By: Dr. Avi Verma

In a civilization where millions begin their day by chanting “Jai Mata Di,” and where divine feminine power is revered in the forms of Mahalakshmi, Saraswati, Durga, and Kali, it is deeply troubling that violence against women and children continues to stain the conscience of the nation.

India proudly celebrates the concept of Shakti—the divine feminine energy that sustains the universe. Our temples, scriptures, and festivals glorify the power, dignity, and protection of women. Yet the same society continues to witness horrifying acts of sexual violence, including crimes against minors and even infants. This contradiction is not just painful; it is morally indefensible.

In recent years, India has repeatedly been shaken by cases that reveal the brutal vulnerability of its most innocent citizens. From the horrific Kathua rape case in 2018 involving an eight-year-old child, to numerous reported assaults on minors across the country, the pattern is deeply alarming. Disturbingly, there have also been reports of crimes against toddlers and infants—cases that shake any remaining illusions about the limits of human cruelty.

Only recently, authorities in one Indian state arrested a man accused of sexually assaulting a two-year-old child, a crime so disturbing that it reignited public outrage across social media and news platforms. Such incidents are not isolated tragedies; they are reminders that the problem is systemic and persistent.

India has not been silent in the face of these crimes. After the nationwide outrage following the 2012 Delhi gang rape case, the country enacted stronger laws through the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013. Similarly, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) created stricter provisions to safeguard minors.

These laws were necessary and important. They strengthened punishments, accelerated judicial processes, and increased public awareness.

Yet the persistence of brutal crimes reveals an uncomfortable truth: punishment alone does not always prevent future violence.

This is why a difficult but necessary global conversation is emerging about preventive approaches. In Italy, lawmakers are examining the use of voluntary, reversible hormone therapy—often referred to as chemical castration—for convicted rapists and pedophiles as part of a broader strategy to reduce repeat offenses.

The proposal emphasizes informed consent, medical supervision, and rehabilitation, not vengeance. The purpose is simple: prevent future victims.

Whether or not India adopts such a measure is a matter that must be debated carefully. Ethical concerns about bodily autonomy, potential coercion, and medical ethics are legitimate and must be addressed with seriousness. Justice cannot compromise human dignity.

However, ignoring preventive tools while crimes continue is also morally troubling.

If India ever considers exploring such measures, they must be governed by strict safeguards, including:

• Voluntary participation with full informed consent
• Independent medical and psychiatric evaluation
• Reversible treatment protocols
• Strict judicial oversight and transparency
• Application limited to repeat, high-risk offenders
• Integration with rehabilitation, monitoring, and counseling programs

But policy discussions alone will not solve the deeper cultural contradiction.

The real question India must confront is this: How can a society that worships the feminine divine fail to protect its daughters?

Our scriptures describe the protection of the vulnerable as a sacred duty. The concept of dharma places the safety of women and children at the heart of social responsibility. A nation guided by those values cannot tolerate a reality where infants and minors fall victim to such unspeakable violence.

Preventing sexual crimes requires far more than legal reform. It demands cultural accountability, better policing, faster justice, community vigilance, and moral clarity. Families, schools, religious institutions, and media must all contribute to creating an environment where respect for women is not ritualistic but real.

Every assault prevented is a life saved from trauma.
Every child protected is a future preserved.
Every effective safeguard strengthens public faith in justice.

India must move beyond cycles of outrage that follow each horrific headline. The goal is not simply harsher punishment after a crime occurs—the goal must be fewer victims in the first place.

A civilization that reveres the divine feminine must demonstrate that reverence not only in temples but in its streets, schools, and homes.

Protecting the innocent is not merely public policy.

It is a moral duty.
It is national responsibility.
And in a country that chants Jai Mata Di, it should be nothing less than sacred.