Christmas, New Year, New Beginnings and Old Sorrows...

Firstly, wishing everyone a very (belated) Merry Christmas and Happy 2013! I hope your new year is filled with health, wealth, happiness and love, and above all, the strength to go out and be who you were meant to be, and do what you were meant to do.

Christmas is a time for family, festivities, fun. And yet, this Christmas was eclipsed somewhat by a sorrow; a sorrow so deep, so horrific, it caused outrage in a country that usually stays silent. On December 16, 2012, a 23-year-old woman was gang raped in the most brutal manner, and was then left to die by her six perpetrators.

In a country where Goddesses are supposedly revered, with one of the only religions in the world which even prays to Goddesses in an equal manner to Gods, this crime seems almost hypocritical.

Don't get me wrong - I'm more than proud to be an Indian. What I'm not proud of, is to be associated with such people, whatever nationality. When the capital of my country is referred to as 'The rape capital of India', it somewhat hurts and makes me wonder why this is so. Why rape figures in India have increased rather than decreased. And these are just official figures. So many women stay silent for the fear of social stigma and bringing 'shame' on the family; so many women commit suicide because the horror of living though such a heinous act is too much to bear. The jeers, taunts and sheer insensitivity to such a terrible crime, is too shameful to live through. All in a country where a woman is supposed to be seen as a Goddess, a wonderful creature to be celebrated in every way, through our colourful festivals and religious occasions. Things need to change - they must. The Indian Government needs to bring in stricter laws so women can feel safe walking the streets again. Laws in line with the Hindu religion where women are revered as Goddesses. Because all women are.

RIP Damini/Nirbhaya (Lightning/Braveheart) - here's hoping and praying the current riots bring you to justice and bring your perpetrators to a death sentence so horrific, so torturous, no man will ever dream of touching a woman against her will again...

I'm sorry I had to bring that in to what was supposed to be a positive post. But if this brings about even one person to think differently, to then spread this like wildfire, it will have served its purpose.

On to more positive things. It is the new year after all. I write this from my new abode in Buckinghamshire, starting the new year off with a new job. "Not again!!" I hear you exclaim. I know, I know, but when a role isn't right, it isn't right. I'm more than determined now to find the right job for me, and this one seems to have done the trick. I shall report back tomorrow when I've high ho'd and off to work I've go'd! (I realise 'go'd' isn't a real word, but I'm too tired to actually think of anything more creative!)

Have a wonderful 2013, whatever your plans. I'm going to leave you with the below quote which I think is a beautiful one to start the new year off with and follow...

"A woman is like a butterfly….
If you want her to stay near you, 
but fly as she should,
You must not brush the dust off her magical wings,
Nor control her essence in your hand…
Her beauty will be held only by a stillness and purity of heart."
- Andrew Hawkes