had to have patience
and think twice before committing the murder, things would have been different.
“He just killed her for a few thousand rupees,” says Professor Agnelo Veigas.
Through Agnelo’s
observance, Goa is not silent. For Durga Gawade’s case, he says that people
have not yet learnt to be culturally responsible. “Since she was from the LGBT
community, she was taken advantage of and it might take few decades for
complete public acceptance. But there were people supporting her; they were
surrounding her and stopped the man from beating her, so, no, Goa is not silent
as per my knowledge. Even social media has been alive with what happened.”
Against all the
others who have admitted their fears when it comes to showing rage for these
incidents, young entrepreneur Himani Choudary confidently says, “I would stand
alone. I will support those who are in trouble without thinking about the
consequences later. I feel one has to stand up then the others will follow, and
I am not afraid.” Though her opinion of standing up for others is firm, she
empathetically states that people cannot be blamed for their fears. “They too
have families and they wouldn’t want to get involved, because then they would
be risking themselves as well as their close ones.” Himani admits that she has
never faced a threatening incident in Goa even though she wears short apparels
and travels on her bike late at night to faraway places. “So Goa is safe for me
so far,” she affirms.
Just like her, there
are many people out there wanting to do something about the situation, wanting
to stand up against the crimes done to women, but are unsure about raising
their voices How will this improve? How long will fear and ignorance exist in
our society? Day by day, there are more crimes happening against women and
children. Should we stay mum about it all?
(Cafe
will continue these conversations and encourages both women and men to report
such incidents and call for collective action, which your Herald-Cafe will
back. We will soon be speaking to Durga herself and recount her tale of
courage)
