Dear friends,
In 2014, I participated in an essay-writing contest organized by the ‘Garima Women’s Forum' of the Indian Medical Association (I.M.A.). I won the third prize, a cash award of Rs.500/- and a certificate. The topic was ‘Should self-defense be part of the curriculum for girls?’ Kindly read this prize-winning entry and let me have your feedback. Thanks. Priya
Should self-defense be part of the curriculum for girls?
The other day, I watched indulgently, as my 6 year old niece demonstrated some basic moves of karate that she had just learnt at school. I wondered why we, as children never learnt the same at school, as I had studied in the same school as my niece.
Just then, my glance fell upon that day’s newspaper which carried a news-item with the headline “6 year old raped in a Bengaluru school.” I got the answer to the question which had just reared its head in my mind! Nowadays, self-defense is a necessity, not a luxury or a fad! It is imperative for the growth of a girl in a happy frame of mind!
Yes, with rising instances of domestic violence, rape and sexual assault on women and even children and elderly women, self-defense seems to be the only option for ladies to protect themselves. Nowadays, ladies have full-time careers, have to travel by public transport, work in night-shifts, often travel alone all over the world; hence it is imperative that they are able to defend themselves against unwanted attention and lusty sexual advances.
As we are all aware, rape or physical abuse of any kind, have long-lasting effects on the physical and mental well-being of girls/ladies. The trauma could make them depressed and withdrawn. They could lose their productivity and positivity. They could become suspicious of all men and this could even affect their married lives and sexual compatibility with their husbands.
Even boys need to guard against sexual predators. As theft and muggings, chain-snatching, kidnapping incidents for ransom and terrorism are on the rise, all of us need to be safe and secure and what could be better than self-reliance to protect ourselves from bodily harm?
Being equipped with the adequate self-defense techniques, such as Karate, Taekwondo, Kung-fu or other martial arts and even the basic equipment such as chilly or pepper spray cans; give people an edge over their opponents.
While granting licenses for guns to women is a subject of great debate, it can be considered a gutsy step in the right direction. Nothing can scare the living daylights out of a sexual predator/stalker or burglar; more than a gun resolutely pointed in his/her direction! Of course, the woman must protect herself from the eventuality wherein that predator could wrest that weapon from her hand and harm her with it. Nevertheless, a weapon in one’s possession does empower a woman. She needn’t feel helpless anymore.
Then there’s the problem of registering an FIR with the police authorities and the ensuing legal procedures which include identification and court trials of the alleged accused.
Most ladies/girls hesitate to approach the police and even refrain from telling their own family members about their sexual molestation or attempts at the same; fearing the wrath of the family members, insensitive comments made by neighbors and society at large and the attempts by the police officials to dissuade them from filing an FIR. Many times, these ladies are asked embarrassing questions by the policemen and have to bear taunts and insinuations that they themselves are guilty and not the accused!
Often lawyers try to portray the victims as ladies of loose character and morals and try to justify the alleged accused’s actions. Thus very few of such people are actually convicted and sentenced. Once scot-free, they resume harassment of those girls with renewed vengeance.
Some men, who stalk ladies, even carry out acid attacks on women who spurn their advances.
Then there are caste-based violations of a woman’s dignity, as in the recent case of Badaun where 2 teenagers were gang-raped and murdered and hung from a tree.
The Nirbhaya gang-rape of a young intern in a Delhi bus was a gruesome reminder of how there is lack of effective police patrolling and the general public’s apathy to the victims.
Thus self-defense education in schools is a must as the students learn the techniques along with their studies from a very young age, when they are very flexible and their memory and grasping powers are also very strong. These techniques teach one to be agile, alert, have quick reflexes and respond in a jiffy to life-threatening situations, through tact, diplomacy and trusting one’s own instincts. They also help one to protect oneself as well as one’s companions or others in the community. These techniques can make children effectively tackle bullies, pedophiles, etc. Their parents and elders back home will also feel secure and confident in the knowledge that they can take care of themselves. They can say “Good Bye” to worries!
They can aid in keeping one’s wits about oneself and even defuse life-threatening situations! Above all, they make one confident about oneself and one’s own ability to capably ward off unwanted attackers, etc. This self-confidence will improve one’s productivity too, as one need not fear going out alone or doing other jobs that may involve risks, such as in professions like investigative-journalism, spying, policing, providing security, etc. In fact, girls can fearlessly join the defense services, paramilitary services, competitive sports and other such professions where physical strength is as important as mental strength; if they are so trained right since childhood. Thus they can choose their profession and give their future the requisite direction at a very early age.
My friend’s brother’s daughter, one day, demonstrated how they were taught self-defense techniques in school wherein they could protect themselves against their attacker’s vicious onslaughts; just by using whatever was handy, right then. For instance, an umbrella, a walking stick, even their rucksacks and belts, stones, etc. could be used effectively in warding off the culprits. They were even taught to tackle the culprits with bare hands.
Self-defense experts, educationists and parents of school and college-going children are unanimous in their opinion about introducing self-defense in the curriculum. Even abroad, this is the norm. Recently noted film actor Akshay Kumar championed this cause when he said that self-defense must be made a compulsory part of education curriculum for civilians; and has even taken up this issue with the Central Government.
In 2013, the Human Resource Development Ministry had directed all State Governments to ensure that children in upper primary classes are taught self-defense as a part of their physical education curriculum. This is a very encouraging and positive step in the right direction.
Accordingly, the Maharashtra State Government has included this compulsory topic in the schools’ curriculum, as part of physical education; along with gender sensitization studies. Thus the educational institutions will have to mandatorily invest in this program in the best interests of our future generation. I hope this is the norm throughout our country.
An important aspect related to girls’/women’s safety is that it is equally important that the police and security agencies are very vigilant and conscientious towards their duty. Though self-defense empowers women, it may prove ineffective when they are confronted by a large number of assailants or very strong ones! Thus external protection and self-defense are two sides of the same coin! These two aspects will complement each other and are equally vital to the well-being, security and safety of girls/women.
To sum up, self-defense should be a part of curriculum not just for girls, but for boys too. In the vicious, insecure, unsafe and turbulent scenario these days, it is definitely advisable to continue its implementation. After all, as the wise old adage goes: “It’s better to be safe than to be sorry!”
The copyright of this essay is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.
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