It was a normal day for a young 14 year old girl in Chandigarh, in 1990, some 33 years ago . A bright and ambitious girl who was proficient in tennis ,had big dreams and was focussed on pursuing tennis as a profession, even if that meant leaving her country and settling abroad. The father whose life after the untimely death of the mother revolved around both his children, Ruchika and Ashu was more than happy to support Ruchika . Maybe if Ruchika had left our country, she would still be alive today and the trauma and the humiliation her family underwent might have been avoided.

This blog is a sad , heartrending tale of how a quest for justice of a young girl against a high ranking police official led to a total annihilation of the family. On August 12, 1990, Shambhu Pratap Singh Rathore, a 1966-batch IPS officer and then IG of Haryana, molested Ruchika Girhotra at the office of the Haryana Lawn Tennis Association. Ruchika Girhotra was a bright-eyed 14-year-old who dreamt of making it big in tennis. Ruchika, along with her friend Aradhna Prakash, were enrolled as trainees at the Haryana Lawn Tennis Association (HLTA). The two girls had gone to play tennis on the fateful day and had met Rathore in his office. Rathore asked Aradhna to call the tennis coach to his room. He then molested the minor girl when she was left alone with him in his room. Aradhna returned to the room and witnessed the shocking incident. Despite this assault,as it normally happens, both the girls decided not to divulge it to their parents. After a few days, Mr Rathore again called Ruchika alone to the room, it was then that the young girls finally took courage in telling the parents. Ruchika’s fight for justice led to her family , Aradhya and her family being repeatedly harassed by Rathore’s men and the police. Ruchika was expelled from her school for ‘indiscipline’. Her brother Ashu was tortured by Rathore’s henchmen and was sent to jail in 11 car theft cases. Depressed, scared and guilt ridden and feeling the burden of the suffering of her family , Ruchika tragically ended her life in 1993. After her death and due to constant harassment, Ruchika’s father and brother had to leave Chandigarh. Only her friend Aradhya Prakash’s family didn’t give up fighting for Ruchika . Aradhya’s father was transferred constantly and faced harassment and pressure all along . But Aradhna ‘s mother who is a lawyer never gave up . Where on one hand , this sad tale makes us realise how powerful men in our society are insulated from any wrong doings , it still sustains our belief in humanity and friendship . Ruchika father fearing for his only surviving son, took a back step , but the Prakash’s never stopped fighting and today if Ruchika is still alive in the conscience of this country , it’s solely because of them. Just reeling of facts as to how slowly and torturously the wheels of justice grinded for Ruchika makes one feel frustrated with our political and justice delivery system. Ruchika paid for her torture with her life , whereas the molester progressed and progressed in his career and finally retired as Director General of Police . On December 21, 2009, CBI court gave six months of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1,000 to Rathore. However, Rathore got bail the same day.

Ruchika , you paid for your dreams and ambitions with your untimely death. Ruchika , you would have been 47 today and would have achieved all your dreams. Ruchika maybe your mother missed you and you decided to be with her the only one selfless caretaker where you would have felt secured . Ruchika , you were cruelly snatched away from your father, brother , your friends especially Aradhna who never lived a normal life since your demise. Ruchika , it’s been 23 years and has anything changed for Indian women especially sportswoman. Can’t really say , things have really changed after witnessing the recent struggle for justice by the wrestling community against a powerful ruling party politician. Ruchika , your molester thought you and the crime against you will be vanquished by power and deceit , but you lived on and continue to live . Actually your molester has ensured your immortality. Ruchika you had a very short but inspiring life , your struggle though a tale where the system failed you and no one from either the media or community supported you , will continue to serve as a poignant reminder as to how patriarchal society we still are . Ruchika , your deep and expressive eyes and your innocent face will continue to strike a chord in all right thinking people. Ruchika you may have exited physically from this world, but you have become a shining star who has now an abode in the universe where none of this soiled earth can touch you . Ruchika not everything is dark in your short life though, you experienced selfless friendship and love and affection from your friend Aradhya Prakash’s family. Ruchika maybe you were blessed that your stay in this flawed world was very brief though traumatic, as for a lot of us , trauma continues for years in some form or other .