No Nation for Women: Reportage on Rape from India, the World's Largest Democracy

by Priyanka Dubey

No Nation for Women takes a hard, close look at what makes India unsafe for its women — from custodial rapes and honour killings to rapes of minors and trafficking — the author uncovers many unpalatable truths behind what we are familiar with as newspaper headlines only...

Numbers convey, in part, why India is referred to as one of the world’s rape capitals — one woman is raped every 15 minutes; and, in 50 years, there has been a staggering rise of 873 per cent in sexual crimes against girls.
 
And beyond the numbers and statistics, there are stories, often unreported — of women in Damoh, Madhya Pradesh, who are routinely raped if they spurn the advances of men; of girls from de-notified tribes in central India who have no recourse to justice if sexually violated; of victimized lower-caste girls in small-town Baduan, Uttar Pradesh; of frequent dislocation faced by survivor families in West Bengal; of political wrath turning into rape in Tripura.
 
Priyanka Dubey travels through large swathes of India, over a period of six years, to uncover the accounts of disenfranchised women who are caught in the grip of patriarchy and violence. She asks if, after the globally reported December 2012 gang-rape of ‘Nirbhaya’ in New Delhi, India’s gender narrative has shifted — and, if it hasn’t, what needs to be done to make this a nation worthy of its women.
 

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism, India, Politics, Gender, Journalism, Academic

252 pages, Paperback

First published March 5, 2019

Reviews

[Nandakishore Mridula · Rating 5 out of 5]

India is a nation which "treats women as Goddesses", the hagiographers would say. They would quote the famous sloka from the Manusmriti (The Laws of Manu) which says "only in those places where women are worshipped, do gods dwell; in other places, all holy rituals are wasted" - conveniently forgetting all those other ones where Manu goes on to display his enormous misogyny. The truth is, Indian culture is fiercely patriarchal and entirely misogynistic: where women are considered little more than property, domestic slaves to their husbands (read: owners) and baby-producing machines.

When women don't conform to this stereotype, how do you bring them back into line? Rape them. When the "lower" castes get uppity, how do you make them toe the line? Rape their women. When you have a grouse against someone, how do you get back at him? Rape his wife, sister or daughter. Or when you are out in the evening to have a good time, and is feeling horny after a couple of drinks? Scout around, find a girl somewhere, grab her and rape her.

And oh, if you are not satisfied with just raping your woman, you can also torture and murder her. Only make sure that you have some kind of clout - political, caste-wise or religion-wise. The police, the polity and even the judiciary will stand by you staunchly. (And this goes for paedophiles too.)

Okay, I am angry. Not just angry - positively furious. And extremely ashamed that I was born a male in this crappy country, with its cesspool of a culture. Oh, Priyanka Dubey, you killed India for me. Permanently.

The most recent figures given by the National Crimes Records Bureau (NCRB) of India says that 106 women are raped in India every day. Four out of every 10 of these victims are minor girls. This means more than four girls are raped every hour in the country. This is essentially saying that in less than every 15 minutes, one woman is raped somewhere in India.

Just let that sink in.

This book comprises thirteen stories. It has got stories of "corrective" rapes - where women are punished for rejecting the advances of men; political rapes, to keep the uppity women from a rival party in their place; caste-based rape, with the extremely backward castes at the receiving end; rapes in custody, by the police themselves; rapes and harassment of policewomen; sexual trafficking... you name any kind of crime against a woman, it is available in India. The common factor among all these stories is that (1) the perpetrators are in a position of strength and privilege; (2) the law enforcement is mostly worse than useless; and (3) the rape victim faces such trauma after the incident that most of the rapes don't get reported (it's a question of honour, you see).

My own journeys across the country have taught me that the roots of this victim- shaming lies in patriarchy. The imposed concept of body purity for women turns into a monster of unbearable shame and stigma in the case of sexual assault. All these concepts of so-called honour, ‘body purity’ and ‘body pollution’ have been created and nourished for centuries by this very patriarchal mindset.

These tales are mostly from the Hindi heartland - but that does not mean that the other places are havens of peace for the fair sex. I am sure that women, especially underprivileged women, face the same problems everywhere in India, to a higher or lesser degree.

