'The kids are not alright', is one of the episodes of the podcast series titled 'My Indian Life', a BBC Media initiative and hosted by Kalki Koechlin. All the previous five episodes have been intriguing and interesting too. This, however, touched a cord. It talks about child abuse, a paramount problem and makes for a poignant listen.
Well, while and after listening to it, my thoughts have just been going back and forth on whether to say it or not. More so acknowledge it to myself and shout out loud just so my soul would hear it.
I was molested when I was young. Well, as is many a times, it was the friendly neighbor. I found my ways to avoid and ensure that it never occurs again. That's the small of it.
The reason I feel I need to speak out is put just two things out there:
To parents: Keep your arms, ears and eyes wide wide open. However your child, risque, rash or wayward, he or she, do not sideline your children's words when they speak of anything close to describing abuse. A child hardly understands good and bad, so unless you check out their claim, just don't disregard it.
Second, it is happening to children, boys and girls. We, as a society make it even harder on boys to share and talk about abuse. Label it as a weakness. In fact, data shows that many men abused in their childhood become delinquents and abusers themselves. Abuse doesn't come with a gender tag.
The path is very long but at the very least let's acknowledge, accept and report it. Only then can we pave way for victims to recover and find themselves, their voices, their strength.
P.S.: Written originally in September of 2018.
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