Though I do not have a real sister but almighty was fortunate enough to give me so many wonderful cousin sisters. And such is their love for me that the word cousin becomes nominal or rather diluting. Today is Raksha Bhandan, when we celebrate this wonderful relationship of boundless care and selfless love. God bless all my sisters.
In our society, brothers have this very important role of protecting "their" sisters. When it comes to anything regarding their sisters, they would not compromise on any aspect so as to ensure a secure cover for them. They would go to any length to protect them. When going out with them, they would always suspect a bunch of guys standing on the road to do something silly. They would angrily murmur some social criticism of how these ogling bunch was brought up and how they are a result of immoral parenting. They would always be on high alert anticipating any minor danger to their sisters. Latent feminism would take over the blatant male chauvinism. Not for long though.
On the other side, when these "protective" personalities hang out with their friends or alone, we see an altogether different person. I am not pointing to everyone but for a substantial portion of that so called brotherhood, the perceptions change and they are suddenly transferred via. the cyclone of moral turpitude into these indifferent and detached figurines who disrespect women.
I am sure many of us have been through that situation when a bunch of hooligans are just waiting alongside the road for a female prey to arrive. They pass obscene comments, enact even more obscene gestures and sometimes even venture the audacity to become physical. These surely must not have any "Sisters" of their own because if they did, what the hell happened to all those morals. But then it's not like there aren't any other people on the road. Of course there are. There are some men looking in utter dilemma whether to take such risk because the women in predicament is not the one who tied a string on his hand demanding protection. Why to get into unnecessary trouble for someone I don't know. For someone who is not con sanguine.
But then, aren't we, as good men, suppose to be that omnipresent brother, to be that omnipresent protector. That girl in trouble is someone's sister, someone's daughter or someone's wife. Isn't it our moral obligation to stand against cruelty and crime even for those who we aren't related to. Just imagine if such be the case, that whenever the time calls for, you be that brother, the one who is required to be there. Just imagine the strong brotherhood that eventually would result out of it.
On this auspicious day of Raksha Bandhan, I dream of such a brotherhood.
On this auspicious day of Raksha Bandhan, let's pledge to respect and help women.
Let's pledge to be, that omnipresent brother.
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