Dear Narendra Modi, Amitabh Bachchan, Sachin Tendulkar, Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan and Anil Ambani,
I am writing to YOU specifically because you are the most powerful and influential MEN in our country.
I am writing to you as a woman who grew up in a middle class family in Mumbai.
I am writing to YOU for HELP!
My parents may not like me saying this. I apologize to them if they are reading but this is NOT MY SHAME. It’s THIER SHAME.
My first experience with the opposite sex, was when I was just 13 and groped by a man (never saw his face but will never forget his hand) while walking in the vegetable market with my mom. She had just given me the worst haircut and as an angry teenager I was upset at her and was lagging behind as she walked ahead. I still remember what I was wearing. It was her dress, mustard with flowers and little bow in the front. How I hate that dress! As if, it was the dress’s fault.
I was shocked at first. Speechless. He disappeared. I just stood there. Tears started pouring out of my innocent eyes. I told my mom who went mad screaming in the market but who knew where that man disappeared to. I still remember the dirty feeling I had and the number of times I showered in my grand-mom’s bathroom after. That feeling never went away.
Shenaz Treasurywala
Since then it was non-stop. I would try to articulate this to my parents and while my mom understood, my dad and uncles told me I was imagining it. Maybe they just couldn’t deal with it. CAN YOU?
When I was 15, I started going by train and bus to St. Xaviers’ College. I was groped and touched and from all angles and this was just how I grew up. Not Just Me but MOST INDIAN WOMEN who don’t have the luxury of cars and drivers.
As a teenager I would dream of and still sometimes dream that I had a machine gun and could kill all the men who tried to grope me. A very disturbing dream for a kid, don’t you think?
I got my first assignment as a model in the FYJC and I had to go to screen-tests straight from college. So I had to dress nice, didn’t make it any easier. I specifically remember the time I went for an audition in a red body suit and a black long skirt with slits. It was HELL! I never wore that again. As if it was the dress’s fault.
I developed ways to defend myself, I always carried a bag in front of me, my fist was always clenched, I always turned around every 20 seconds to check who was behind me and a few times I slapped men who touched me, I got slapped back many times too. Sometimes saved by the public, MOST TIMES NOT.
My mom begged me not to pick fights with men who touched me, she was afraid of acid being thrown at me or that somebody someday would hurt me badly. She is STILL AFRAID and today she told me not to take an UBER to my meeting tomorrow. Hell ya. BAN UBER! Make everyone take responsibility for this.
My sister got into Sophia’s college, we were all excited. She went by bus but the first day she came home, she sobbed traumatized. A man had put his hand in her tee-shirt through her sleeve, the entire bus ride. She just froze. She was a kid too and wasn’t equipped to even understand this. I was LIVID. I’m sorry sis for telling the world this, please don’t stop speaking to me. IT’S NOT Our Shame. It’s THEIRS!
One of my friends in college was RAPED on the train on her way home in the ladies compartment. She was sick and was going home in the 11:15 break. There was nobody in the first class compartment going back to Bandra at that time, it was a superfast meaning it didn’t stop at most stations. He raped her and then jumped off after using her scrunchy (hair tie) to wipe himself. She was the only one on the train and had to limp her way back to her home in Bandra, bleeding profusely. She was just 16. This she felt was her shame so she did not say anything to anyone.
BUT IT ISN’T HER SHAME, it’s THEIR SHAME.
My mom accompanied me to Hyderabad on a shoot once. In churi bazaar, a cyclist groped My MOM. My dear respected and lovely MOM.
Sorry Mom, IT’S NOT Our Shame, It’s THEIR SHAME.
Why am I telling you my personal story?
Well first I want all women to Speak Up.
Let’s make this our MOTTO-
It’s not OUR SHAME, it’s THEIR SHAME.
Who are “THEY”?
“THEY” ARE THE MEN IN OUR COUNTRY.
Not just the rapists and the sexual offenders and gropers but also our Fathers (sorry dad) and Uncles and Brothers and MOVIE STARS AND CRICKETERS AND POLITICIANS for not SAVING US or PROTECTING US by insisting and protesting for the LAWS TO CHANGE and Rapists and Gropers to BE PUNISHED SEVERELY!
Why do we as women have to feel so threatened? WHY has there been no severe action taken? This has gone on for years now. Not just in Delhi but all over our country and yes even in BOMBAY OR MUMBAI OR Whatever the hell you want to call it! It’s NOT SAFE. NO!
