Self-defense the only defense for young women

Self-defense the only defense for young women
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Highlights

The gruesome gang rape and murder of a young medic in the infamously famous Nirbhaya case shook the Nation once and for all. As the girl battled her last in the hospital in India and Singapore,

The gruesome gang rape and murder of a young medic in the infamously famous Nirbhaya case shook the Nation once and for all. As the girl battled her last in the hospital in India and Singapore, men and women took to the streets, protesting against the ghastly attack on a 23 year old who committed an innocent mistake of boarding the ‘wrong’ bus. Finally, the brave girl expired after putting up a tremendous fight, leaving many quivering pertaining to the prospects about women security in the country.

Shortly after the judgment prevailed on the assailants, series of rapes were reported all over. This only proved that nothing really changed after nationalizing the Nirbhaya incident. As young women today face the wrath of assault and rape, there comes a serious need to evaluate and understand the circumstantial crime and the ways to tackle it. Today, many young women who work and commute via public transport hoard an innate fear to being the next possible target. Though many would have moved on with lives concentrating on the routine that gets by, the Police are doing their best to safeguard the interests of women who can be potentially attacked anytime, anyplace and anywhere.

Is the counter offensive adopted by the City Police in their individual jurisdiction enough? Women have been repeatedly advised to be aware and carry pepper sprays in their purses along with the emergency numbers on their speed dial. However, a question remains – how far ahead are these measures as compared to being prepared with self-defense?
Today’s gamut of young women are in the state of denial as well as acceptance. There is every possibility that they may be ambushed in the vulnerable places and moments. While the urban youngsters contemplate enrolling in the basic martial arts classes to protect themselves with physical agility, there are other ways to deal with the situations than being tough on the outside.
The self-defense technique need not be just physical, says Dr Purnima Nagaraja, a well-known Psychiatrist in the City. “If you read the Samurai, Kung Fu and Ninja philosophy, it tells you how our mind is the strongest weapon. Arthashastra by Kautilya also stresses on a strong and alert mind. The situation with today’s increasing rape cases can be dealt with a strategy and not the mere brute strength. To vanquish the enemy, an assailant here, women should be more vigilant and aware”. She states that lacking focus is paving way for these unfortunate incidents to happen more frequently. “Today’s young women are constantly distracted. They are often seen busy with their smartphones, Facebook and Music. They tend to lose themselves while travelling alone in a local train or a taxi. Once the women start paying attention to every detail around them, they would not land themselves in trouble at first place” she adds.
Interestingly, the statistics of young men turning into potential rapists is also on a high. The reasons here are not concrete. While most assailants are cited coming from a lower class background, hardly can there be a substantiated inference that the rapists need to be from the same section always. At the advent of increased rate in the unforeseen attacks against women, self-defense seems to be the viable alternative in the present times.
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