Keep Your Hands to Yourself, World!

From the moment we’re born, strangers descend upon us like we’re some kind of free trial product. First thing they do? Touch your cheeks. Apparently, in Indian Indian society, cheeks are public property. If you have them, everyone feels they’ve earned lifetime access. Babies aren’t babies, they’re stress balls for the extended family.

But here’s the thing: small habits shape big thinking. If touching your face is everyone’s birthright, then naturally, so is touching your life. And suddenly, you’re 25 and realizing: “Wait… why am I the only one cleaning the house while five other adults are perfecting their Netflix scrolling skills?”But that what Indian society is they think that everyone and everything is ok . Touching your cheeks is ok and Touching your life and having an opinion about what you wear is ok and commenting on what you were or touching you is ok . Everything is ok due to population size  people also have a Ghazni mindset they forgot easily . In India around 99% of sexual violence cases go unreported to police. Less than 10% of women who experience domestic violence ever seek help from authorities; most stay silent or only tell family.UN Women & Other NGO Studies suggest only 1 in 10 cases of sexual harassment/assault is reported in India. For marital rape (not even criminalized under Indian law), reporting is virtually nonexistent.NCRB recorded ~30,000 rape cases annually in recent years.But population-based surveys (NFHS, WHO) indicate that the actual prevalence of sexual assault/harassment could be 10–20x higher than reported.No reliable NCRB category, but research shows that 60–80% of Indian women have faced street harassment / Eve teasing at some point.Overall, crimes against women have been increasing (in terms of numbers registered) from 2020 → 2022, after a dip in 2020.Offences related to modesty (which includes “eve teasing”-type behaviours) form a substantial chunk (assault with intent to outrage modesty ~ 18–19%) of total crimes against women. The crime rate per 100,000 women has gone up (2018 ~ 58.8 → 2022 ~ 66.4) showing that more women per population are being registered for crimes against them.

See, I believe in equal contribution. If five people live in a house, five people should clean, cook, and yell at the WiFi when it doesn’t work. Not one person carrying the entire load like a human donkey. But in India? Nah. Society’s script is already written:

• Girls = Goddess Maa Durga (but also unpaid domestic staff).

• Boys = Providers of the house (even if they secretly want a sabbatical and to binge-watch Cocomelon with their kid).

Nobody ever asks: Hey beta, do you want to be CEO or househusband? No, society just decides for you: “Provider mode ON.” And heaven forbid if you want to step off that conveyor belt—you’ve instantly become taboo ki dukaan.

Now, let’s talk about the most dangerous, misunderstood word in India: Touching.If someone emotionally touches you, they become part of your life. Sweet. Romantic. Poetic.If someone physically touches you without consent, it’s assault. Simple. Logical. But in India? Assault is rebranded as: “Arey yeh toh normal hai!”

A random uncle on the bus gropes you? Normal.A guy whistles and throws comments? Normal.You react? “Arre madam, why are you overreacting? This is just… society.”

Excuse me? Society is not a substitute for self-control! And the worst part? Victims can’t complain. Not to police (“Madam, we have bigger crimes than your trauma”), not to other women (“Beta, it happens, ignore”), not even to family (“Don’t step out so much”).

So we grow up with this silent scar—every step outside becomes a gamble with freedom.

But here’s my wild thought: what if we taught people from the start that everyone is just a human being? No one is fat, thin, black, white, “maal,” or “item.” No one is anyone’s property to touch, comment on, or “tease.” Imagine a society where respect was the default setting instead of some fancy upgrade nobody downloads.

So next time you feel like poking, pinching, or patting someone without consent—don’t. The world doesn’t need more unwanted “hands-on experience.” Keep your hands to yourself, World!