I will share some of the cries in the wilderness which pierced me.

‘They cooked dinner and went out to relieve themselves, like they did every day. When they did not return, men started searching for them all over and we started shouting and wailing in our homes. By morning we were told that our daughters are hanging on the mango trees of Ramnath Chaudhary’s orchard. We never imagined that somebody could kill our children so cruelly.’

***

‘I came to this city to make a life for myself and my family. I wanted us to get rid of the poverty of our village life. My wife and children used to live in the village earlier. They came only a few weeks before all this happened. My wife knew nothing about urban life. We come from Mithila in Bihar. Have you heard of Sitamarhi district ever? I come from there. Every year floods come and destroy our lives in the village. So I thought of coming to the city. A couple of months after I started work- ing as a labourer here, I fetched my wife from Bihar to this city. The children also came. I was happy when they came because I used to feel very lonely in the city. Initially she felt scared in the city. One day she said that she feels as if the city is just like the river in Mithila. It will engulf us all. I didn’t understand then but I do know now what she meant.’

***

‘We have been getting threats from the upper-caste people of Kurmuri village since the case went to the police. They are shocked that we “dared” to go to the police. They have warned us that they will cut us down, peel our skins off and then kill us (kaat-cheel ke maar denge). We are very scared. It is very easy for them to kill lower-caste people here. They have been killing us for years now. They can kill us any day. They rape us, beat us—they can do anything to us anytime they want. Out of fear, we have kept a bottle of poison with us. Because they are all merciless people. Don’t you know, they slaughter Dalits very brutally here? I think it is better to die by drinking poison than by being slaughtered at the hands of these heartless babu sahibs.’

***

'...Next day, my daughter was kidnapped. Two days later we found her body slashed—slit from everywhere. She was found naked lying in the canal. Her private parts were looking like a pound of open-cut flesh. They had chewed down her breasts and bitten her body like dogs...'

I could go on quoting.

As the author says, in a country where even the courts see a raped woman as a victim (as a sort of 'damaged goods'), and society focussed on punishment rather than rehabilitation, it will take a long time for woman to attain the dignified position that is her due. But we need to keep on working on it.

In the Indian context, the idea of body chastity of women needs to be challenged. Until we dissociate the idea of ‘pure and uncorrupted’ body as central to a woman’s existence, we will continue to make her life vulnerable by making her believe that if the crime of rape or sexual violence happens to her, it will be the end of her life...

...Gender discrimination and violence against women are not going to end overnight in India. We have a long road ahead to travel—a road which will be full of conflicts, struggle, self doubts and also some occasional collateral damage. But, we must keep walking on this road. In search of a world where women feel safe and are treated as equal citizens; a world which is a fairer and a better place to live in for all human beings. But we must never forget that the starting point of this road is ‘acknowledging’ the insane amounts of violence happening against women all across the country, and beginning that process by listening. At the very least, we can start by believing in women.

Let us start. Today.

[Kamakshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just hope this book reaches the right audience and stirs up an emotion which could change the way the country is going on right now. There is an immense need to acknowledge the safety of women in India and work towards establishing a safer country. Waiting for the silver lining.

[Ankita Chauhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

And 'No Nation for Women by Priyanka Dubey' ended with

"the starting point of this road is 'acknowledging' the insane amounts of violence happening against women"

This book takes deep dive into the lives of Indian girls and raised voice against rape culture. An Essential Read.

[Cyril Danthi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel the victims of these horrific rape cases, had an opportunity to share their worst nightmare with a person, who could listen to their pain and reveal to the readers. This book is really heartening to read the pain, and can experience tears, pain and goosebumps.
One thing is common across these narrated rape cases, the victims are poor, unable to fight and have to be brave in many circumstances. The worst part is that these rapes are done for political mileage, revenge etc,
The worst part is Justice is delayed and many a times, it is just postponement. After reading all these horrific, horrible, brutal and shamed cases, India needs a strong judiciary with own investigation and provide justice to these victims and their families within six months or within a month. There are cases that drag over a decade. The victims and there family are threatened to drop the cases. Many of the victims were juveniles at the time of the incident.
I wish and pray the God really touch these victims and give them strength. !!

[Anushree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty exhausted. The book is a gem though. You need to wait for my review. It will be up on Women's Web soon. I guess I am almost back.

