Just what is this awful sickness that lies within us? What malodorous disease could lead a random mob of men to molest a minor schoolgirl, stripping her and beating her by turns in the middle of a busy downtown street, as if they were engaged in some casual sport? Surely, this appalling crime — which took place barely a kilometre from Assam’s State secretariat and in full view of many — is more than just a reflection on a criminal mob of some 20 or more young men and the deteriorating law and order situation in Guwahati. Surely, it should hold up a mirror to all of us and lead us to ask what has gone so horribly wrong in our society. The sheer savagery of the gang molestation, the video of which went viral on the Internet, has fuelled outrage across the country even as it has triggered a sense of national shame. The Assam police, which took a full 30 minutes to arrive at the crime scene, should lose no time in arresting all those involved in the bestiality, many of who have been already identified because of the video. It is debatable whether or not the onlookers who passively watched the mortification of the schoolgirl are legally culpable. But their moral complicity in the crime is beyond question.
We live in a time when crimes against women — which climbed over 2.25 lakh in 2011 according to the National Crime Records Bureau — are growing alarmingly. The data also clearly reveals that over the last couple of decades, the (reported) incidents of rape have increased at a far steeper rate than other serious crimes such as murder and theft. Even so, we assiduously cultivate the patriarchal lie that women are fundamentally responsible for many of the crimes against them. The panchayat in Uttar Pradesh’s Bagpat region which recently issued a diktat against unescorted women visiting the marketplace, entering into love marriages or even carrying mobile phones, was guided by the same warped mindset. The stated objective was to protect women from being teased and harassed by men. But rather than take steps to punish those responsible for such harassment, the panchayat chose illegitimately to restrict the freedom of women and infringe on their rights. Sadly, it is not uncommon to find police officers and politicians subscribing to such a regressive belief system. Justice is rarely done in the face of such attitudes. This is why organisations such as the National Commission of Women, which is sending a team to Guwahati, must track the molestation case closely and work towards seeing that the guilty are severely punished.
Keywords: Guwahati molestation case, schoolgirl molestation, mob outrage, Guwahati outrage, crime against women, sexual harassment
Mr. Dakshin, It is high time people like you realize that whatever the case be, even if a women/girl is
with her mother or family at a market or is at a pub with friends, is wearing a salwar
kameez (fully clothed) or a skirt... a person with sick mind and rotten soul and cheap
macho will still molest her and violate her modesty... many incidents in the past have
proven time and again this. A brother was killed some time back when he tried to
protect his sister. Therefore, it is not that "mad lady" who should be sent for counselling
but you.
Some people are such hypocrites when it comes to morals... are morals for girls only?
What about men?
Men only shout at rooftops about gender equality and then turn their backs to these
very claims and pass comments and remarks on a woman's character just for their own
amusement.
When will we start thinking in a balanced and rational way?
Now a days the incidents of molestation,teasing and rapes are growing very
fastly.The conditions of woman in our country is not good.Why?The reason is we do
nt have strict law and order.Our constitution is very flexible.We filed a case againt
the culprit but unable to punish them.Its totally failure of our social values.
What's appalled me the most is the fact that the event was witnessed by numerous onlookers who chose to be passive bystanders. I emphasis on the question of choice here. The duration of the incident is about thirty minutes. While one may not be able to react to a sudden incident of violence, how is it that people could remain mute witnesses for half an hour to a vulnerable person in an obvious situation of distress? I agree with the editorial that the spectators in this case are morally complicit. And I think we need to call for legal culpability in such cases in as well.
Laws in India are deliberately ambiguous & complex, and selectively
applied, if at all - they exist to extract bribes! This situation
enables anyone to do whatever they please; it becomes a vicious
downward vortex; and everyone in society is forced to acquiesce,
ending in - "WAR OF ALL AGAINST ALL": “In such condition, there is no
place for industry …no arts; no letters; no society; and which is
worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death; and the
life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” (Thomas
Hobbes, Leviathan - Ch XIII, 1651)
It is fine to express moral outrage, BUT NOTHING WILL CHANGE UNLESS,
(i) clear values/laws are established, (ii) the rules and regulations
are applied to everyone uniformly - ie absolutely no one is above the
law (iii) the laws are enforced (iv) the law enforcement agencies
(investigating, prosecuting and justice dispensing agencies) are, by
and large, professional, honest and not corrupt. ARE INDIANS PREPARED
TO GRASP THE NETTLE?
