Rape is synonymous to bechari ladki in India. But rarely do we consider the possibility of what if it was a bechara ladka.
These two statements must have been enough to bring a puzzled look on your face, and for you to start wondering, ‘what is this guy talking about?’
The constitution of India gives little scope to discuss the consequences of a guy getting raped by another guy. Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code makes homosexual intercourse a punishable offence. When there is no provision for consensual sex in IPC, how can the government expect homosexuals to come and raise their voices against rape?
It’s the same situation if a guy gets raped by a girl. When it came to making the rape laws gender neutral, the arguments put forward by Delhi based advocate, Vrinda Grover, were, “Why should rape laws be gender-neutral? That would be making a mockery of what is actually happening in the country. There are no instances of women raping men. I don’t think men are facing serious sexual violence as women. Consider the brutality and intensity of sexual violence against women. Hope the home minister does not put out a bill that delays or obfuscates discussions on the issue.” according to a report by TOI.
Male getting raped is a reality, and irrespective of the fact that it gets discussed or not, it happens.
We came across one another story during our initiative #BreakTheSilence where we shared the story of Sampurna Bose. This story is of Sayantan Datta.
“I am Sayantan Datta, currently studying in Presidency University, Kolkata. I am a male homosexual gender fluid person, and would like to share my experience. First thing, It’s not always women who are subjected to sexual harassment.
Back when I was 16, I used to be particularly poor in Mathematics, so my parents decided to send me to a tutor.
From day one he was extremely judgmental, rebuking me for my effeminacy, and even passing hateful comments like, “I would have killed you, if you were my son.” Or, “I had another student like you, and I had slapped him hard.”
This continued, and I kept shut as I didn’t know how to tell that I was offended without being rude.
Then, things started getting ugly. He started calling me an hour early to tuitions, as I apparently needed extra help. I do not remember when his hands started moving on my thighs rather than on my notebooks. He tried his best to reach out to my groin, when I told him sternly that he had no right to touch me.
He retorted by saying that homosexuals are sex hungry, and hence, he was just doing me good. “This is what will happen to you fagot, you should all be raped.”
I had a brawl, and moved out. I haven’t attended any tuition henceforth. The trauma has stayed on. A married homophobe, who wanted to rape me, seemed quite impossible to me unless this happened to me, and it took me all these days to #BreakTheSilence.
I didn’t know whom, to say all this. Even the friends I did confide in, laughed it off by calling it merely a show of affection as guys cannot be raped, apparently.
Yes, men do get raped. They do face sexual harassment, and come dangerously close to such perils. The society needs to realize, understand and act accordingly.”
There are more people like Sayantan Datta who have faced similar situations, but because of the limitations of the law, seeking justice for them is a monstrous task. Share Sayantan’s story so that such people break their silence and share their story with the world so that we all can stand united for them.
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