[Rosun Rajkumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

No nation for women by Priyanka Dubey
Genre: Non-fiction
My rating: 4. 5/5

Priyanka Dubey is a journalist who has spent a number of years documenting rape cases across India. This book is a collection of her reports over various states including UP, MP, West Bengal, Tripura, Assam and Kerala.

First things first. You need to be mentally prepared to read this. I get affected very easily, so I read this over a period of time, interspersed with 'light reads'.

Once you get over the horror and trauma of reading the details of the rapes, gang-rapes, murders and all of the physical brutalities, her reports will sink in to you.

1. These are a very few of the cases which have come into limelight due to media/political/International hue and cry. We don't even have the data or the understanding of the rape cases which go unnoticed and unreported.
2. The intersectionality. Religion, class, caste- each one of these factors come into play.
3. Rape is a tool used by the dominant castes to intimidate and dehumanize the marginalised castes. The reports related to the Dalit, schedules caste and Adivasi cases in the book are proof of that.
4. Rape is political. The reports from Tripura prove this.
5. The most heart breaking thing for me to learn was how society, the state and the law collectively fail the rape survivors (not rape 'victims'). Also, in some of the reports, the police and even the CBI become actively hostile agents working against the rape survivors and their families.
6. Finally, there is very little in the name of rehabilitation for rape survivors.

This book is an education. Also, it made me think. It made me see my own previledge as a cisgender, gay man living in a big city.
I don't live in a far flung, marginalized corner of the country. I didn't go out to pee. I wasn't raped/mimed/tortured/hanged. No one placed their 'honour' in my vagina. I'm not a woman. I felt the guilt of not knowing how that life is.

I can't think of any criticism on her reporting. This is a must read.

[vitasta · Rating 5 out of 5]

i wish this book never had to be written.

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

To begin with, I appreciate the author for having the intellectual honesty to highlight the all-pervasive role of caste in institutional violence against women. The roots of sexist, misogynist violence against women lie within the caste system - a simple truth that is glossed over by most reporters/writers who focus on the issue of sexual violence. The author has not only highlighted the blatant, explicit ways in which caste perpetrates violence against women but has also reported on the various hues that Indian patriarchy adopts. The personal narrative also helps the reader to understand the magnitude of the crimes and the consequences that the victims undergo. Having said that, I sometimes felt that the author pushed too hard to elicit information from the victims. I do not know about the ethics of it and I am not in a position to judge, I'm just pointing out something that crossed my mind. Also, I noticed that the author does not point out the caste location of the perpetrators when they are Brahmins, while she talks extensively about the caste locations of the OBC perpetrators. I find this to be self-defeating and dishonest. The class which protects and promotes institutions that are inherently anti-women deserves to be exposed and named.

The book carries with it a sense of desolate, hopeless poignancy. It is overwhelming and is wont to create a lifelong impact on the ways in which you perceive crimes against women. It seeks to understand the plight of the victim in depth. Every incident of rape and sexual violence reported in the book exposes the faultlines in the Indian justice system and the deep rot that our civil society carries.

Justice, in the subcontinent, is served only where the media is. Without media attention, the victims can hardly hope for justice in any form. The book shows us how even well-reported stories fizzle out in the absence of efficient investigation and political will. I dread to think of the actual number of rapes that happen in India as against the stats published by the NCRB. In a more open society, there would be higher reportage of rapes - countries like Sweden have higher reportage rates. In a closeted, oppressive society like ours, it can safely be assumed that a majority of rapes go under the radar. It is in this context that the media plays a significant role in ensuring justice.

The book also underscores the need for affirmative action across all the public institutions of this country. The impunity shown by the police, the media, the bureaucracy, the judiciary and the politicians tells us how representation matters. The oppressed need to represent their interests in all these forums to ensure justice is served. The toothlessness of the CBI was also showcased throughout the book. The efficacy and the need for the existence of the CBI must be researched and questioned.

The differential justice that exists in India for different castes can also be discerned through these stories. Upper caste victims get ample attention from the media and civil society. This is a luxury that is denied to the oppressed in most cases. Even the most gruesome cases get glossed over by the sands of time and our collective amnesia.

