Rape: Shame is not just for the victim (pics)

Bangalore, August 27: Rape can be a shattering experience that traumatizes a woman for her life. While some leave the incident behind and try to move on, there are others who remain deep within the darkness of the inhumanity meted out to them.

But, rape survivors or victims and their families are not the only ones to live a life of self-denial..there are others too.

The family of a rapist, for instance, pays a huge price for their son's crimes. Even if we forget that the society treats them as a partner-in-crime, there are other instances of social ostracization, suicide, and disgrace.

Vijay Yadav's (19) parent's case is an example. One of the five accused in the Mumbai gang rape case, Vijay's parents are in shock and denial that their child could have done something as monstrous like that. They hadn't even gotten over the shock when their neighbours wanted them out of their rented flat.

Blaming Vijay's bad companionship, his mother Pramila says,"I still don't believe that my son has raped a woman." True, a woman's pride is her children. But, think of a woman who saw her son behind the bars, bursting in tears (probably repentant or ashamed to face his mother) and confessing his crime. Mother of Qasim Shaikh (21), another accused in the Mumbai rape victim, still could not believe her ears when her son confessed to the crime.

Media protests

Models protest against the gang rape of a female photo journalist during the Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Winter/Festival 2013, in Mumbai on Monday.

Four of five accused in Mumbai gang rape case

Four of five accused in Mumbai gang rape case, are being shown to the media for a photo opportunity in Mumbai on Monday.

In Mumbai

The fifth accused in Mumbai gang rape case is being produced at Esplanade Court in Mumbai on Monday.

Muslim women protest

Muslim women protest against the gang rape of a woman photojournalist in Mumbai on Monday.

Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor

Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor (C) participates in a protest against the gang rape of a photojournalist in Mumbai on Sunday.

Investigating

Nirmala Samant Prabhavalkar, a member of India's National Commission for Women (NCW) with others visited the site of the rape of photojournalist in Mumbai, on Sunday.

Caught

Mumbai gang rape accused Siraj Rehman being produced in a holiday court in Mumbai on Sunday.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena activists protest

MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) activists protest against Home Minister R.R. Patil over the recent gang rape incident, in Mumbai on Saturday.

Chennai rises against rape

Journalists from Tamil Nadu Press Photographers' Association and other journalist associations stage a protest against the gangrape of a woman photojournalist in Mumbai, in Chennai on Saturday.

Arrested accused

Mumbai gang rape accused Chand Shaikh alias Mohammed Abdul being produced in a court in Mumbai on Saturday.

Protests get a national look

Photojournalists during a rally to protest against the rape of a woman photojournalist in Mumbai, in Agartala.

Nation-wide protest

Photojournalists and journalists stage a silent protest against Mumbai rape incident, in Guwahati on Saturday.

Chand Bibi visited him in the lock-up with much hardship. Relating her humiliation by the police constables, she said,"On Sunday some journalists came home and told me that police had arrested my son. I went to the crime branch office at night and waited for hours, but bade saheb did not let me meet my son. So, I visited the next day again , but Saheb told me to come after two days. I begged, but he slapped me twice. I bore with it because I had to meet my son," she said.

A mother can bear all humiliation for her children, but seeing him taking the wrong path is something that she cannot tolerate. Same happened with Chand Bibi who broke down seeing her son breaking down in front of her and confessing to the crime. She entered the prison cell, determined to get a clarification, but came out with a burden that she is to carry forever.

Many would say that the pain and the ostracization is well-deserved. Think again! Which mother would like to see her son behind the bars? Is there a greater punishment than bearing the burden of humiliation throughout one's life? Probably not.