#IAm16ICanrape
-By Kirtida Gautam
Plot:
This is the
story of Kashyap family in which the relations between parents and children are
not as the way they are in a common Indian family. The family gets a sudden
shock when after the celebrations of Aarush's (grandson of Gayitri and Rudransh,
son of Ananya and Mrigyank and brother of Navya) 16th birthday are over, he was
arrested by police as an accused rapist. The victim Shubhangi gives her
statement that she was raped by Aarush and Vijay, a bartender, on his birthday
night.
No one in the
family is ready to believe this statement keeping in mind his innocence and
intelligence in view. Then slowly the chapters of that gang-rape start to open
giving a new direction to the case.
Vijay takes all
the blame on himself and commits suicide in Jail. Rudransh start believing
Aarush has raped the girl. Mrigyank is against his father's belief and Pihu,
daughter of Kashyap family's domestic help is very much in love with Aarush.
What happens
next?
Did he commit this heinous crime?
If yes, will he be punished or being juvenile will give him an unnecessary
advantage?
Is Shubhangi right? Or is she just feeling that she was raped by
this Juvenile Kashyap?
Read this heart-breaking tale on one of the pensively subjected
crime and know the psychology of criminals who commits rape.
My Opinion:
POSITIVES:
A very courageous topic is been selected by Kirtida for her debut novel.
Talking about its plus points the book is wonderful in terms of defining
emotions, thoughts and expressions.
Narration is kept simple and language is
also kept simple which is nice in the context of this topic. Dialogue writing
is perfect. Though the book is lengthy but a well-planned plot is penned in it
which doesn't let this thought cross your mind once you start reading it. The
way she described with psychology and brain functioning, criminal thinking and
other issues in a conversation manner are commendable and makes things easily
understandable. Talking about its title, I can definitely say that nothing
better could be thought than this (Bang on). Book cover is fine but could have been better. A perfect amount of literature is
used as and when required.
There is no particular target audience but I seriously think
this book should be gifted by parents to their children in their teenage to
clear them about this act called RAPE. Besides, right from a teenage kid to an
old soul, this book is for everyone. Just read it with a broad mind and absorb
as much as you can from this book.
SOME OF THE BEST WRITTEN PARTS OF THE
BOOK WERE:
Shubhangi's
lively moments in hospital.
The incident
from Aarush's childhood when he sing “Lab
pe aati hai dua banke tamanna meri…” and pointed towards his grand-dad when
it focused on the word “Ishwar”.
The way deaths
are described in the book. (Mentioning the one that pierced by heart will be a
spoiler for any reader but yes Kirtida has made me shed some tears while
describing the feeling and emotions of those who died and those who got
affected by those losses)
The planning that a 16 year old, the way he behaved and lived
two different personalities and made fool of his elders and family members on
small issues will blow your mind away.
NEGATIVES:
Though the positive impact this book has left on me don't allow me to write
this section but still there are certain things which I can't neglect as a
reader and reviewer.
At one side when Kirtida had described most of the psychological
jargons used in the book perfectly, at some parts, few terms and abbreviations
are not at all described or described
late (BDSM, CSWCS and some more).
Some characters are unnecessarily added including those of
Aarush's friend and that of Journalist 'wife. There was no need to add them in
the book. Further, despite the fact that the book is well edited and written,
there was some typing and grammatical errors (Their extremely less quantity can
even make them ignorable).
MY TAKE ON THE BOOK:
Discussing this dark topic, there was no point in the book that
made it looked over-expressed or vulgar. (Special mention for author's
experience and maturity level in this context)
The book raises some important questions about child-rearing and
things parents should keep in mind when their kids are in learning and growing
stage. It discussed about human mind, child psychology, criminal thinking,
impact of elder's actions on their young ones, importance of each parent (mother
and father together and mother and father separately), about the interior and
exterior human energy, masculinity, femininity, Hero's Mythical Journey and its
associated stages, human personality and the two sides, Persona and Shadow, each
with equal amount of focus and description.
Further, she described one more important aspect of phycology
which is the DARK TRIAD in which the
shadow of a mind is either, child-psychopath, an adult-narcissist or a
parent-Machiavellian. (These things will provide you multiple areas to read and
learn if you are interested in reading psychological stuff)
She discussed how we parents accept tomboyish behaviour of a
girl but a sissy boy is not tolerable.
But above all it raised an immense issue of convicted Juvenile Rape Laws. A rapist of any age
must be counted as an adult keeping in mind the intensity and type of crime he has
committed. Each time a Rapist is made
free on account of his age, we give birth to a future criminal in our society.
Inspired by 16th December gang rape, this was an exceptional effort
by the author to give light to this not-so-commonly-discussed topic RAPE.
They say that the only person who is
punished after a rape is the victim.
IT IS NOT BECAUSE OF OUR LAWS OR HER-NOT-ACCEPTING IT IN PUBLIC, BUT BECAUSE OF THE SOCIETY THAT ACCUSES HER FOR THE CARELESSNESS SHE SHOWED ON HER PART.
Also, the women who don't stand against what happened with them must
understand that if you won’t stand for yourself, no one will ever will to stand
for you.
Stand up.
Speak against evil.
And fight for yourself because Even if one is 16, one can't rape.
Rather than
teaching your girls to stay in their limits teach your sons the limits they
must not cross.
Final Rating:
Title / Cover: 4/5
Character justification: 3.75/5
Story, Language, literature: 4.5/5
Final Rating: 4.25
We read a rape case and ask Who? How? When?
But leave behind a major question which is WHY?
A psychological fiction, that delves deep into the mind of a Juvenile rapist to know WHY?
good work from both side
ReplyDeleteThank you @kamal Paneru.
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