I agree with the author's views on compensatory justice. In addition to it, I think sufficient emphasis must be laid on the futility of capital punishment. Given that it affects innocent people and criminals from the oppressed sections disproportionately, it needs to go. Encounter-killings and mob justice must also be discouraged at every turn. I must read and think more about the administration of justice with regard to sexual violence. The book has given me many moot points to consider and it has been a fruitful, devastatingly poignant learning experience. In conclusion, I believe that sexual violence against women cannot be fought against in a vacuum. The fight against sexual violence is a part and parcel of the Bahujan fight against the caste system. All women need to understand the need to participate in this fight to ensure justice at least for our progeny.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I wanted to howl my head off at that moment. But instead I closed my eyes, clinched both my fists and tried to hold myself together."

These lines by the author describe exactly what I was feeling reading this book. It was a very difficult book to read, I felt survivors guilt while reading it and I could measure my privilege and opportunities.
There were so many times during this book I had to pause reading, moments when I wanted to stop reading altogether but I couldn't stop because these women and girls deserve to be remembered and that's the least I could do.
You can feel the author holding back the more gruesome details of the cases she covered but that didn't stop the shivers that ran down my spine. Anyone who has been physically violated knows how difficult it is to forget it and these women went through so much more.
I can't imagine the trauma these women must feel and especially more so when institutions that stand for justice deny you this right depending on your caste or communities coming together against these women for the "honour" of their(the accused as well as the victim's) community. But to be honest I am not surprised at the state of our justice system. I do not have any faith in the Indian Government and it's law enforcement.
I am extremely dejected and I do not know how to go forward. These women will always stay in my heart while I also realise that they are just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many more cases that go unreported and numerous cases where young boys and men are r*ped or sexually assaulted which we wouldnt hear about.
The road is a constant uphill battle with no end in sight.

TW: r*pe,murder, sexual and physical assault.

[Piyusha Vir · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart-wrenching and searing account of the women who have faced caste-based and systemic violence.
The book makes you aware of your privilege but also makes you question the systems and powers that inflict such violence.
I broke down a couple of times while reading the book. And after that too.
And to think these women lived through it or died at the hands of these men, and to imagine Priyanka Dubey talking to them and having to write all these stories... I can't even... I don't know
It's not that you don't know all this. But reading it so intimately just makes it more real and personal. I feel numb with horror and overwhelmed with grief at the same time.

This is definitely a gut-wrenching but a very important read!

[Tamanna Urmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very difficult read especially as a women who lived through very similar landscape and social structure. One may feel like they barely survived looming dangers around them. Important read too to understand various motivations behind rape, the impacts of patriarchal power dynamics, vulnerability of people and may be through the reading one can find a good tip to navigate a world that looks like this a little better.

The politics behind rape
The consequences the victim and their family have to go through
Effects of other elements of social structures such as money, religion, caste, influence
Anecdotes of life before and after a rape incident
... are things I probably would not have known well enough in a short time without reading this book.

On the other hand, this reads like a compilation of newspaper article. The author's attempt to give create a story and give it life by a novel like language did not actually work. The description of the emotional journey of victims and perpetrators is fairly well-written but after all reads like a reportage than a visual journey.

[Arun Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is dark. So utterly dark because you know this is happening around you in the stark daylight and you are somehow aware about it but can't do anything about it. Or can you?? First awareness about this topic is necessary. This book is necessary to know the state of things and then we could do something about it.

[Nilesh Kokare · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just now finished reading this damn brutal and disturbing and important book. And I am at a loss of words. I don't know what to say. Except to urge you all to please read this book. And at least get an idea of the pain and trauma and sufferings and difficulties and injustice women (especially DBA women) from all across India (in hamlets especially) survive through every single day — because of the intersectionality of caste supremacy and patriarchy. And also how the dominant castes government officials and its all machinery (from the police to judiciary) also supports and participates in maintaining caste supremacy and patriarchy by giving sheer impunity to the culprits (especially of dominant castes) and also even by themselves committing vicious atrocities on women (especially DBA women). The writer who is also a journalist has narrated heinous and barbarous rape cases in details from her on-ground reporting and interviews with victims or/and their families from places across India (especially North India) throughout this book. Every case is just sheer disturbing and gut-wrenching. The situation of women (especially DBA women) in this nation hasn't improved any since independence, it has only worsened. To be honest, I was sceptical at the start about starting this book as the writer is a privileged brahmin woman but the book throughout is intersectional. The book ends with an important discussion about the urgent need for rehabilitation of rape victims since so very long — as in India, victims are still shamed and stigmatised and abandoned by the Indian casteist and patriarchal society instead of the accused/culprits when it comes to the crime of r*pe. I will forever be affected by this book. Please read this book to know your damn huge privilege. And to use that damn privilege and put into work — work till it isn't a privilege anymore. PLEASE READ this book! Also, LOADS of trigger warnings.