My biggest fear ever since I was kid and even today when I walk back home at night from yoga or when I take a rickshaw from a friend’s home is being RAPED. I still feel that fear. I am still am on guard. I still fantasize of having that MACHINE GUN.
In the past 4 years I have been living and working half in India and half in New York and let me tell you I have walked the streets of Harlem, the Bronx and Brooklyn (perceived as the most dangerous in NYC) at3am after parties in short skirts and felt safer than I feel in Bandra at 10 pm on a quiet road fully covered. WHY??
Let’s talk about Delhi our Capital. I was there 2 days ago and the day of the rape. I wanted to go out and walk by India Gate and admire our great monuments but could I?! Why??
What good are all your speeches in the US or Japan or AUSTRALIA- NAMO, if no woman can walk freely in the streets even in broad daylight by herself in the CAPITAL OF OUR COUNTRY. Isn’t this a SHAME? SHAME ON YOU SIR.
This is our NO1 issue. FIX THIS before anything else.
This is a SHAME. And it’s YOUR SHAME. You are now RESPONSIBLE FOR US.
I beg all of you fine gentlemen that I have addressed to help change the LAW.
You are powerful men. I say, SHAME and PUNISH THE Gropers and Sexual offenders severely. KILL THE RAPISTS.
I won’t ask for public castration which is what I want and all the women want because I know this is unrealistic and things move SO DAMN SLOW in our FINE NATION.
All I ask for is the -Death Penalty Please. NOW! QUICK!
If that’s too hard or will take too long then at least LIFE IMPRISONMENT.
Put them away forever.
Why was this man who had raped twice before out on bail?
And then given a drivers license? YES, BAN UBER TOO. Make everyone responsible.
I’m ready to do anything. I’m not a big enough celeb but you Sachin Tendulkar, Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Sharukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Anil Ambani SIRS- need to speak up as MEN ( you are the men with the power)
SAVE US!
Please demand the Death Sentence for the Rapists.
NO BAIL. Just Death.
Superstars I beg you, please take a stand. Use your Superstardom and Power and MONEY and save the women of our country. SAVE US!
I urge you to protest or go on a fast or do something DRASTIC so people take notice, the government wakes up and CHANGES the LAW so these men are terrified to touch us.
Death to rapists. No bail. Just death.
Imagine Amitabh Bachchan Sir, Aamir Khan, Salmaan Khan, Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Ambani- if you went on a fast or walked to the Rashrtrapati In Delhi. If you, took this stand and made this YOUR NO 1 issue, how much change there would be?!
Why should we as women feel so unsafe in our motherland?!
Why should we as women be terrified and on guard all the time.
Why was this man out on bail after committed two rapes already ?
Make an Example Of Him.
Any man who even touches a woman should be imprisoned for life.
Be strict, make examples of these men, scare those who dare to touch us.
SCARE THEM BY MAKING AN EXAMPLE OUT OF THEM.
SAVE US, Save your mother, daughter, sister please!
This is NOT OUR SHAME.
THIS IS YOURS.
SHAME ON YOU.
Don’t sleep till you – SAVE YOUR WOMEN!
With all respect,
Shenaz Treasurywala
As per Islamic Law.
If a rapist is married
HE SHOULD BE BURRIED TILL NECK AND STONED TO DEATH
.
If the rapist is unmarried THE PUNISHMENT IS 80 SLASHES ON HIS BACK ( most of them will go to hell in 30-40 slashes)
No Mercy in Islamic Law For The Rapist.. Apply Islamic Rule ( Sharia ) in India..
@Handsome4Hotty2 Your name tells a lot about your thought, why you wrote complete sentence you should have just commented with a full stop and people here would have understood what shit is going on in your mind.
It saddens me that such events go unpunished. That society would make the victim feel ashamed and embarrassed, while the perpetrators escape unblemished is extremely troublesome. This seems to be the norm these days. Why must Shenaz be attacked because of her outfit in this picture by many of the commentators…. what stupidity. Are men attacked in the same way for how they dress?? How come there are no men who dress revealingly being raped by women????? of course not….. this would never happen…. if men can so easily be provoked to raping..then they are nothing but pitiful animals.
I agree with shenaz but strongly feel that bollywood should stop promotimg nudity on tv and media.
Stop commenting or pulling legs . Create a unity.. try to fight with the problem together.
one single hand cannot change the world . but 100 hands can make a little change . so fight against
these cheap minded phys co people .