This incident shows how characterless and spineless our country's majority of men have
become. They are worst than swines. They will not change the politicians through vote
who have been charged with various crimes and scandals but they will pounce and
molest a girl who was alone in order to to demonstrate their residual of cheap bravado
and macho.
The height of hypocrisy is when these very men will go to "Mandirs" and "Churches" and
bow down before the "Goddesses" and "Mother Mary", touch their feet and ask for
Buddhi (Intelect), Shakti (Power), Sehat (Health), Shanti (Peace).
The thing is this society has just become hollow, with no morals, self respect,
conscience.
Nobody thinks twice about the consequences their actions will have on those upon
whom they are inflicted.
Mr. Daksin:
I am appalled by your warped sense of outrage and your bizarre attempts to shift
the blame to the victim of this outrageous crime. The body of a woman is
inviolable, wherever she is, whatever she is wearing, whoever she happens to be
and whatever her age. Why should the girl’s presence near a pub be a “mitigating
factor” in absolving these depraved, debauched men of their crime?
You allege that the “mad lady” should be sent for counselling. Well, that mob of
men deserves punishment and counselling but I guess mere counselling would
suffuce for you - indeed solid counselling on the rights of women. And until then,
as Ms. Aritra Gupta rightly points out, you could refrain from airing views.
Thanks daksin, for completing the 'rest of story'.
So there are few more persons, who faulted that evening.
The incidence is tragic in each aspect of it. But without understanding of full situation, solutions will be incomplete.
Feb, 2009: 2 girls molested in mumbai by 40 men , October, 2011: 2 men murdered coz they stopped someone from eve teasing, July 2012: a teenage girl molested in guwahati by 20 men ....some of the henious crimes that I have read about in total disgust ....atleast this time, the police is under pressure to arrest these beasts ....I am proud of all the men of our country who have replied on a positive note voicing their opinion for the plight of the girl rather than accusing her, may we have more of you guys in the time to come!! and for those who still think its the girl's fault... are u the bystander who doesnt have the nerve to help a victim or a human who would do anything to save another life....
My psychology expert friend said that women are becoming the next drug of choice. You can use a drug only once but women are abused multiple times during the course of their life - if not everyday. Human trafficking is on steep rise all over the world. 10 lakh tribal women have disappeared since 2000 in Jharkhand alone according to Human Rights groups. Join hands with a human rights organization in your area if you want to do something about it. I am not affiliated with any Human Rights organization at the moment but am an independent activist.
During the past few years our society largely become addicted to WESTERN CULTURE. Our fashions, life style, fodd etc.. all changed. Eventhough whatever written in the News paper and whatever the readers comment these kinds of incidents will reccur as long as the government frame laws to give rigorous punishment to the eve teasers and police act accordingly. Thirty minutes to reach the spot of a crime, even it was happened at the heart of the city showing how much the State Police is inefficient in discharge of their duty. If it is going like this Chance for these kinds incidents will be more in the coming years and might be after a decade these kind of incidents might fail to find a place in the news.
The editorial addresses the symptom of this deprave event very eloquently. However, it misses to address what the root cause is, how to resolve the root cause and also should have focused on the victim.
When an deprave antisocial event takes place, this kind of reaction from public at large is very typical. Heinous crimes occur and people are up in arms and demand justice - not so much for the victim - but to arrest and convict purported perpetrators immediately. These people forget that in a mob situation chaos rules. Justice is unlikely to be served in this situation.
