The novelty of human existence is that all can stare at the splendid sun at their leisure and enjoy the warmth without any obstruction or prejudice. The beauty of the sun is that it shines at all times and in all places without bias or discrimination. Everyone knows the sun's warmth is essential for all living beings' growth and well-being. In fact, the perfection of living beings on earth depends on the rising sun. Therefore, there's always a sunrise, and it's up to each person to choose to be there so that they can avail themselves of the treasure it offers.

Nature is pure in its being and abides by the laws set for it from the foundation of the universe. Reflecting on nature and the grandeur of the sun, Umair Siddiqui had this to say: "May every sunrise hold more promise and every sunset hold more peace." Looking at the reality of our nation, can the citizens of India truly aspire and hold to such hopes and promises? The birth of a human person comes with a promise to shine like a star under the rays of the splendid sun with joy and happiness. Every person has innumerable potencies to make this world a better place. How come so many in our country are living under a pale shadow of death and despair? Why are so many children crying on our streets for lack of basic needs for sustenance? Why do so many women and young girls live in fear of being raped and stripped of their dignity? Whose fault is it that they are denied from staring at the splendid sun with the hope of better today and tomorrow? Does the splendid sun still hold a promise to them? Can we truly say, "India shining?" These questions are of grave consequence; hence, society should seriously reflect on these issues and bring sanity to our society.

"Sun never sets on the British Empire," was a claim, to which someone replied, "It's because God could not trust them in the dark." It's funny but true that humans try to disfigure something and blame it on God when something is so beautiful. During colonial times, the promise of the splendid sun was held from those under their rule only to have a pale existence for an unknown cause. The "Rise India" movement was a call for the people of India to look up with pride to the rising sun that holds a promise for every person to shine. Finally, the sun set on the British Empire. But the splendid rays are yet to shine on India. Too many dark clouds hovering over the nation block the rays, especially for those most vulnerable in society.

The present dispensation seems to have replicated the "Colonial Rule" by pushing its own citizens to a shadowy existence by casting doubts and aspersion. To victimise the citizens, the authorities weaponised the central financial and investigation agencies to crack down on civil society organisations and human rights defenders using tax, money laundering, foreign contribution, and anti-terror laws. Roles are reversed; what the British did to India, the Indian government is doing the same to its citizens. If you remember well, the tax authorities carried out coordinated raids—presented as "surveys"—at the Delhi and Mumbai offices of the BBC media organisation weeks after it broadcast a documentary critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The misuse of Central agencies like the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate against political opponents and critics has become a source of great concern. It is a direct threat to our freedoms.

The dark cloud of the caste system and false ideologies espoused by political heavyweights has worsened the situation for many, especially for children, women and minorities. Women in India cry for equality, freedom, and justice to stand under the splendid sun with dignity and pride. Is it too much to ask? It won't be wrong to call India the rape capital of the world. In the recent past, India has witnessed some of the most gruesome rape and crimes against women. One of the compelling lines in the novel "The Thousand Splendid Suns" is, "Learn this now and learn it well. Like a compass facing north, a man's accusing finger always finds a woman. Always."

The whole world was shocked at the news of the Nirbhaya case. Did India learn its lesson? Far from it. A faulty mindset is the root cause, which is reflected in our leaders, like the late Mulayam Yadav, who said, "Boys will be boys; they make mistakes... Will you hang them for rape?" And the woes continue. Recently, a Spanish couple had a safe bike tour around the world except in India. They were gang-raped in Dumka district, Jharkhand, while travelling to Nepal from West Bengal. Reflecting on the plight of a woman in his novel "A Thousand Splendid Suns," Khaled Hosseini puts it metaphorically, "One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs, or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls." Hosseini's inspiration for the novel was the plight of the women in Kabul, watching them walking in pairs up the street, trailed by their children in ragged clothes, and wondering how life had brought them to that point.

No doubt, the situation for a woman in India is much better than Afghanistan, but how come India holds the title of Rape Capital of the World?" According to the statistic, India has one of the highest rates of sexual violence in the world, and a woman is raped in India every 15 minutes. And now, the Kolkata doctor's rape and murder case, the Assam minor gang rape case, and the Badlapur assault case have reopened the harsh reality and the fearful existence of women and children in India. The dark clouds of political patronage, money power, violence, and hatred block the sun from its splendid rays to shine on women, children, and Dalits in India.

It is unbecoming in the land of Rishis to hold a high ratio of crimes and rapes. Could it be that we have lost the desire for a "relentless search for truth" and embraced materialism? Modern society depends on science and technology to help, but it is helpless to curb the animal instinct in humans. Besides, Brahminism espoused by the BJP subjugates humans' compounds to this anomaly. What is required is that rationality needs to be guided by proper teachings and objective truth to perceive the grandeur of human existence. All are created equal, with endless possibilities to strive and thrive for the good of individuals and human society.

Consequently, those ideologies that teach to subjugate others, like the caste system, class system, and weaker sex, should be abrogated to rise above the ordinary quagmire of pride, selfishness, and jealousy. God makes his sun shine on all good and bad alike. The crime rate in India is mind-boggling, both individual and institutional. Corruption and extortion have become their bread and butter in the private and government sectors. The poor and the vulnerable in society easily fall prey to this dark system, and the cry of the victims is lost to the black hole created by our own government.

Although the sun set on the British Empire, the splendid sun did not rise on Indian society. While Indians proudly shout, "Bharat Mata ki Jai," Mother India is raped by our own politicians and business tycoons without any care or concern. Her daughters are stripped and paraded naked under the splendid sun, and many girls and children are raped in a gruesome manner and murdered in broad daylight. Is the hope and promise of the splendid sun only for the few selected? Consequently, all must heed the clarion call "Rise India" to dispel the dark cloud of corruption, crime, injustice, false ideologies, and religious intolerance. Don't fall for the false assumption of "India Shining." Only then could we all once again stare at the splendid sun with hope and promise. If not, "Stree" will return for vengeance.