Awesome .. beautifully executed, hats off to your courage. I am with you let me know if you require any support on this issues… salute to women power!
Rapist should be given death sentence if they proofed guilty . Men should respect women.
Agree with her that, there should be tougher laws for rapist,
Our judiciary is so slow that these cases keep pending for 10-11 years. Judiciary can help keep india safe by clearing all over 5000 pending rape case and giving tough punishment to proven rapist.
While i appreciate and acknowledge that this indeed is a serious problem for not just women but for our whole country , i dont think the solution lies in any of the celebrities going on a fast etc . The entire society needs to be educated and minds of the entire male population need to change and learn to respect our women . It is likely to be a very slow process and in the meantime we must all do our bit to educate those around us . I have two grown up daughters and i can feel the emotion and pain of shenaz .
I personally feel that there is a solution but nobody wants to talk about it. Most counties in the world have found a solution. So can we.
LEGALIZE PROSTITUTION
Let these men .. starved men go openly and loose their frustration. Give them freedom to pay for it and settle their desires. Doing this you will stabilize 80% of starved sex offenders. Balance would be a very small number who would think twice before being offenders.. Most countries have legalized it and it’s even a revenue generating mechanism.
This letter should have been addressed to all men
Well said Shenaz ….
Hope all the finest and influential Men of our Country stand up for the Women of Substance .
Well said Shenaz …..
Hope all the Finest and Influential Men of our Country stand up for the Woman of Substance …
Let the victim decide the penalty of the culprit .
I totally agree with Shanaaz, the guys should be flogged in public first then put behind the bars or better still hanged in public which will creat some fear so that no body else ever dares to rape a woman. I very strongly feel that they should be publicly hanged. Thats the only solution.
@Handsome4Hotty2
As per ur name what uve commented is perfect
U say ur handsome for people who look hot
I guess u not a gay right ……so u would be talki g abt girls n yes people who have commented abt dresses n what a lady or a girl should wear im sooo sorry to say even when a young 6yr old girl wears a frock she gets rapped so its nothing to do with the dress its the feeling of lust that someone carries in his heart n mind
Also prople who r commenting about going naked n all I think its none of their concern because if u notice the first thing that clicked ur mind was a nued figure so even if she had worn a salwar n would have uploaded her comment u would have said the same thing……
I have gone through this trauma when I lived in Mumbai but never in Canada. I have been here seven years and never experienced it here.
I agree with a lot of things which Shenaz has said. I do not agree with the fact that we need to depend upon celebrities for this. Thought process needs to change within the family, not just Shenaz’s family it has to change in my family and every other Indian’s family. The day we have support from the people we love I think everyone will have the courage to speak up, fight back. Yes government needs to act quickly, bring fear in people’s mind who think they can take advantage of a situation and get away from things. India is moving ahead and a lot can be seen by the kind of realistic movies like Pink which are being directed, but we need reality and for that we need change of laws. People need to be scared of the law and please don’t make application of law for one City, State. Do it for India. I am an Indian and I want my wife, gf, sister, mother and friend to be safe across India rather than a specific state. Shenaz as a man I feel ashamed of how some men have taken advantage of opposite sex without even thinking the impact it will have on that person for the rest of her life. Shenaz I stand by you for safety of all women and change in law.
If an animal doesn’t be in its norms of behavior then it’s killed as its dangerous to let it free for mankind… Similarly if a man CD be so sick n behaves inhumanly should be shot dead immediately, as they are even more dangerous for d mankind… D grose thinking is not only dangerous for only females but it is for men n n children too… Such Bastards hv to be sentenced to death n only death n nothing less than that…. D only solution to this problem… UAE law has to cm to tackle this problem of d Nation… Some examples ll bring down d rate of crime drastically.. And thats d need of an hour…
Hi Shenaz,
A very old letter but I am sure nothing has changed so far. I felt really sad while reading the letter but then I realized, Why do i feel sad? Why do i do a hue & cry evertime. Who do girls keep victimizing themselves always? Why we girls feel pity on our situation?
Writing this letter to all strong Men, What will change? Are we not talking about the same country where even Males are molested. Is it not the same country where small kids *Boys are sexually harassed too? Does crying really help?
Sorry, But not Sorry!! The first change starts from yourself. I am no less than anyone. If anyone tries to molest me or use me..I am the first one to teach them a lesson. I am not weak because I am a woman. I am weak…because we think we are.