[Sanjay Tillani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before writing the review I must put a point forward that whatever I might say here could come under the tag of mansplaining.
That being said, I find the book very shocking, while reading the cases I felt sad, irritated, and disgusted which was the intended purpose of the book to reveal the status of justice for women in the country. Not just justice, there is nexus of system failures that affect the social structures and stigmas of compassion towards the survivors and victims. It all puts a question mark on the society that we have lived in so far.
I believe that this error of system could and must improve in the future, but that couldn't be done solely on the basis of political awareness, Social awareness is as important. Otherwise, the patriarchal system wouldn't be affected.
At the end of the book, the author suggested that rehabilitation should take place for victims and survivors but I wish that she could tell us more about what she thinks is proper rehabilitation, if not her, at least a talk with social workers who work in the same domain could be published along with the book so that one could understand it more properly. The author is primarily a journalist and their duty is to point out problems so that the people who have some power could do something about it and that is understandable, but her personal opinion sometimes lacks in texture.

That being said I know it is hard to do this kind of research and reach people and bring such books into the world which did not exist before and hence the author should be appreciated. I hope she could gain proper funding and could research about Southern Indian states and publish another such book.

[SR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gut wrenching, chilling and extraordinary lives of survivors

The book captures litany of crimes against women of lower income, lower caste (as its obscenely named) but it's not written for shock value. The heart of book is well placed , the journalism shines driving home the reality of rape in lower strata , inaccessible parts of India (sorts of) and also the need of the hour, what needs to be done etc. An urgent reading for civil society , if not anything , at the least prompts deep introspection. However does this reach the majority ...probably a English book will not serve the purpose. But then again if you educate the elite of india, you have essentially influenced the influencers of policy. So kudos to the author.

[Sayantan Ghosh]

In No Nation for Women Priyanka Dubey takes up the grueling task of travelling through India’s heartlands for a period of over six years to uncover the accounts of disenfranchised women who are caught in the grip of patriarchy and violence in a country where one woman is raped every 15 minutes. At a time when sexual harassment has become a part of our everyday conversations, this book throws light on the far-reaching effects of accepting patriarchy as a norm. Dubey’s book, over six years in the making, takes a hard, close look at what makes India unsafe for its women—from custodial rapes and honour killings to rapes of minors and trafficking. Dubey uncovers many unpalatable truths making this one of the most important books of 2018.

[Kartik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic book regarding the pathetic state of women in India. My one criticism is that it is overly focused on the random minutia of the people's lives instead of overall analysis or history. I think some people love the people stories, but I guess I just want to hear the broader economic/historical/social story. Very good read though.

[Vachan Hukkeri · Rating 5 out of 5]

It feels pathetic to live in a society which one one hand calls a lady it's better half, and on the other managed to do such atrocities against her.
I hope this book reaches the people who matter and can make the difference in our judicial system. Hats off to Priyanka Dubey.

