Open Letter - 5

Dear Society,

How are you doing? I am filled with remorse and regret and I hope this letter lifts you out of the humiliation I put you through in my last letter. I submit my deep felt apologies to you for being so biased and judgemental. I am sorry for misunderstanding that you made life a bed of roses for men and left a thorny path for women to walk on. It’s been less than a week since I said those words and I am already proved wrong.

Yesterday, I happened to receive a call from an old school friend. I must admit this lockdown is doing wonders in bringing old friends together. She apparently came to know that I am expecting a child soon and now that she is not so busy like all non-essential work force across the world, decided to make a call.

As it happens with old friends, we started chatting within no time. She said she works for a non-governmental organisation that raises voice against child abuse. Ten weeks ago, the term child abuse would not have made such an impact on me. But now that I am holding a child within me, I was pricked to attention at the mention of child abuse.

I pestered her to tell me more about child abuse, its implications, its perpetrators and its impact. I was shocked to know the magnitude of the issue under your watchful guidance. Child abuse at home, at school, at family gatherings, physical abuse, mental abuse, capital punishments, child labour, child marriages, those terms kept spilling out of her briefing.

Fifteen minutes into the discussion and I understood I was completely wrong at my analysis of the status of men and women in your view. No one becomes a man or a woman without first being a child and no child under your shade is immune to abuse be it physical, mental or sexual.

I was left with no words when she said that one in ten calls received by a child helpline is to report abuse. It is comforting to know that we have a dedicated child helpline in place but it is equally disturbing that children are forced to approach a helpline while they are already surrounded by so many adults. I, like many of your subjects, was busy scrolling through more comforting news while reports are vying for attention about one in every three reported abuse cases being registered against family members.

The blind eye, that we, as your agents, turn towards child abuse made me detest myself. By ignoring child abuse we are putting our children through further mental struggle. I do realise that we are all busy building a wonderful life ahead for our children. But we should as well realise that if we cannot provide a safety for all those innocent little minds in our homes, then we can in no way promise them a bright and colourful future.

My discussion with my friend made me feel happy that there are individuals thinking not just for themselves, but for the greater good. It also made me feel sad that such Good Samaritans are working overtime to meet the needs of ever-increasing victims of abuse. I do not ask you to promote more such helping hands among your citizens. My humble request to you is to instead work out better ways to steadily decrease the number of hands in need of help.

Because, if I am to put my child in your arms, it should be with trust and assurance that those hands are as safe and sound as mine.

Once again, I am sorry for misunderstanding that you are biased towards one gender. No. You are not. You put all your children in equal danger of abuse and for that reason I feel so sorry for until today being a loyal subject of yours by paying no heed to their cries.

Yours regretfully,

An Expecting Mother.