Editor,
I write this letter to express a concern that is both personal and public. Recently, I came across posts congratulating the winners of the AAPSU elections. The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union is regarded as one of the most respected student bodies in our state, and those elected are expected to represent the voice and integrity of the student community.
I was not closely following the elections, nor was I aware of the candidates. It was only through these posts that I came to know that one of the individuals – who has been elected to a position other than the president or general secretary – had won. Seeing his face triggered a deeply unsettling memory for me. I will not take any names, as the matter is still under trial in court, but I feel it is important to speak about what this represents.
I do not clearly remember the exact year anymore, but I cannot forget the incident. I was a 4’11” girl, stepping out on a rainy evening in my pyjamas to collect curd from a friend’s restaurant. It was an ordinary moment that turned into something I could never have imagined.
The assault happened within minutes, but in those moments, everything felt overwhelming and disorienting. I remember being unable to process what was happening – what just happened? Did he just slap me? Before I could gather myself, he was dragging me by my hair. I was trying my best to free myself from his grip, struggling both physically and mentally to make sense of the situation.
I remember asking him, “Aap kaise aise kar sakte hain? Kisike saath bhi?” In response, he spat on my face. When I questioned him again, he spat once more and said, “Hum aur karega, tum kya kar loge? Hum kaun hai, tum jaante?” In that moment, I realised I did not know who he was – but he carried himself with the confidence that he could get away with anything.
He also said, “Do you even know who I am? Tum kuch nahi kar sakte,” and “Ladki log se hum baat nahi karte.” Those words have stayed with me ever since.
After the incident, we filed an FIR, believing that the system would help us seek justice. However, the case is still in court. Over time, he missed multiple hearings, citing different reasons for his absence. Each delay meant repeated visits to the court for me and my sister, leaving us emotionally and physically exhausted.
Every hearing reopened the pain and brought back memories of the incident. It reached a point where I began questioning my own decision to file an FIR. I had never imagined that the court has its own slow and complex way of functioning, and as someone with no prior experience, it felt overwhelming and disheartening.
By the time we were finally called to record our statements, the memory of the incident had already begun to blur. The delays had taken away the clarity of our recollection. We were young, unfamiliar with courtroom procedures, and completely unprepared for the process.
Today, seeing his picture again on social media has triggered those same emotions, reminding me how unresolved experiences continue to live within us. What concerns me is not only my own experience, but what it represents in a larger context.
If this is the story he shares with me, I cannot help but wonder how many untold stories might exist – stories that were never reported, or never pursued due to the long and exhausting process.
Some may say this is a ‘small case’, especially when compared to the many serious matters pending in our state. But I am reminded of the film Thappad, starring Taapsee Pannu, where a woman is asked, “So it was just one slap?” That question reflects how easily society minimises harm.
In my case, it was not ‘just’ anything. It was an experience of violence, humiliation, and helplessness that has stayed with me over time.
I believe this is not just about one individual or one incident, but about the larger question of accountability in positions of representation. If this is the experience I carry, I cannot help but wonder how many untold stories remain unheard. When we place individuals in positions to represent students, especially in a body as respected as the AAPSU, we must also reflect on the values they embody. Representation should not only be about winning a post, but about carrying the trust, safety, and dignity of those they represent.
Anonymous