Even as campaigning for the Gujarat assembly elections began reaching fever pitch with rousing rallies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and headline-hogging statements from Union Home Minister Amit Shah in their home state, grim daily updates from the ongoing police investigation into the Shraddha Walker murder case continued to send shivers up the nation’s spine.
The horrifying death of the 26-year-old young woman in New Delhi and the sad details about her tortured life with her live-in boyfriend and alleged murderer Aaftab Poonawala, not to mention the public and media response to the whole story so far, offer many lessons – both at a personal and societal level.
First and foremost, it is extremely important to recognise and remember her story as a manifestation of domestic violence at its absolute worst. If every individual and community in our country can at least even begin to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to this age-old global social evil from here on, Walker’s death will have served a great purpose rather than being yet another sensationalised and shamefully meaningless tragedy.
Therefore, it is imperative for us as a civilised society to have a few things in place: a basic understanding of what constitutes domestic violence, a heightened awareness about the many potential complexities of abusive relationships, and an effective legal and institutional mechanism to firmly deter perpetrators and comprehensively support victims.
It was infuriatingly heart-breaking to learn that Walker had told some of her friends about Poonwala’s abusive proclivities (so much so that she feared being killed him), that she had lodged a written complaint to that effect with the police two years ago (who took no prompt action), that she could not even seek help from her father (whom she was estranged from due his disapproval of her relationship), and that she had no recourse to a domestic abuse shelter or helpline before she met her fate.
What is even worse is the judgemental and misogynistic remarks seen in mainstream and social media about her decision to be in a live-in relationship, and that too with a Muslim man. They seemed to suggest as if Walker brought her gruesome ending upon herself. The spectre of love jihad also reared its ugly head, not too surprisingly. Such grossly insensitive, ill-informed and narrow-minded perspectives are regrettable to say the least and the media will do itself and the nation a favour by not giving these narratives any further traction.
Having said that, it is heartening to see the democratic process at full tilt across the nation.
In poll-bound Gujarat, the Bharatiya Janata Party – despite its two-decade-long rule and the undiminished popularity of Prime Minister Modi – is not taking yet another electoral victory for granted, while a new player like Aam Aadmi Party nurtures hopes of maiden success.
Meanwhile, the Gujarat High Court has taken a strong stand on the suspension bridge collapse in Morbi and suggested the dissolution of the city’s ‘nagar palika’ (municipal body) as punishment for an act of gross negligence leading to an accident that claimed so many lives.
Up in the national capital, the Supreme Court recently called for strengthening of the Election Commission as it raised concern about the process of appointment to the high constitutional offices of Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners.
In a democratic and civilised world like ours, the importance of fair and timely action cannot be overemphasised – whatever the challenges or circumstances at hand.
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