From Missed Calls to Missed Justice: A Reflection on Our Social Priorities

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In India, when mobile phones became functional, we didn't just adopt them—we adapted them to our reality. The humble Missed Call became our invention, a tool for connection that cost nothing. From this low-cost ingenuity emerged a new digital culture, eventually giving way to Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram.

As the digital wave grew, so did our cultural expressions. Indians began each week with "Jay Mahadev," greeted midweek with "Jay Maa Samlei," and signed off with "Jay Shanidev."
Is this just habit? Or does it hint at something deeper—a search for spiritual anchoring in a world of increasing instability?

The Irony of Empowerment

Over the last few years, Women Empowerment became the buzzword among policymakers. To promote self-reliance, Women Self-Help Groups (WSHGs) were formed. Each was provided a ₹5,00,000 loan with the promise of financial independence. But in reality, this amount is often split among 10 members—₹50,000 each—without structure, training, or accountability. The empowerment remains symbolic, not systemic.

From Nirbhaya to Soumyashri
The nation still trembles at the memory of Nirbhaya's murder, yet the list of atrocities hasn’t stopped. Soumyashri Bisi, a young woman who set herself on fire due to systemic failure, is one of many names lost in the files of an unresponsive system.

Despite widespread outrage, investigations are incomplete, punishments are delayed, and justice remains elusive. Laws exist, commissions are formed, headlines are made—but lives are still lost.

Justice Is a Privilege
Let’s be honest— for the common man, justice in India is a mirage. Courts are slow. Police investigations are weak. Legal procedures are expensive and exhausting. Justice delayed is justice denied—and in India, it’s not just a proverb; it’s a lived reality.

Many families facing harassment or injustice in educational institutions are better off withdrawing their wards and seeking admission elsewhere. Fighting a flawed system isn’t worth losing years of youth and peace of mind.

Not Anti-Women, But Pro-Truth

Let it be clear—I am not against Women Empowerment or women’s rights. In fact, true empowerment is essential for any society to progress. But in many instances, the concept has been distorted, misunderstood, or misused, leaving men and women both confused and disillusioned.

The Road Ahead
It’s time to rethink empowerment, reform justice, and realign our priorities. We must move from lip service to action, from WhatsApp messages to real-world activism, from symbolic gestures to structural change.

Until then, we’ll keep saying “Jay Mahadev”, hoping divine justice fills the void left by human apathy.

Sanjay Pattnayak
Sundargarh