Life is full of ironies

And paradoxes

And contradictions

But you can never be wrong

You always have

Justifications and excuses

Especially if

You’re an Indian citizen

And believe me

I’m not alone

In being severe upon my nation

And cynical when I say

That perhaps we are

Born this way

Didn’t you know?

The Great Indian Government

Is a pro

At this blame game

Why, the other day

Mamata Didi did say

“When men and women

More freely interact

Increase in rape

Is an inescapable fact”

And for those unaware

She is the democratically-elected CM

Of an Indian state

That claims zero-tolerance for rape

No wonder regarding crimes against women

It features as the hottest destination

But wait!

There has to be an opposition

That must say something to dilute

The incumbent party’s explanation

Enter the conservative right wingers

And enlightened Acharyajees

“Oh no, Mamata didi,

It is not that the two genders

Never mingled earlier

It is the influence

Of the Haram Western culture!”

And that apparently says it all

After all,

Wherever else shall the blame fall?

Heaven and Earth,

The shades of  the Desi culture

Have never thus been polluted before!

Oh do ask these enlightened ascetic souls –

From where did the sculpted erotica,

Of Khajuraho and Elephanta

Emerge in the bygone era’s

Temple Architecture?!

Hah, without a doubt

The infallibly virtuous Indian culture

Which has always upheld the façade

Of such ‘family values and honor’

That crimes hid behind the veils

Of silently suffering females

Need I say more?

Oh yes, the NCR,

Whose police says with nonchalance,

“‘Immodest’ wardrobe and inebriation

Bar-tending and late-night shifts

Are all equivalent to prostitution”

You see, this is the insignia

Of an efficient administration

That has redefined feminism

To such an extent and context

That despite being under-reported

And despite victims oft being indicted

The NCR stands in unabashed glory

Of being the highest scorer

In the Indian Rape Story

– Akanksha Gupta