CHANGE - WE BADLY NEED!

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Khushi was glad when she got to know that she got through the entrance exam and interview of one of the most famous colleges of Delhi University. Hailing from Lucknow, it was her dream to study in Delhi - the city of monuments, high profile events, politicians, food and fashion.

Like every girl's parents, Khushi's parents were concerned about her safety as she was set to study and live in a hostel in one of the most unsafe cities for women in India. She asked her parents not to worry about her and assured them that she would take care of herself.

On shifting to Delhi, she made new friends in her hostel and college. She enjoyed her newfound independence to the fullest. Delhi's infamous winter approached and she enjoyed all that one could enjoy in the harsh winter.

On December 16th, 2012, she was out with her friends. They had a great dinner from their friend's house and went out for a stroll. After walking a few minutes, they saw a crowd - a kind of crowd which would gather around something they would find amusing. They walked past the crowd, eager to know what was in store. They were surprised to find a boy in his late 20s, begging for help, while a girl lay naked on the ground - her body fully bruised and battered. No one from the crowd came forward to help them and no PCR van was in sight.

When the temperature was below 3 degrees, the boy and the girl had no clothes on, let alone warm ones. Khushi could not bear this sight and decided to help the girl with her jacket. Her friends and a few others in the crowd asked her to refrain from doing so, as the deed may backlash at her, in the guise of legal hassles and police questionings.

Feeling sorry for them, she was helpless as her friends wouldn't let her do  anything. She was amazed at the bizarre thinking of the crowd as no one came forward to help the girl and the boy. Khushi's friends dragged her from the site and told her that being a Good Samaritan in Delhi will only prove to be worse for her.

Next day, she read in the newspapers about a girl who was gangraped in a moving bus and her friend being beaten up by a few men. In the following days, she was horrified to know the details of the gruesome gangrape and was angry at herself for not helping the girl. And moreover, she felt amused at the protests for women's safety, which died down after a few days. She felt that no one had any right to protest until and unless they come forward to help a girl in need.

Helping a girl in distress is the first step to bringing about a change - a change we badly need in our society. The attitude matters when most of the Delhiites will say, 'yaar, problem ho jaayegi!' This is applicable not only to Delhiites, but to people from each and every city, town and village. If we step forward to help someone in need, maybe a person who has met with an accident, maybe someone who was badly beaten up, the society will change gradually. But, if we refuse to help somebody, we then have no right to ask for reforms.

Had Nirbhaya (December 16th gangrape survivor) been helped and rushed to the hospital by onlookers without any delay, she would have lived today, to see this new year bring new hope for her and her family, to see herself getting married and to see her parents settled and brothers studying well.