Are we ready for women empowerment? MIT (arguably the most modern college) proves otherwise!!!

I have always been critical of stringent laws pertaining to female empowerment in the country. The last time I wrote on a similar topic (I am not a Pervert) , I was chastised by most of the self-righteous crowd. People claim that we as a country have moved above the notion of us being a patriarchal society. Our female today are claimed to be empowered; especially with so many rules in their favour in the legislature. I personally believe that misuse is a greater evil. We shun such possibility when it comes to rape, molestation or assault laws. I thought I was wrong in thinking that the possibility of such rules turning against justice was high. But something reassured me; a story from probably the most modern university in India- MIT Manipal.

The story goes by hearsay and off course there’s no hard evidence but here it goes. It was the photo-shoot day of Electrical and Electronics. They probably had the best after party planned. One section had rented a boat at Malpe for the evening. There was a gala time spent there, some music, lots of alcohol and some wonderful memories.

A small group of friends were enjoying themselves as the time to go back home neared. Rani (Name changed) wanted her friends to meet her junior boyfriend. As her guy obliged by coming over a little tipsy himself, he was introduced to everyone. Not particularly interested in meeting the new crowd his disregard was taken as an offense by the high seniors. Tempers rose and things soon started to get physical. The guy was backed up by his room-mate, who received a bottle to his head and eventually ended up in the hospital. The main accused of doing so was Gothica’s (Name changed) brother.

The next day when the victim (Local) got out of the hospital, filed for a police complaint. The accused came along with his sister now realising in his sobriety what he had done. There was no excuse and he’d have had himself a criminal record, were he to be convicted. The ever so loving sister comes up with an ingenious idea. She claimed that the GUYS WERE TRYING TO MOLEST HER AND HER BROTHER CAME TO THE RESCUE. Now things had got serious. The officer writing the complaint asked her if she really wanted that as her statement as it would create a huge furore especially after the recent rape case. As she nodded, Rani exclaims that if her statement stays the same, she’d give a similar statement against the accused.

Eventually the police informed the HOD and he in turn informs the parents. The parents eventually sort the matter out and this died very quickly. No harm done right???

Now imagine a similar scenario where parents did not intervene or Rani did not exist. The accused would not only have been scot-free but labelled as a hero while the victim would have been behind the bars. This is arguably the most modern college in India!!!

I believe in a judicial system that protects the innocent more than prosecuting the criminals. I would leave you with the facts. While in 2012, the acquittal rate in rape cases was 46%, in the first eight months of 2013, it shot up to 75% after the law changes post Nirbhaya case (Source: TOI).  A 17 year old can have consensual sex and then claim rape and a woman can randomly claim sexual assault and the guy would be beaten by public and then put behind bars. I know women are subjected to harassment at work, public places and even at home. But, are the women in our country really ready for empowerment if the very educated (arguably modern) class acts like this???