[Animesh Priyadarshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A review of "No Nation for Women: Ground Reportage on Rape from the World's Largest Democracy" - Read between March 11 - March 28, 2022

I listened to the Author Ms Priyanka Dubey's interview on a YouTube Channel, "Himanshu Bajpai Official under his popular series '"क" से किताब'". Link: https://youtu.be/-FPzfztcpkk

Ms Dubey's reportage and her vivacity and her philosophy about books attracted me to read her famous book "No Nation For Women". Personally I'm always attracted towards literature and when it connects me with reality it affects me at somewhat deeper level. This book does the same to me. I'd recommend this soul touching reportange based book to all grown-ups even adolescent boys and girls. This book tries to sensitize you and make you come face to face with the physical pain and psychological suffering and various sorts of inhumane societal, familial, victim blaming of a rape-survivor. The author handles the topics and the sub-topics in very nuanced ways, she educates the reader about the person and the soul which has been brutalised out of no fault of hers! "Just to show her place" - men have done such brutal torture on Women/Girls/Female Kid but the society, the nation, the judicial system and even so called intellectuals don't pay much heed towards the survivors and making the situation better day by day.
She explains very aptly about the indifference of Indian Judicial system and lack of political will power to bring adequate changes at earliest for making the 50% of population safe and secure and confident to live their life with dignity. The book is strongly recommended. Some quotes from the book are as follows:

"If your child returns home one night and her body is all burnt with cigarettes, slashed with blades and if her nails are all plucked, and she is all soaked in blood, what punishment would you ask for?"

"There are moments in my reporting life, when all I have wanted to do is to howl. I want to scream loudly—so loud that my voice reaches the sky and breaks it apart in two pieces. Instead I cover my face with my scarf and sob. Silently. Because I don’t want the driver to know that I am crying. Otherwise he might assume that I am a ‘weak woman’. And no good thing happens to ‘weak’ women in this world."

"But nothing that I had witnessed in my journey this morning—or since the morning I was born—could have ever prepared me for this conversation."

"In a country where judges start their judgments by saying, ‘No amount of money can restore the dignity and confidence of rape victims’ and that we need a rehabilitation scheme to ‘wipe off the tears of the unfortunate rape victims’, we clearly have a long way to go. By giving such statements judges not only reinforce the ‘Oh, there is no life after rape’ and ‘You are what your body is’ narrative, they also impose an unnecessary life-long burden of victimhood on a woman."

It is very hard for me not to appreciate or empathise with the pain of the author/reporter herself talking to victims and their family first hand of such gruesome crimes. A knowledge of even a single such incident can break one's zeal towards life but Priyanka Dubey practises what she preaches - To live with zeal and hope and working towards better future. The last chapter of the book deals with the steps which are being taken to make better future by different sections of the custodians of society.

- Animesh Priyadarshi
"The dose you need for sensitizing yourself towards Gender Crimes"

[Shruti Chhabra · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Nation for Women: Reportage on rape from India.
How do I start the review of this book? Where do I begin? The book shakes and disturbs you. It leaves you teary-eyed and with a heavy heart.
Autor Priyanka Dubey is a journalist, and while writing this book, she has utilized her training well for writing this book. Her research is intense. The book has thirteen chapters. One by one, she takes us to the dark, dingy alleys of the rape and ghastly crime against women.
The author not only reports the cases and follows them up, but she also explores the reason as to what led to these crimes—the socio, psychological implications, and the shaming of the victims after the crime.
What leads to rape? The stereotype women in this country have to confirm, too, the aggressive "upper class," insensitive law and order situation, vengeance, negative mentality, or simply because one needs to quench the lust, to name a few reasons.
Its Heart wrenching to read about a girl as young as five years and a woman as old as fifty been raped for no particular reason. If the rape was not enough, the victims were tortured and burnt after the rape. Their dead bodies apparently are the testimony of what they must have gone through in their last moments of life.
Yet, these cases die premature death after the media loses interest in them and moves on to another. In most cases, the criminals are acquitted for the lack of evidence. They have finances, contacts, and legal support to get out of the situation unscathed, while the victim is scarred for life- in most cases, they don't even live to see another daylight.
The book only talks about the cases that were reported. I shudder to think, what happens to the ones that are never acted upon? The readers through different geographical demographies across India. None of the states seems to be a secure haven for women. They seem to outdo the brutality when it comes to the heinous crime against women. Despite the spiking crime rate against women, the most shameful part is that there is no hurry to bring about the changes in the constitution for stricter laws and capital punishment for the accused. Except for the candle vigil march after every such ghastly incident, the government agencies do not seem to be in any rush to take stern action. In fact, the compensation promised by the government many a time does not reach the victims.
In our country, women are idolized as a goddess. She is worshipped in the form of "Maa" in the temples. Yet, outside she is brutalized, raped, and killed. To be precise, every fifteen minutes a day, one rape is reported in this country.
This book has changed something in me. This one is going to stay with me forever.

