The statement “It is the onus of the included to include the excluded” emphasises the responsibility of those who comprise the system to make sure that those who are banished or outcast feel heard, supported, and considered. It urges the participation of the included to create a more equitable environment rather than passively waiting for action.

God never divided us or outcast us; He sent us as ONE on Earth. God created us, He added humans, love, and humanity. Humans added caste and religion. Caste removed love, religion removed humanity, and God left. In a country which is a boiling pot of culture, equality shouldn’t just be written in laws, it should be lived in the soul.

Yet even till date widows are shunned, and LGBTQ individuals are silenced every day. The ball is in the court of the included, despite that we still want a leader to lead. As per the NCRB 2022 report, over 50,000 crimes were committed against SC communities.

A girl is raped, but instead of support, her friends stop talking to her. Relatives fill her soul with shame, as if the crime was her fault. The courtroom becomes a battleground instead of a heart that listens. Society (the insiders) chooses to turn its back on them. The brutal and spine-chilling cases of Nirbhaya and Dr. Moumita Debnath are horrific and alarming reminders for India once again. The ones inside the system failed; they allowed the rapists to feel safe and treated the victim like a criminal.

A boy lives in fear daily to reveal his sexuality. He thinks a hundred times every day about what his true self would cost him. It becomes an unbroken loop of harm. It’s the insiders who refuse to accept those who do not fit within society’s norms and moulds. The gay community remains afraid to remove their shell for fear of being attacked.

If we are included, it is our duty to include the excluded. Small steps break generational chains and lead to significant change. Instead of judging and being homophobic, we should appreciate and celebrate their courage. It is not enough to simply identify the problem; we have to be the solution we seek.

We need a world where dignity is upheld even above the law. The one thing society fears and hates is a woman who refuses to be shunned by silence and rises every day to crush societal moulds and accept the new. Societal acceptance is the key to every unanswered question we are looking for.

Acceptance means validation of identity and love, not just tolerance. Acceptance starts from the family. Family can shape self-worth and heal shattered confidence in ways society cannot. Families should cheer so hard that children can’t tell who didn’t appreciate them. Society’s rejection may be hard, but nurturing and accepting the excluded starts within the family as a unit. This is the first step towards change.

Society has to promote awareness and dismantle stereotypes. Advocate for stronger laws. Promote healthy masculinity, accountability, and consent. Reject harmful portrayals of marginalised groups, women, and LGBTQ individuals. Through these small initiatives, we ensure a world where differences are celebrated and no one is left behind.

For change to be meaningful, families need to provide a supportive foundation; they form the spine of change. Turn ideals into realities and lead with empathy and resilience. Encouraging open conversations is another important root of change. Confront prejudiced thoughts.

At last — “Be the example you want to see.”

Ahana Walia