1st February 2020

My Dear Nirbhaya,

How are you? I hope this question is not misplaced, given the way you left us. It's been 8 years since that horrific night. I read about it in the newspapers the following day and I just could not grasp the amount of torture, pain, suffering you must've been through. And for what? What had you done to have been treated in such a manner that'll shame not just the humans' but even animals? To date, I've been unable to find an answer to that question….

Ever since then there have been changes in the laws and the idea of women's safety. Politicians have won and lost elections on that very point but none of the steps taken have made the women in this country feel safe. Since you've passed there have been similar incidents across the country. You obviously must know having met those girls as well. 

Speaking of politicians, did you know our government banned a documentary made on this incident as it showed the nation in a bad light? But never the less, we've all watched it. Frankly, I wish that I hadn't. The recounting of that horrific night will continue to haunt me for the rest of my life. But it nears nothing to the excruciating pain that you have been through. What surprises me is your will to live. The doctors in the documentary said that they were baffled to see you conscious. Having medically assessed your condition they said it was a shock that you were even alive. After you were air-lifted for better care you told your parents that you want to live. Since then you've been our Nirbhaya- the fearless…. 

The reason why I'm writing this letter to you today is to tell you that your culprits will be hanged to death on the 1st of February, 2020. Though your pain and suffering will always leave us all scared forever, this is a small attempt of salvation. The justice came in late and is not in a  balanced way yet it is what it is! 

We've as a society failed over and over on many counts, this being the biggest failure of them all. If tomorrow the human race were to become history, I wonder if it would be our triumphs that'll be remembered or would it be our failures that'll mark our presence?

At the end of it, there's one thing as a woman that I've realized is that this is a never-ending battle. There might be a faint trace of light at the end of this tunnel but the entire tunnel is pitch dark. We are going to have to fight our own battles with the armor that's best suited for us. I just wanted to say that I do hope you forgive us all. You were the reason that the battle of women's safety took a revolutionary turn in this country. Wherever you are, know this that you are and will always remain, "India's Daughter".

From, 
A Daughter.