Aruna Shanbaug (1 June 1948-18 May 2015) symbolised many
things. She was a thorn that pricked our collective conscience, a case of an
innocent suffering for no fault of hers, a case for euthanasia or mercy
killing, a symbol of hope for humanity as she was looked after for 42 years by
nurses and doctors who cared and even, a poking truth that when you have only
your beating heart as a sign of life and you lie on bed helplessly without any
knowledge of the outside world, you will have none by your side, not even your
family. Aruna had 9 sisters but no one allegedly came forward to volunteer for
her care. Aruna was still lucky, there were her colleagues who decided to stand
by her.
The man, the culprit, who took his revenge, on the
woman for reporting his malpractices, in the most inhumane way, was let off
after serving just seven years in prison, for attempt to murder. A question
arises, why did anyone not take notice on his acquittal that the person whom he
‘attempted to murder’ is no longer alive, as a ‘normal’ person would be and why
was then another case not charged on him by treating this crime as one of the ‘rarest
of the rare cases’? No one paid any heed and the man is reported to have
started life afresh somewhere. He was not punished for lifetime for a heinous
act but Aruna was serving a brutal ‘life sentence’ just for fulfilling her
duty. Where is justice?
Once in a while, Aruna’s story reappeared on newspaper
pages, reminding us of how cruel destiny could be and how inhuman a human being
could be. We read Aruna’s updates with a heavy heart, shed a tear or two and
then, got back to our life. Has sexual harassment at workplaces stopped after
November 27, 1973, the day Aruna was brutally attacked at her workplace? Were
women safer after November 27, 1973? It is shocking that in our country,
monstrous crimes find followers, and we soon hear similar incidents all
throughout. Our law does not seem to be a deterrent. There were more Arunas,
though referred to differently as acid attack victims, gang rape survivors,
etc., the irony is that none of them have won their battle but battle with
their life on a daily basis. Aruna endured it silently without any awareness
while the others bear the attack on their soul silently, fully aware.
Pinky Virani, the author who helmed a biography of
Aruna in 1998,titled, Aruna’s Story: The
True Account of a Rape and its Aftermath, filed a case for Aruna’s mercy
killing in 2009 and soon Aruna became a centre of debate on euthanasia. Who
decides the case for euthanasia? The person, for whom the debate is on, is not
in a position to stand up and speak. It is left to the care takers to decide.
Aruna’s care providers did not want to go with it. There were many who even
blamed these nurses for not letting go of Aruna. Some said it was because they
wanted to appear as righteous. But even then, wasn’t it great that a team of
doctors and nurses stood by their decision and even kudos to the government
that it did not snatch the room from Aruna and allowed her to be?
Now Aruna is no more, as per medical terms. For lakhs
of us, who followed Aruna’s life, she had died on the day she was put on that
bed, almost lifeless. But then medical world decides the definition of death
and law puts a stamp on it, so we will have to hear terms like brain death, and
so on.
I say, Aruna, Do not RIP. You have rested for 42 years
but without peace, now it is the time to liberate yourself from all agony, pain
and sympathy. Go dance away, laugh and smile. I am sure in that another world,
you will find hundreds of things to do. Do them and live your life that you
could not for 42 years. Do not RIP but be peaceful. Do I see you smiling?
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