"The criminal should be caught and should be sentenced to death. He should also feel the same pain that I am going through didi" with her eyes full of tears she said to me. I looked at her burnt face. The acid had not only burnt her skin but it had killed her from inside.
Suddenly my inner voice spoke to me , "You might find yourself in her shoes some years later with your face burnt and you will find no one to help you" And trust me I shuddered. Then I started my movement "LETS UNITE AGAINST ACID ATTACK" A SCARF MOVEMENT.3 days.4 hours of sleep every day and working crazily. Calling people,dropping letters,reaching out to different organizations had become my schedule.And the weather was at its worst with high thunderstorms,heavy rainfall and wind.The day arrived; 1000 people before my eyes, females with their scarves on, journalists ready to cover the movement and a journalist asked me how I felt. I smiled and said I feel happy but what did I actually feel? I felt really bad as I had to start this movement.And why so here's the reason.
When I was a child I never had to fear criminals. I could get lost in the streets...I could fearlessly walk in unknown alleyways..I could talk to whomever I wanted in a whatsoever manner.But today due to increasing crimes believe me no one can walk that fearlessly.No one can dare to get lost and talk to unknown people. Why?Because we fear that we might get harmed. That a Nepali might hurt another Nepali.
I was sad as I could only see 1000 people standing to raise their voice who could actually internalize the affliction of victims.I was sad to see that we had become so busy that offering one hour for justice and for a better and peaceful future had become such a big deal.I was sad when people choose to shout at the Karaoke bars rather than shouting for justice.
Then the journalist asked what will u do next? I said that I would continue the awareness program but what I actually felt like doing?I felt like stopping all these sort of movements.I wanted to return back to that time when there was no need of such movements when the women could do as their heart wanted.
I feel that the happiest day in my life will be when actually a movement like this won't even be required.
2 years old
छोरी:ममि मलाई पनि दादाको जस्तै रोबोट चाहियो
आमा:छोरी भएर पनि काहीँ रोबोट खेल्छ गुडिया खोज।
6 years old
छोरी:ममि म पनि साईकल खेल्छु नि
आमा:छोरी भएर पनि काहीँ साईकल खेल्ने हो चोटपटक लाग्छ अनि बिहा गर्न कति गाह्रो हुन्छ बरु घरघर खेल।
14 years old
छोरी : ममि म पनि दादासङ म्याच हेर्न जान्छु नि।
आमा:टिभी मै हेरे भैगो नि।बरु खाना पकाउन आइज।जत्ती जे गरे नि खाना श्रीमानहरुले कहिल्यै पकाउदैनन र पकाउनुपर्ने हामिले नै हो।
18 years old
छोरी : ममि म पनि बाइक सिक्छु नि
आमा: श्रीमान आइहाल्छन नि तेरो तलाइ लिन किन एत्तिकै दुख उठाउनु छाला पनि कालो हुन्छ बरु अलि चिटिक्क र सफ्फा सुगर हुन सिक।
23 years old
छोरी :ममि म यो मान्छे सङ विवाह गर्न चाहन्न रक्सी र चुरोटको लत लागेको छ रे।
आमा: अहिलेको जमानामा कस्ले खादैन।इङ्गेजमेन्ट भैसक्यो परिवारको बेइज्जत मात्र हुन्छ
24 years old
छोरी :ममि म यो मान्छेको त अरु केटीहरुसङ शारीरिक सम्बन्ध पनि रहेछ म के गरौ?
आमा: सहन्सिल हुन सिक छोरी केटी मान्छे भयेपछी सहन्सील हुनुपर्छ।
38 years old
छोरी :ममि आफ्नो बुवा को देखासिकी गरेर छोरो पनि बिग्र्यो क गरुँ म?
आमा: केटाहरु एस्तै हुन।केही नभन् नि नातिलाइ फेरि सम्धिनी ज्यू रिसाउलिन। बरु नातिनिलाइ चाहिँ धेरै उत्ताउलो नहो भनेर सिका।
40 years old
एउटा ठूलो कोठाको बीचमा त्यो छोरिको लास भेटियो र टेबलमा थियो एउटा पत्र
"आमा आफ्नो श्रीमान्बाट मैले प्रेम अपेक्षा गरें धोका सहन सकिन।आफ्नो केही गल्ती नहुदा पनि बिना कसूरको पिटाइ सहन सकिन।सासुको हरेक कुरा माने तर निरप्राध हुँदा लागेको आरोप सहन सकिन। छोरालाइ उद्धन्ड मच्चाउन दिने तर छोरिलाइ उत्तौली नबन भन्न सकिन।हरेक चोटि आफ्नो इच्छा आकङ्छ्या र अभिलाषालाई मारेर अरुको लागि बाच्न सकिन। माफ गर्नुहोस आमा म सहन्सील छोरी बन्न सकिन।"
उसकी आमा ग्वांग्वां रोइन् तर त्यो आसुले ती मरेकी छोरी फिर्ता आउदिनथियिन्।
Lets not teach our daughters how to dress let's teach our sons to behave. Lets not teach our daughters to be submissive let's teach our daughters and sons to respect their partners.Lets not teach our children to ask for respect.Teach them to earn it.let's not teach our daughters to bear teach your daughters to revolt.
