Phd. - I

Phd.

All eyes turned to her. There was admiration in men’s eyes and envy in women’s. She was the centre of attraction. Why not? She was looking stunningly beautiful in a light blue chiffon saree and light pink sleeveless blouse. Her free flowing long hair was falling below her waist. She had a very light makeup on but it was her dazzling smile which made her face lit up.

Shalini greeted everybody with warmth and accepted their best wishes graciously. Her happiness and content was visible on her beautiful face and why not? She had completed her Phd. at the young age of 25 and she was now Dr. Shalini Verma. This party was thrown by Prof. Sharma, her guide, in celebration of successful completion of her Doctorate degree. Many dignitaries were invited and everybody was congratulating Shalini for her exceptional achievement. City Jail Superintendent, Mr. Mehra was also standing in one corner of the hall along with the City SP, Mr. Rawat. They were as if discussing some serious law and order situation over the sips of whisky when Prof. Sharma joined them.

“Which criminal’s dooms day has arrived?”, Prof. Sharma teased them on their absorbed discussion.

“Please join us Prof. We were not discussing anything out of this context and occasion. “ Mr. Mehra replied with a grin.

“Then also, what was it? It can’t be something casual when such influential people of the city are so gravely  discussing.” Prof. Sharma showed his keenness on their discussion.

“The same thing for which we all have gathered here to celebrate – Shalini’s Doctorate. Oh! I am sorry. Dr. Shalini Sharma, I should say.” Mr. Rawat replied with a wide grin.

“Yes. This is an occasion to celebrate and congratulate Dr. Shalini for her exceptional achievement. Although, so many people everyday complete their Phd. but this is surely special.” Prof. Sharma was all praise for his student.

“Actually we were also discussing the same thing. How Dr. Shalini, in such a young age could achieve this milestone? I remember actually the day she first approached me with her request to meet the jail inmates. I couldn’t believe of such a young girl doing a research on such a grave issue. Her thought, her approach and her belief in her, impressed me to accept her request. Though, it was quite dangerous request to accept for a young girl to interview some hardcore criminals but she made me agree to her request. I am glad that nothing untoward happened.” Mr. Mehra added his point of admiration for Prof. Sharma’s student.

“Really, I would also like to mention her dedication towards her research work. I have seen many, completing their Doctorate without doing any significant research on the topic but I would again say that Dr. Shalini was totally into her topic. It was as if she had made it her aim of life. Today, I also remember the first time she approached me with your reference Prof. I had thought that she would be needing some inputs from us as a Police on the Topic but her request to actually meet the victims took me by surprise. I was forced to help her in all possible manner not because, you had referred her Prof., but because of her honest dedication” Mr. Rawat’s praise climbed one more level above.

“I would like to thank you both for the help and support that you and your respective departments have provided. This could not have been possible without your support.”  Prof. Sharma literally bowed while thanking them.

“Oh! Don’t be so formal Prof. It is our duty and the cause for which this was done will also help us in our functioning. However, I always wanted to ask the reason for choosing such a topic – Psychology of a Rapist.” Mr. Mehra asked.

“We should ask this from Dr. Shalini itself.” Saying this Prof. Sharma turned towards the most crowded corner of the hall and called, “Shalini!”

Shalini excused herself from the guests she was attending and came towards Prof. Sharma. “Shalini! Did you thank your biggest helping hands in your achievements?” Prof. Sharma said gesturing towards Mr. Rawat and Mr. Mehra.

“Sure Prof. How can I forget to do that? Without their help, support and valuable inputs my research would have never reached the level it has now. I once again would like to thank you Sir for all your contribution.” Shalini didn’t waste the opportunity to thank them again.

“Oh! It was our pleasure and you should first thank your Guru(Master), Prof Sharma, whose contribution is the most significant.” Mr. Rawat diverted the attention towards Prof. Sharma.

“True! I could not have persued with the topic without his guidance and without his true contribution it would have been a dream from me.” Shalini seemed equally thankful to his guide.

“Yes! This party is the proof of his contentment in your achievement.” Mr. Mehra rightly pointed out this aspect of relation between Prof. Sharma and his student.

“Mr. Mehra would like to know something from you, Shalini!” Prof. Sharma was feeling embarrassed with all the praise and thanking and rightly intervened with Mr. Mehra’s query.

“Ya Shalini. I was wondering as to what made a girl like you to choose this topic on the issue of Rape?” Mr. Mehra asked.