None of the news seem to be focusing on the victim. Also, people forget that Rule of Law is largely absent in India - the root cause of such events to occur. After some time when the hullabaloo dies down, people accept status quo - until another such event occurs. This cycle will definitely occur again and again - ad infinitum - unless people in India address Rule of Law, its enforcement AND civility.
Sad truth is these culprits have 1% chance of getting punished. And will take 5-10 years even to pass the final judgement. And will try to negotiate with money. Money speaks longer time than actions.
where ever the onlookers are..they should introspect about their absence
of reaction towards the cruel action..seriously this doesn't happen even
in worstest of the countries!!
The real problem lies with the bringing up of children. Every parent
want their children to be a doctor, engineer etc but not a good human
being.
The National Commission for Women has acted swiftly and decisively in the Guwahati molestation case. It is also ready with the Report to be filed on Monday. This will go a long way in fighting the cause of women. This will also serve as message on the wall for the perpetrators as well as the callous law-keepers who turn Nelson's eye in such cases requiring urgent police reaction. The NCW should be complimented for prompt action. Such quick reactions of statutory bodies can ensure quick justice delivery to the victims. All those perpetrators of the heinous crime in whole public view and got unwittingly captured in the camera and openly seen as molesting the girl must be arrested and subjected to exemplary punishment. The NCW report should prompt the Assam Police authorities to flex their muscle without any further dillydallying and book all the culprits forthwith. The honour of women must be protected in Guwahati as well like in any civilized society to prove that women and children are safe there too. The irresponsible Police should not be allowed to hijack the criminal justice delivery system which will tantamount to ordeal by fire for the victim and he families yet again. The victims of molestation always require sympathy and support of the society in general and the law-enforcement agencies in particular.
It is a matter of national shame for us.It is a tight slap on the police
of assam and law and regulation existing in the state. India the
largest democracy in the world, where a minor girl are molested and
stripped in front of thousands people, who are just a mute spectator is
matter of shame for all the indian who boasted india to be democratic
country.Those who are involved in this heinous crime are punished for
the life term to set the example for the rest these animal in these
society.
I agree with Amaruvi Devanathan.
Also, I am confused that whether the girl was a minor or not (some
news are saying she is 20 and some are sating she is 17 year old).
But it does not matter. It shows how characterless and spineless our
country's majority of men have become. They are worst than swines.
They will not change the politicians through vote who have been
charged with various crimes and scandals but they will pounce and
molest a girl who was alone in order to to demonstrate their residual
of cheap bravado and macho.
The height of hypocrisy is when these very men will go to "Mandirs" and "Churches" and bow down before the "Goddesses" and "Mother Mary", touch their feet and ask for Buddhi (Intelect), Shakti (Power), Sehat (Health), Shanti (Peace).
The thing is this society has just become hollow, with no morals, self
respect, conscience. Nobody thinks twice about the consequences their actions will have on those upon whom they are inflicted.
In India laws are deliberately ambiguous & complex - they
exist to extract bribes. The laws do not apply to a rarefied section
of society - the rich & powerful dynastic families, politicians,
bureaucrats, judges, etc (& their friends, supporters and staff). In
fact, in true democratic fashion, almost anyone, willing to pay a
bribe of an appropriate amount, can avoid the law! It is fine to express moral outrage, BUT NOTHING WILL CHANGE IN
INDIAN SOCIETY UNLESS, (i) clear values/laws are established, (ii) the
rules and regulations are applied to everyone uniformly - ie absolutely
no one is above the law (iii) the laws are enforced (iv) the law
enforcement agencies (investigating, prosecuting and justice dispensing
agencies) are, by and large, professional, honest and not corrupt. ARE
INDIANS PREPARED TO GRASP THE NETTLE?
