Indian Women: Who Will Fight for Your Rights?

This op-ed first ran in May 2013. It is republished with light editing.

Among many other things, Indians first need to unlearn what they believe are the rights of women, and give back their right to live freely — without bias, without being judged.

When reports surface of women in parts of the world being forced to marry their rapists, it is painful, but not shocking — women in those regions are treated badly as a matter of course. But in a country like India, where women are worshipped and "beti ghar ki Lakshmi" is a common phrase — when rapes become a reality here, and when raped girls are advised to marry their rapists — then one is left wondering if this is a country of hypocrites.

An article in the Wall Street Journal by Tripti Lahiri and Amol Sharma pointed out the faults of Indian society and the judicial system concerning women. Wife-beating is almost acceptable, or most often justified. It is only in India that husbands are raised to the status of "parmeshwar" — songs and festivals are built around "pati parmeshwar." Nothing is wrong in respecting and loving one's husband; but the expectation of Indian men to be treated like God — everything is wrong with that sentiment.

It is acceptable for the unmarried western woman to have boyfriends and to have indulged in sexual activity. If this young woman decides to marry later, nobody is going to ask her if she is a virgin. Our Indian society is also okay with Indian men having indulged in sex before marriage — but these same men would want to marry only virgins. As if a small piece of tissue were a measure of a woman's worth. Why is there so much obsession over virginity in Indian society?

This piece was originally published under the byline of Suchitra Sharma.