Many of us, all over the world, must have watched the first episode of Satyamev Jayate season 2. Lot of people are having different opinions about the show and many are also happy it came back with another season so that number of issues would be taken up and authorities might work towards their development. Everytime I hear a case of rape, molestation or eve teasing, which is so rampant now a days, my mind takes me back to an evening of 20th June 2010! I made sure I noted this day in my diary for various reasons, mainly for gathering courage against eve teasing!
Like everyday, I was waiting at the bus stop to get back home from work in a suburban Mumbai and was unmarried at that time. You know, it actually doesn’t matter if I was married or not. It started raining and I was a person who disliked the city rains at that time for all the mess it would make. I called for number of auto rickshaws, but as you may know getting autos and taxis are an achievement on its own in Mumbai. I was left with no choice but to wait for a bus which also was not in a sight due to heavy traffic roads of Mumbai face in rains. Frustration was reaching its peak, when a drunk middle aged man groped me from behind. At first, I was taken aback. I was shocked. When my senses came back, I could see him walking ahead so relaxed as if he got all the pleasure he ever needed. I ran towards him, geared up all my strength and gave a big slap on his back. He turned to look towards me and started running. I ran behind him but could not keep to his pace. Luckily, a signal on the road where I was standing was red and I was fortunate enough to spot a traffic policeman at the junction. I shouted at him to get hold of the drunkard man. He nabbed that man by the collar and handed over to a “Crime Against Women and Children” van which was halted at the other side of the road. And while all this happened, there wasn’t a single man on the road who came out to help except for the traffic police cop. All who were standing or walking or on bikes or in the cars were mere spectators to the whole drama! We wonder how incidents of rape and molestation take place every now and then – one more reason to add is that people watch but hesitate to come forward and help the victim. Isn’t it a social responsibility of people around to come and help her. But I don’t know what’s wrong with them? It’s a shame to say I never felt safe on Indian roads. And here, in Dubai, I haven’t felt safer anywhere else. Now, whenever I visit India I avoid taking public transport or walking in crowded areas. I just couldn’t do it because of the experiences I’ve had in the past!
The scene in the van was more horrifying than I ever imagined. There were six policemen sitting, playing cards and chit chatting oblivious to whatever was happening on the road. I thought men here will make me feel better after what I went through but I was wrong. The men and the inside of the van was stinking of alcohol! And when two police men asked me to come and sit inside, for the first time in that whole evening I was so scared I started shaking. They enquired about my name and address which I was hesitant to give for obvious reasons.I should mention, they didn’t ask the man anything about his identity or his where abouts! Still, I spitted out some words from my mouth which I hardly remember because I was in a hurry to come out of the whole situation. They then started asking me about the incident which I explained to them. They humiliated me for every word that I uttered by twisting and repeating what I spoke to every other officer and enacting the way I was eve teased. I was in tears and wanted to run away. It pissed every nerve in my body with the way everyone in the scene was trying to deal with the situation and make a mockery of it. When they started slapping and hitting the man who was gulity, I can shamelessly say, I was so satisfied that I dried my tears and stood there to watch the man being beaten ruthlessly as there was no pity in me to forgive the man for his deeds.
If you are a woman in India who walks to school, colleges or work / take a public transport this may be a daily ordeal for you. We have to live with the fact that once we are on the streets we will be oogled at, touched at or passed undignified comments on. Here, sexual assault has got nothing to do with clothing or appearance; just the fact that you are a woman is enough! There have been so many instances with me alone, when I took a bus to college and work or walked near the local railway station. Such men are every where, in every form, young or adult or old! We all know by now that there is hardly anyone around who will come for help, so take up the issue yourself. Even if you don’t see any support in such a situation, show so much confidence that it will scare the eve teaser. Let them not bully you and show you are helpless – because that is the reason they take advantage of. That man thought I wouldn’t react as most of the girls in such a situation would do, but I did. And I am very proud of myself, that for once I showed some bravery to fight an eve teaser and teach him a lesson. If senses prevail in him, he will now think twice before repeating an act which 1he did with me!
Filed under: India Tagged: eve-teasing, India