[Prachi Bhardwaj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Priyanka Dubey, a dedicated journalist, spent years traveling across India, documenting rape cases in states like Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, and Madhya Pradesh. Her work also highlights sexual crimes against India's de-notified tribes.

Her book opens with chilling accounts of horrific and traumatic incidents in rural areas, delving deeply into the brutal realities of rape and exploring the reasons behind these crimes.

As I wondered which group of women suffers the most, the book reveals a multitude of stories from women of various backgrounds, showing that no one is spared. While a few cases receive public attention, most are buried in our collective ignorance. Rape is used by dominant castes to terrorize and dehumanize marginalized communities, as evident in the cases involving Dalits, Scheduled Castes, and Adivasis documented in the book. Shockingly, the police, who should protect these women, are often complicit in these crimes.

The book also uncovers how politicians manipulate rape as a political tool to gain votes. The more I read, the less I trust the data available online. The book offers a deep understanding of the victims' suffering, exposing the flaws in the Indian justice system and the deep-rooted corruption in our society. Justice in India often seems attainable only when the media is involved; without media attention, victims have little hope. The book demonstrates how even well-publicized cases fade away without proper investigation and political commitment. It’s terrifying to consider how many rapes actually occur in India compared to the statistics published by the NCRB.

This book reflects the harsh reality of our nation. It made me feel both privileged and enraged, leaving me questioning, "Why? How did we get here?"

It’s hard to hold on to hope after reading this book, especially in light of the chaos that followed the brutal rape of a doctor at her workplace, and how people on social media circulated images of the crime scene and the face of the deceased, showing no respect for her even in death.

I often wonder if there’s anything I can do to make the world safer for women, but each new story fills me with anger and frustration. The worst part is that people seem to have become numb to these horrors.

"Violence is not the worst thing. Apathy is."

[Sharvani Pinge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a very difficult read, and took me over a month to finish. I had to take breaks after reading each chapter. It was nearly impossible to read two chapters in a row because each story made my blood boil. The stories of these women and girls who are barely older than children, are traumatising to say the least. The inhuman treatment that women, especially those of poor backward, lower and Dalit castes, keep receiving even in this day and age is mindnumbing. I don’t have a whole lot to say about this book at this moment, because I am still reeling from all the stories that I’ve read. I’m saddened, angry and frustrated.
I do, however, have to salute the guts and tenacity of the author, Priyanka Dubey. To venture out time and time again as a single woman into the heart of places that are known for brutalising women, on the daily, just so you can give a voice to the stories of these women who otherwise would have been forgotten, that takes nerves of steel that very few people possess.

[Word Muncher · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tragic story of India's women is probably replayed all over the world, but the injustices are certainly not. Indian men seem quite incapable of controlling their dicks. The world has to recognise and address this for the sake of making women safe in a developing nation, where women should be praised, loved and empowered. This book is very very sad and a tough read. I hope it raises awareness and the challenge of India to do better.

[Abhay Nanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stories in the book are from the past 20 years and some are as recent as 2014-15. Sometimes the media reports these gruesome acts of violence and rape / gang rape which infuriates the whole nation. The reason behind such anger, often, is the peculiar nature of such cases which are different from any normal rape incident. But, in reality, such hideous crimes happen on a daily basis in India and this book only contains a few of those.

[Syomantak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an extremely important piece of work by the author. The author does a great job of bringing the heart-wrenching stories of the victims to the readers. Indeed, the author’s background in journalism sets her up perfectly to report the rape cases she has carefully selected.

However, I found the prose to be quite elementary and sterile whenever the author supplements the stories with what are meant to be her profound reflections.

[Bela Pradhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just can't say in words how much I appreciate this book. This book is like a mirror to society and shows the reality of our nation.
While reading it, i couldn't sleep for days, had nightmares, and most of the time I was anxious.
without saying much...i urge you to pick this book.
I hope this book finds the right audience.

[sandhya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gutted.

[Aditi Ramaswamy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking. A must read for every South Asian.

[Drasti Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for all Indian citizens.

[Vidyotama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too raw. Too honest. Too moving.