Shalini’s face turned stern on this question. She asked, “Perhaps by saying ‘a girl like you’, you mean to say a girl from a well to do family with a decent background?”

“Yes! Because as a jail superintendent and earlier as an investigation officer in police force I have witnessed that this is majorly a problem that persists with the underprivileged class. Rape as a crime is a rarity for well to do and educated class. That is why this is an obvious question that has comes to mind.” Mr. Mehra gave a genuine reply.

“That is because this crime is being suppressed by the privileged class. It never comes to light and is never reported. I can’t blame you for your oblivion because you witness and investigate only those cases that are reported but what about those rapes that are happening in those entire well to do and educated families which never see the light because of the veil of false prestige that they build around them. Sexual perverts are not the by products of poverty and illiteracy. Do you know that 80% of the rape victims never report about their sufferings just because by not reporting, the victim may suffer for once but if they report, our society will make them suffer again and again. I would also like to tell you that most of the rape victims are victims of domestic violence where they are not only ravaged physically but also mentally. Their faith in relations, in humanity is shattered. Someone they looked upon as father, brother or teacher. How will they be able to again build faith on anybody? The lower class or the underprivileged report their sufferings because they don’t have anything more to lose as prestige.” There was aggression in Shalini’s voice.

“We agree to what you say but is it correct to put all the blame on the man? In present modern society, the openness, the way women dress, do they not provoke men? I would not say equally but are they not somewhere responsible for their own suffering?” Mr. Rawat tried to defend his men society.

This was a direct allegation on the women in the face of a woman. Aggression was obvious but Shalini replied quite professionally, ”Do you want to say that Rape is a consequence of modernism or the openness in the society?  Were rapes not committed earlier when women used to be in purdah(veil), when they were not given any right, when they were considered to be second class? Sex is in the mind and not in the body. Were all the rape victims wearing provocative clothes at the time of rape? This is a mental imbalance and is nothing to do with what the opposite sex wears. Men also wonder around half naked in open or wear provocative clothes. Do we women go and embrace them? Women also have carnal desires and if we believe the famous scholar of medieval India – Chanakya, woman have 8 times more sexual prowess than men. This means that women should rape men? Rape is the derivative of the men’s dominance on women which is still prevalent in the today’s modern society. It has in fact increased in the modern society where women are given equal opportunities in all fields and this is the vent and anger of the men society. It will remain so till the time men will consider women as their commodities.”

“You mean to say that the feeling of dominance over women is the reason of rape, and not sexual frustration or desire.” Obvious question from Mr. Rawat.

“No. I am not saying that, but sexual frustration cannot be the reason of rape for the privileged class. It can be the reason for committing rape for the underprivileged class because when they are deprived of even the basic necessities of life then how would they fulfil their desires and in turn it becomes a frustration that leads to crime. This is the reason why most of the rape convicts are first timers and don’t have any criminal background.” Dr. Shalini satisfied each and every query with conviction.

“Dr. Shalini! I would say that your research and understanding on this subject is exceptional and I think all of us present here would agree with me. We also learnt a lot and got our misconceptions cleared. We hope that this work of yours will benefit our society and will help us to curb this social menace to a certain extent.” Mr. Rawat could not help himself to express his admiration for the work and intelligence of Shalini for which all the other people present also nodded in agreement.

“I also agree with Mr. Rawat. No doubt about the amount of effort that has been invested by Dr. Shalini into the subject and we all can see the outcome. However, Prof. what is your opinion on the quality of Phd. degree these days? It is seen that the quality of people who use to go for Phd. has downgraded exceptionally. It has also grown into a market where the degree is saleable. There was a time when intellects used to do some genuine work on some really great subject and some great discoveries are also the outcome of such work. I don’t see the level of knowledge and grasp that Dr. Shalini has on her subject in present day Doctorates. Thesis are sold in open market and in many occasions the guide is the one who writes the thesis and Phd. degree is awarded on those. Many a times the same thesis is submitted in different university and collage and is awarded as a unique work. What do you think why has this happened? Is it so because Phd. has also become mere a degree to get a job or a promotion and lost its relevance of research and unique work?” Mr. Mehra had posed a very serious question in front of Prof. Sharma.

As Prof. Sharma was about to answer the posed question, he got an indication of food being served and he addressed to all the people present in the hall, “Ladies and Gentlemen! Food is being served. Please help yourself and oblige me.”

“Please let’s continue our discussion after the dinner. Shalini! Please guide your guests towards the dining area.” Prof. Sharma as an expert host requested the guests to have dinner.

 Contd....................................