Mumbai, Jan 15 (India Today) : Yes, he! This time, the victim is a man. Amid numerous crime against women, we often forget sometimes the so-called 'protectors' too need protection.

In an interview to Humans of Bombay , Harrish Iyer, narrated the story of his abused childhood. Harrish was raped by his uncle when he was just a 7-year-old and that was not the end of it. He was repeatedly abused since then.

At the age of 12, Harrish was gang raped by his uncle's friends.

Despite going through such an ordeal, he kept quite. "I got so used to it, I would enter his house and lie down on the bed, just wanting it to get over as soon as possible," he said.

He was scared to tell anyone, "what if I wasn't considered 'man enough' to not bear pain?" he had thought then.

It was the age of 18 he understood what exactly has been happening with him and how wrong it was, so he decided to take a stand and stop his uncle. When he told his mother about it, she was not only shocked but realized she did not pick up the signs he gave. "She said, 'I never knew such things could happen with boys'", he said.

"The victims of 'masculinity' are men themselves," said the man who sets a strong example of indomitable strength.

He narrates the struggle he faced while being confused about his sexual orientation and how his classmates bullied him. "A part of me believed that I'm gay because of the abuse I went through and it devastated me, but I know now that isn't true," he said. He tried taking legal help but there weren't any laws pertaining to his situation.

Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code does not include males as rape survivors.

His approach towards life has not been affected by his bitter experience, he still things the world is not a bad place.

"I can never get those 11 years back, but I do have a lifetime ahead of me to protect the rights of children, women or the LGBT community and that's the path I've proudly chosen," Harrish explains.