“Diwali isn’t just a festival of lights. It’s a festival of sight—of seeing the darkness we’ve ignored.”
As India celebrates Diwali, homes glow with diyas, streets echo with laughter, and families gather in joy. But amid the sparkle, we must ask: What are we really celebrating? Because Diwali isn’t just about celebration—it’s about liberation. It marks the triumph of light over darkness, of dharma over adharma.
And on Naraka Chaturdashi, we remember the slaying of Narkasur, a demon who abducted women and ruled through fear. But Narkasur isn’t just a myth. He’s a mindset. He hides in ego, envy, and apathy. He lives in every comment that blames a survivor, every silence that protects a predator, every system that delays justice.
To truly celebrate Diwali, we must light the diya in our hearts—one that burns with love, glows with kindness, and spreads humanity. Only then can we promise safety to every woman who walks our streets, boards our buses, enters our classrooms, or leads our workplaces.
The Real Darkness: When Outrage Is Replaced by Interrogation
“The demon we must slay isn’t mythical. He’s institutional.”
In October 2025, a young MBBS student was gang-raped in West Bengal. Instead of outrage, she faced interrogation. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asked, “Why was she out at 12:30 AM?”—a question that blamed the survivor, not the system. This isn’t just a failure of law. It’s a failure of mindset. And it’s not isolated.
The Data Doesn’t Lie—But It Doesn’t Heal Either
“Statistics don’t bleed. Survivors do.”
Rape cases in India have surged over decades:
• 1980s: <3,000 cases/year
• 1990s: >10,000
• 2000s: >20,000
• 2021: 31,677 cases—86 rapes/day
Top states by volume:
• Uttar Pradesh: 56,083 cases
• Maharashtra: 39,526 cases
• Rajasthan: 40,738 cases
• West Bengal: 35,884 cases
• Delhi: 1,226 cases
(Source: The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) is the primary government body that compiles and publishes annual crime statistics in India. The figure of 31,677 rape cases in 2021, averaging 86 rapes per day, is drawn directly from the NCRB Crime in India 2021 report.)
Law Reform Is Not Enough—Justice Must Be Timely
“A law that doesn’t protect is just a paragraph. A court that doesn’t act is just a building.”
Even when rape is recognized, justice is delayed:
• Delhi: 1,562 days (4.3 years)
• West Bengal: 1,421 days
• Rajasthan: 1,388 days
• Maharashtra: 1,312 days
• Uttar Pradesh: 1,276 days
Fast Track Special Courts were meant to expedite trials. Instead, they’ve become waiting rooms for trauma. Survivors wait years. Some never see closure.
(Source: As per data tabled in the Lok Sabha and reported by The New Indian Express)
So, How Do We Build a Better Society for a Safer Tomorrow?
“A nation’s strength isn’t built in its parliament. It’s built in its classrooms and its barracks.”
The answer begins in childhood. If we want a society that respects women, values dignity, and responds to injustice—not with silence but with solidarity; we must start by inculcating values in primary school. Not just moral science chapters, but lived practices: empathy, equality, emotional regulation, and civic responsibility.
Remember “The world borrowed our wisdom. Now it’s time we reclaim it.”
India’s ancient Gurukul system wasn’t just an educational model, it was a way of life. It taught discipline, dignity, and devotion. Students didn’t just study, they served. They learned to cook, clean, meditate, and live in harmony. They practiced restraint, respected elders, and shared space across genders. And above all, they were taught to live with purpose.
This wasn’t abstract philosophy. It was embodied by Lord Ram, who trained under Guru Vasishtha, and Lord Krishna, who studied under Guru Sandipani. Their education wasn’t about marks—it was about morals. It wasn’t about competition—it was about character.
Ironically, while India moved away from this model, the world moved toward it:
• Japan: Students clean their classrooms, learn gardening and basic repairs
• Canada: Schools teach carpentry, budgeting, and cooking
• New Zealand: Children use tools from age 4 and learn self-reliance
These nations didn’t invent these values; they borrowed them from us. From our ancient Gurukul’s education systems.
Mandatory Military Training: The Second Pillar of Reform
And once students complete secondary school, the next step must be mandatory military training—for both male and female citizens. Just like:
• South Korea, where all able-bodied men serve 18–21 months
• Israel, where men serve 32 months and women 24 months
These aren’t just defence policies. They’re citizen-building protocols. Military service teaches:
• Respect for hierarchy and gender
• Discipline in behaviour and speech
• Hygiene, teamwork, and emotional restraint
• Service before self
Now compare the rape statistics:
Countries that mandate military service, like South Korea and Israel show significantly lower rape rates compared to India.
In 2025:
• India recorded approximately 22.3 rape cases per 100,000 people.
• In contrast, South Korea, where all able-bodied men serve 18–21 months in the military, reported just 1.2 cases per 100,000.
• Israel, which mandates 32 months of service for men and 24 months for women, reported 3.1 cases per 100,000.
These figures reveal a stark contrast: India’s rate is nearly seven times higher than Israel’s and eighteen times higher than South Korea’s. The implication is clear! Mandatory military training doesn’t just build defence capacity; it cultivates discipline, emotional restraint, and respect for others. It’s not merely a policy—it’s a cultural inoculation against apathy and aggression.
(Source: World Population Review’s Rape Statistics by Country 2025 report,)
If Maha Kumbh Mela Was a Proof of Concept, Let It Be a Blueprint to Protect India’s Women
“If we could safeguard 64 crore pilgrims, why can’t we safeguard 66 crore citizens—especially our women?”
The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj was a logistical marvel. It hosted 64 crore pilgrims, more than the combined population of the US, Brazil, and Japan—and was secured using:
• AI-powered cameras
• RFID wristbands
• Drone surveillance
• Real-time crowd analytics
This wasn’t just crowd-control. It was technological vigilance at scale. If such systems can protect pilgrims in a religious gathering, why can’t they be deployed in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal & Delhi- states with the highest reported crimes against women. Redirect state budgets from vote-luring freebies to AI surveillance, public safety, and civic dignity.
“Security isn’t ceremonial. It must be systemic. And it must begin with those most vulnerable.”
The Diya Won’t Light Itself. We Must Strike The Match!
This Diwali, let’s take a vow, not just to celebrate, but to reform. Because safety isn’t a solo project. It demands:
* Society: To raise boys with empathy, not entitlement
* Schools: To teach values before valuation
* Governments: To legislate with courage, not convenience
* Digital departments: To deploy vigilance where it’s needed
* Every citizen: To speak, act, and protect
Let’s build an India where women walk without fear. Where justice doesn’t wait. Where childhood is protected. Where discipline is lived. Where Diwali isn’t just a festival—but a promise.
“ A safer tomorrow begins with a vow today.
