The Hindu : New Delhi News : `Self-defence key to women's protection'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 17, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

`Self-defence key to women's protection'

NEW DELHI, DEC. 16. Facts first: a woman is raped every 32 minute in India, murdered every 22 minute, and molested every 15 minute. What more there is a case of domestic violence every 11 minute.

Crime against women are growing by day, but most women still shy away from learning self-defence skills, they rather react negatively and see it as tomboyish and unladylike, or they think themselves too old for it, says Arvind Khaire, director, Women's Self-Defence Foundation.

``Gone are the days when women were worshipped in India - today crimes against them are on a rise at an alarming rate, and every woman is a potential victim, irrespective of her age,'' says Khaire, in a new book ``Against Close Encounters: Every Woman's Survival Manual''.

Women are being teased openly, molested mercilessly, stabbed ruthlessly, thrown out of running trains, burnt alive, attacked with acid and raped - the list goes on...

Self-protection gears up a woman to fight all this. But Khaire says ``upon being advised to take up self-protection courses, most women react negatively, as they misunderstand the meaning of the term `self-protection'.''

But it is unfair to blame them for this because since childhood they have been conditioned to be physically non-aggressive and avoid hurting others, he says.

However, women's self-protection skills should not be looked upon as a preparation to fight, but to survive close encounters, he says.

The most important aspects of self-protection are the awareness to recognise potential danger, avoid or neutralise any tense situation with assertiveness, verbal tactics, safety strategies and resorting to physical tactis as a last effort, which enables the would-be victim to effectively prevent, resist, escape and survive a close encounter, says Khaire.

Women's self protection has infact become a necessity in today's world, he says noting it is generally observed that a woman tolerates offensive behaviour without taking any steps to protect herself; either because she feels it is not worth the effort or because she feels that the situation is futile.

Learning to protect oneself is not merely about hitting and kicking; real self-protection begins before any physical contact, says Khaire, a Black Belt and professional self-defence instructor.

``Just as it is essential to know how to swim in order to survive in water, it is essential to know how to be able to protect oneself in order to survive on land. It is high time women overcame social conditioning to passivity, helplessness, low self-esteem and self-sacrifice,'' says the book. The book, infact, is a guide for women on how to protect themselves in potentially dangerous situations.

It tells women how to be assertive and confident, safeguard against assault and rape and escape from life-threatening situations. - PTI

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