This situation enables anyone to do whatever they please; it becomes a
vicious downward vortex; and everyone in society is forced to
acquiesce, ending in - "WAR OF ALL AGAINST ALL": “In such condition, there is no place for industry …no arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” (Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, Ch XIII)
The allegation that the Class V student of Patha Bhavan school was forced to lick urine for bed-wetting is atrocious to say the least. The warden’s logic to the distraught mother that licking urine from the wet bed-sheet was the only treatment to stop her ‘bad habit’ betrays logic. This warden can even defeat the notorious character of Bumble the beadle from Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist in cruelty and “imagination”. However, the moot point is that most of the hostels in the country may be in the hands of such wardens who are ill-equipped to look after genuine needs of the inmates. Most of the wardens demonstrate disdain for the system or have a criminal bent of mind in harassing the inmates. The government must not only order a high-level inquiry into the matter but also implement remedial measures with a sincerity of purpose. In the meantime, all the matrons or the rectors must be subjected to suitable psychological and aptitude tests to assess their suitability for the sensitive job
Public Molestation is an outrageously disgusting act of voyeurism. It
reflects the sick mentality of how women continue to be treated as
sexual objects. There is a deep seated patriarchal attitude towards
women which precipitates into intolerance against women being equal
contributors or participants in a modern society. Such acts/treatments
meted out to women are mainly ramifications of our authorities ' and
Govts' lackadaisical attitude towards their own responsibilities.
Society needs to be sensitized otherwise, no matter how strict an
action is taken against these culprits, this mentality will continue
to breed. Further the general tendency to draw inferences on a
person's character depending on the kind of public places one visits
is completely flawed.
It is even more unfortunate that our society is turning increasingly
impotent. Until and unless such a thing happens to someone from our
own family, we don't care!
I ,father of 4 daughters feel ashamed,The mob were children of some families and must have been told of wrong/right in life.But if that was not the case, one bad apple rots the group.Our films, morals of public figures,makes such crimes as nothing new or serious.Public flogging by the community can be a deterrent.But if fear of GOD is not there, nothing will work.Community and all voices that impact community life must speak up and share responsibility.Every family must know their children thinking, discuss such matters to refresh the correct conduct you once taught them.Mothers must warn their wards from a young age.There should be no silent spectators.These times are trying times with temptations galore.
The story is not new,such type of henious act were also happend in
others big cities,like dehli,so it's a time to think what will happen,
if we remain still silent.
I read comments from other places that it is common now.People, please don't trivialise this incident and make it seem like a routine thing by saying it is common and it happens everywhere. It doesn't happen everywhere. I don't know if half of you even watched the video. It is horrific, barbarian to say the least and I shivered to know there are men who take pleasure in such dastardly acts and cried thinking about the plight of that girl. If you say it is a common thing these days, you are playing a part in gradually increasing the acceptabality of such acts in the society. Can we even imagine such a thing happening to our sisters, wives, girl friends or daughters? Why, can you even imagine a weak man in that situation?
It is really terrible to know that the media person was desperately trying to capture her stripped body in detail almost like a voyeur while the girl was trying to hide it and crying in pain. Shame on the parents of those young men who brought them up like beasts !
daksin- There is only one angle to the story - that a band of men went
down to a sub-human level and stripped a helpless girl because it
apparently seems to give them pleasure to see a helpless girl in all
her natural glory. Just because you are blowing your trumpet with full
shameless gusto the incident does not change hue. What the girl was
doing is totally her concern. According to a few medieval relics such
as your esteemed self, it is improper. But that doesn't justify your
moral policing, and neither does it make a unipolar story bipolar. The
"mad" lady went to the pub because she didn't feel unsafe in doing so.
Then that assumption was proved wrong in an atrocious manner. This,
and this only, is the aspect of this incident.
What "the hell" (to use your own words) are you doing poking your nose
in things you don't understand?
When comes to sex, we are hippocrites & pretend that sex happens only
after marriage. Now a days, marriage is getting late and going in to
the mid 30s. When these sex-starved youth gets a chance to forcibly
gain some sexual pleasure with women, they do so. This is the time
their true feelings comes out. Out in the public, they will always show
respect to the culture of the land, & what is expected by the society
in a politically correct manner. When a chance comes beckoning, these
sex starved youngsters are likely to take their chances. This does not
mean that they are right. They deserve to be punished. The extra burden
on the women to be Sati-Savitri prevent them from taking the culprits
to court & preventing them from molesting their sisters. The exposure
in public will reduce their marital prospects and this forces the
victim and the family from pursuing the injustice. The many years of
delay in judicial process in getting justice going through multiple
courts is another hindrance.