You talked about changing Law. Are we talking about the same country where A dowry Law is passed and 60-70% dowry cases are fake and framed just to seek revenge. Are we talking about the same country where If a girl is ditched by a Boy….She theatens him to charge for molesting and raping her. As they all are educated about the Law!!!
Does a Law can bring change?
Sorry!!! The change starts from every individual. No Men or No Women….Everyone is endangered with this situation around us. But please don’t plead but Fight. Please don’t cry…. Make them cry. Please don’t get weak…As everyone is a strong individual.
May god bless us with enough power to fight with such evil.
But please don’t seek help from others….Please help yourself.
Get up & Fight ?
Hats off to Shenaz Treasurywala for forcing so many powerful men of our country to pull out their heads out of their a**es and come forward for the implementation of harsh rules to safeguard ladies from such animals we call “RAPISTS”.
Death penalty plz for all the devils staying in this country destroying humanity.
Madam Shehnaz… All these years you were sleeping all of sudden you woke writing this mail to Mr Modi… Now you are feeling you not safe in India? Do you know crime rate abroad? Have ever tried to check that in the country where you visit? I am not saying India is very safe… We have issues with people here but… Other countries are also not safe… If you feel you are not safe here just stay out…
Bitter truth but no one there to protect us as today me myself keep a knife with me it may be day or nite as still hv the fear… why women hv to suffer every time ??
Not only to get agree but have to sadly accept that it’s not yours same and fault but ours.
I will not say this should be or that should be but will not be the part of same by satanding Against it.
I did it earlier . will do it more willingly and sincerely.
Teach your sons to respect women by demanding, yes demanding and commanding respect from the men in your life. Teach your daughters to command respect from all males around and have a zero tolerance policy in case of insults.
Change the education system, where women are seen as secondary to men in all fields.
They say, Behind every successful man there is a woman. Well get success for yourself and stop trying to justify yourself.
Being a Mumbai girl myself, have gone through a lot of groping and caution and embarrassment. Law is not the solution, the solution lies with every mother, she has to educate her girl how to fight these lechers and her boys that a girl is put on this earth so she can be appreciated and adored. She is not less than a boy, she is not equal to a boy. She is far superior to a boy and needs to be respected at all.
Carry the acid girls (pretend to carry it) or pepper spray and give it to these lechers full face. Carry small blades , so if a hand gropes all you have to do is pass the blade on the hand. Fight back and fight dirty. Do not pity them and rebuke these who think its their God given right to infringe on you physically or mentally.
Do not depend on guys. Take matters in your own hands.
The streets should be protected first, with huge deployments of security personnels(combining lady personnels).So that we can prevent our SISTERS, MOTHERS, FRIENDS before things even arrive. Secondly the laws, which undoubtedly seek the DEATH PUNISHMENT, whoever he may be,a street criminal or the protector himself.
We have our part too, in the third place, to save the WOMAN, if we have encountered such a situation where she needs our help at hand.. That’s your MARDAANGI, in saving a woman, not molesting a woman.
Make a group let women like us sponsor it. Punish these guys and let them face dexter of our own. Women have misused law by cryiing wolf. so we can’t expect law to change soon. Our own gender is also at fault . The dowry law is no more strict because of women who just misused it to harass In laws.
Sponsor your own dexter gang. Wht harm ? In India no one either gets punished for doing wrong. Dexter will not be punished too.
Death penalty is right for rapist women & children ? shud be respected why is the law so casual about such cases in INDIA?
I’m shocked at the instance that your quoting here, it’s disgusting to read all this and the mentality of the sexually starved people who roam around as rouges in this nation. I fear for my Daughter and the girls in my family.
Shehnaz, the guts that you have shown to bring this out in the open on social media takes huge guts, and it’s important.
There needs to be a huge social change in the mind set of people here in our country in terms of respecting women.
I hope the people who have the power bring in a drastic change in this attitude of men to stop this kind of haressement of women and girl children in our country.
@vajir. Sad to speak, Mr. Vajir, of your self righteousness. You seem to justify such behaviour and leave the fault on the victim. It’s due of this mentality that we are still where we are and our sisters are afraid to even trust us. Take responsibility for your action and don’t put the blame on the victim specially when they are girls. And do have atleast some decency when you describe a lady like the way you did in your comment.
Thank you.