Feature

There are many things that are not right. I understand that it's not possible to fix everything in a day. However, that doesn't mean that we should sit back and wait for tomorrow to clean up yesterday's mess. We should handle one problem at a time. We can make a difference if we do something about it now!

The thing to think about here is that it's not only the government that's responsible for what's going on, but also the people. How long are we going to continue all this and keep bearing it? When are we going to take action? Are we not human beings? Why is it that we keep quiet and continue watching the injustice? It's like we want to sit in a corner with our eyes shut, ears covered and mouths shut.

According to reports for last year, in the first quarter, more than 1,900 women were allegedly subjected to violence, over 200 were killed allegedly following rape, over 300 women were allegedly abused for not meeting their husbands' dowry demands and over 100 were trafficked. Acid Survivors Foundation claim that at least 166 incidents of acid attacks involving 210 victims, 138 of whom were women, took place in the first nine months of the year. Social stigma, police refusal to act on most reports of violence against women, and a lack of legal and community support for the victims prevented many of them from seeking justice. A lot of the victims simply kept quiet, fearing even worse consequences if they speak out.

I am a girl, almost a woman, and so at the end of the day all this does affect me. If you're a male, just think about it. Any one of these victims could be your sister or daughter. What would you do? Injustices such as the ones mentioned above do not only take place in rural areas, but also in cities. Even urban girls and women face the horror. Something has to be done. I believe the silence has to be broken and justice should be present.

Rag day in VNC, batch-2007

Nusrat Jahan

“Have a twisty life like your hair”, “tui khawa-o komabina,shajgojo komabina,toke aibhabei bhalo lage”, “hope you will get a rocking jamai.” I just couldn't stop laughing seeing all these comments on my shirt after coming from my college In December. It was the last day of our college life, our Rag Day. We were all excited about the day thinking that at least all those tight-scheduled classes, practical classes after college have all come to an end. But on that very day we really felt bad thinking about the other exams that we will have to face, hot addas, stealing food from friends' bags during class hours, even the thought of not doing the horrifying math practical again made me frown. So we wanted to do something special from our section.

So all 14 of us choreographed this dance out of a remixed English song to perform.

I was really excited, as this was the first time I will be dancing in front of almost 1300 people including the teachers! I don't know how the performance was but those unforgettable days of tiring rehearsals will always make me smile. Coming to college at 7:00 in the winter morning then going back home in the late evening, practicing before and after college, buying, ordering and designing our dresses, all added up to make awesome memories.

The day started with taking oath with our class teacher, followed by wearing shirts and writing comments (it continued till the end of the day). Then we all gathered in our big hall room, our principal gave a speech, then the gift giving ceremony started and ended by cutting a gigantic delicious cake by our principal. Then we got ready for our dance, had a last practice, the part which I liked most is that the whole class cheered, inspired and helped us. It seemed like they were dancing with us. The function had almost 10 to 12 performances performed by all the 9 sections that we had.

Then the photo session started featuring the hangouts, eating, jumping, joking, screaming and what not! The entire class went to have ice cream at Subzero. The small place became hot like the crater of a volcano by our presence. We just couldn't imagine that we were leaving our college. So most of us again marched back to our college. We sat on the green grass on the campus. All the memories with this field came rushing back to me-getting wet in the rain, jumping in the mud, running after friends to pour water from flask after the classes were over, swinging under the giant red krishnochura tree, those few days when I was in the handball team, the marching….the list goes on. I had incredible days with my lovely friends; I will miss the care and love of my teachers who were more like parents. I will miss the parties, the picnics, last but certainly not the least I will miss my environment club, which has given me, so much I just can't describe in words. I may pass this college, may be it will not remember me, but I will come back here again. I am thankful to VNSC for giving me such friends.

Student of Viqarunnisa Noon College