The males of our country have been consistently proving themselves to be
sexually frustrated.
i'm every bit as shocked at the turn of the events.i'm can't even
think what the girl must be going through i feel extremely sorry for
her.this is heights of callousness from the police that they chose to
react when they were hauled over the coals from all the quarters and
they didn't even bother to arrest the perpetrators and let them go
scott free.we women must not take things lying down and must not
remain timid.the time has come for the laws to be made more stringent
so that at least the incentive to indulge in such a crime would not be
much.what's more shocking is that passersby also joined those beasts
in the crime it seems that except god there no one to look to in such
times our heads have really hung in shame.
I don't think this is an isolated incident. With the exception of
micro communities in India, like Christians and Parsis. Most Indian
men behave have misogynist attitude towards women. This is the
culture of a feudal mindset. Indian men have not been brought up with
social skills to relate to women have an attitude that women should
not socialise or even want sex. Unfortunately, Indian women believe
this too that is why they don't fight back.
no doubt the incident has outraged each one of us, but the main issue
here is that the people there chose to watch the whole saga unfold not
even one dared to summon courage and tried to stop those beasts and
rescue the girl.the rot runs deep this is not the first time and will
not be the final time.we are adept at taking umbrage at everything
beyond that we do precious little the set right the wrongs.even the
people who witnessed the act would be feeling bad in their homes but
when it mattered the most they chose the other way.what is surprising
is that police should have taken full 30 minutes to respond and reach
the spot inspite of police station being 1km away.if this is the
callous response of police despite its being present so close to the
venue then what would be the response if the crime took place far away
one only shudders to think.now the police need to put money where the
mouth is and ensure justice for the victim and ensure exemplary
punishment for the perpetrators.
Divakar,
Thanks to that video, the police and the public can identify the culprits and hopefully bring them to justice. Yes it is hard to watch, even for people who are in no way involved; so it will be harder for the girl herself and for her family and others who care for her. In the balance, that video will be a useful tool for the forces of law.
What is morality? a thin fibre through which society tries, rather un
successfully, to make herds of human beings work in order. The
hypocrisy is so weak that these beasts come to their true colors at
the slightest opportunity. the video gone viral is very disgusting,
but it shudn't be. these events are not rare, difference is this one
got reported. out of those 50, only 1 tried to rescue the girl. others
exploiting the opportunity!
I dunno but i just think medieval india was better. freedom,
democracy is being put at great use by men. some say some try to
believe that all men are basically, morally!, equal. but, truly, it is
not!
Could current moral bankruptcy in India lie at the root of above
problems?
(i) What action does society take when politicians routinely place
themselves above the law?
(ii) What action does society take against adults with political
and/or financial power, who allegedly (sometimes caught) routinely
indulge in activities much worse than the above incident, in every
major city in India?
(iii) How did the country deal with the Home Minister who allegedly
gave orders to beat up sleeping women and children (did someone die
from the injuries of the police brutalities?) in the middle of the
night, for raising their concerns about national plunder by a nexus of
politicians and bureaucrats, in a peaceful manner, in a supposedly
democratic country? Was it MORE OBSCENE for the PM to describe the
state organised brutality as merely “unfortunate”?
(iv) How did the citizens and the law of the land react to politicians
scuttling the enactment of effective anti-corruption legislation FOR
DECADES?
The animal-like behavior of a mob of 20 men in Guwahati molesting a defenceless teenage girl evoked feelings of indignation and disgust.Exemplary punishment,swiftly delivered,is called for at the very least.Most of the faces fortunately have been captured on video.If these visuals haven`t sufficiently shamed the culprits,the clips should be shown to their families,acquaintances,and employers and this evidence of their actions be made to stick to each of the
beasts`identity for life,just as the trauma of the ordeal chases the victim for life.
