From Nirbhaya to Nangloi: Why India Still Fails Its Daughters?
— Lalit Gargg—
The recent incident in Delhi’s Nangloi, where a woman was allegedly gang-raped inside a private bus by the driver and conductor, has once again shaken the conscience of the nation. This is not merely a criminal act; it is a horrifying reflection of the deep-rooted social and administrative failure that has stood exposed before us for years. Fourteen years ago, after the Nirbhaya case, massive public outrage erupted across the country. People believed that the system would change, laws would become stricter, women’s safety would be ensured, and society would reform its mindset. Yet, when similar incidents continue to recur, the painful question becomes even sharper: have we truly changed at all?
The biggest question is why such incidents continue to happen repeatedly. The answer lies not only in weak law enforcement, but also in a distorted social mentality where women are still not treated with equal dignity and respect. Despite the glittering claims of modernity, the darkness of patriarchal thinking remains intact. The mindset that views women not as individuals but as objects of consumption continues to exist deeply within many minds. This is why women continue to feel unsafe not only in public spaces and workplaces, but even in schools, colleges, and homes. The tragedy is that even in an era of scientific advancement, technology, and economic progress, society has failed to cultivate the basic values of respect and safety for women. Children are being educated, but they are not being taught sensitivity and humanity. Families continue to impose restrictions on daughters while granting unchecked freedom to sons. Girls are constantly advised to “remain careful,” but very little effort is made to teach boys dignity, restraint, and respect in behavior and attitude. This imbalance eventually becomes fertile ground for crime.
Another critical question is: why has the administration repeatedly failed to prevent such incidents? After the Nirbhaya case, governments made grand promises regarding women’s safety. CCTV surveillance, women’s helplines, fast-track courts, police patrolling, and various safety measures in public transport were widely announced. However, the reality is that much of this remained confined to paperwork and speeches. Private buses continue to operate without adequate monitoring. In many places, drivers and conductors are not even properly verified. Safety protocols are often reduced to mere formalities. Despite global awareness campaigns and movements for the dignity and safety of girls, atrocities against them continue to rise. India is no exception. Issues such as declining gender ratio, increasing violence against girls, illiteracy among rural girls, malnutrition, exploitation, rape, molestation, female foeticide, and dowry-related crimes demand serious discussion and decisive action. A deep pain arises in the mind: how long will women and girls continue to be treated as objects of pleasure? How long will their lives remain surrounded by fear and danger? How long will they continue to burn in the fires of rape, harassment, female foeticide, and dowry violence? How long will their dignity and identity continue to be torn apart?
The truth is that our system becomes active only after a crime occurs, not before it. Every time an incident takes place, arrests are made, investigations begin, and political statements are issued, but there is rarely any serious attempt to address the roots of the problem. Political parties indulge in blame games for a few days, media debates dominate headlines, and eventually everything is forgotten. But for the families whose daughters become victims of such brutality, fear, pain, and insecurity leave permanent scars. It is also important to reflect on why women and girls repeatedly become victims of such atrocities. The reason is not merely the cruelty of criminals, but also the insensitivity of society. Public spaces often lack a sense of collective responsibility toward women’s safety. People become silent spectators. In many cases, the victim herself is questioned—her clothes, timing, lifestyle, and choices are scrutinized. Such attitudes strengthen criminals because they know society will not stand wholeheartedly with the victim.
How long will women continue to live in fear within their own cities, buses, streets, and workplaces? How long will parents remain anxious until their daughters safely return home? This is not merely a women’s issue; it is a question concerning the conscience of society itself. A society in which half the population does not feel safe cannot truly call itself civilized. Today, what is needed is not only stricter laws, but also deep social introspection. Laws can punish criminals, but only society can transform mindsets. Gender sensitivity and respect must become an essential part of education in schools and families. Girls should not be taught to live in fear; instead, boys must be taught to live with dignity and respect toward women. Serious reflection is also needed on the objectification of women in films, social media, and advertisements, because culture and entertainment significantly shape public attitudes.
The administration too must move beyond post-crime reactions. Real-time GPS tracking, CCTV cameras, panic buttons, and strict monitoring in public transport must be implemented rigorously. Thorough background verification of private transport operators and staff should be mandatory. The police system must become more sensitive, accountable, and proactive. Most importantly, society must understand that women’s safety is not merely a “women’s issue”; it is a question of humanity and civilization. Until women receive equal respect, freedom, and security, all claims of development will remain incomplete.
The Nangloi incident is not just another news story; it is a warning to society. If we still fail to awaken, tragedies like Nirbhaya will continue to recur, and every such incident will once again expose our insensitivity, administrative failure, and distorted social mindset. The question remains: for how long? Despite awareness campaigns and governmental efforts, the condition of girls in India has not improved as expected. The regressive mindset displayed by some religious leaders, politicians, and social figures toward women and girls is no secret. Their hypocrisy has become evident. Dictating what women should wear, eat, whom they should love or marry, opposing co-education—such patriarchal attitudes continue to deprive girls of their rights and impose endless restrictions upon them.
An ancient Indian saying declares: “Yatra Naryastu Pujyante Ramante Tatra Devatah” — “Where women are worshipped, there the gods reside.” Yet today, women are increasingly being humiliated and objectified everywhere. Men continue to treat women as commodities to be used according to their convenience, which is deeply alarming. In countless forms, assaults on women’s dignity continue to create dark chapters in society. Even if the number of gang-rape cases may have statistically declined, the recurring emergence of such incidents remains tragic, disturbing, and painful.
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