Khap panchayat diktats malaise stems from a hangover of an outmoded mindset&needs to be tackled through education and by spreading more awareness.
Assam DGP`s saying that`Police not like an ATM machine',is strange.Is the man living in the morse code era?Giving lame excuses for not reaching in time does not wash anymore.
Was any preventive policing in place in the vicinity of the club?Apparently not.Time someone was held accountable and made to pay
" Do we have it in ourselves to root out the rot? "
Howmany are thinking like Vanamali? Do we deserve this democracy? The law of the land will take its ow.......n course.
I agree with Chayastri. Mr. Divakar, there might be many other similar
incidents happening in our country. But, because of this media person,
this incident has come to limelight and shown this country how
outrageous this incident was.
To Chayastri,
It is not an incident to videotape. Had he confronted those criminals,
the thought of helping him in his confrontation to save the girl would
have come to on-lookers. Sadly, in India we wait for someone else to
initiate and then we join them in the initiative. How much of money
media channel would have made out of this incident? They have put up
this video on the internet not specifically to erupt people in anger,
but to make bucks out of it.
We are just a nation of on-lookers and hypocrites. Similarly media-personnel were busy shooting the incident rather than helping the girl. Moreover, this incident is not an isolated case and eve-teasing, molestation, subtle insinuations are order of the day for school girls, working women and others. Female foeticide, dowry deaths, rapes are happening rampantly and the conviction rates are pathetically low. We need action now, just talking won't do anything. A nation which mistreats 50% of its population right before-birth till death, can never become a super-power. Such a shame on us.
How can we help this young girl to deal with the trauma of the physical attack on her person and also with the psychological and social fallout for her? I hope and pray that her family, friends and neighbours are positive and supportive, making it clear that she, as the victim of a crime, is not to feel shame or guilt. Any guilt is that of those who attacked her.
To Divakar,
Actually, the media person who videotaped the incident is to commended, since it gives investigators clear evidence of the identity and actions of the perpetrators. It would have been difficult for one person to take on a gang/mob, so this was the next best way to help.
The mob has no conscience and our so-called cultured society has
already taken the shape of an unruly, unconscientious mob. It seems to
be just an another incident happening now a days in Indian society
against all ethics and morals that we boast to feed our ego.
Administration, Police, Organisation can take actions but cannot stop
such incidents to happen further because society is becoming just a
sham now. Culture is not about disdaining, discriminating; it is all
about respect and consideration. What this incident shows the nudity
and morbidity of people’s mind who did it in fun, who witnessed it
dumbly without an ache and the human society that is nourishing such
beasts!
The animal in our inside is allowed freely. We are going back to Jungle
culture - even in jungles such think cannot happen because human being
only are entrusted the capability to think in such horrible manner. When
punishments are very minor and trivial such things will happen. Can such
thing happen in Saudi Arabia or China - only in the great Bharat. It is
a shame to all Indians.Our rulers should think that if such thing can
happen, it can happen to anybody like accidents - are we living among
wolves and vultures?
I feel ashamed at the plight of the girl. I shudder to imagine how that girl must have felt for the 30mins she underwent the torture. Entire country needs to stand by her and support her. Can we assure her that her torture has ended and will not happen again?
Alas public memory is so short, the issue will die in a week's time. I wish we can draw some lessons this time and make this the last such incident. Our energy is all spent in arguing about how this should not have happened and punish the guilty and responsible people.
How can we focus on stopping such events in future?
Whether it is fire in Kolkatta, molesting in Guwahati, rapes in Delhi, something in Mumbai and something else in Chennai. Could someone keep shake up people and wake them up to show what has improved since those incidents occurred?
Or will the Kumbhakaran (aka public) go back to sleep and wake up again only briefly when another incident happens? Yell and complain and then return to slumber.
Excellent editorial. What is happening in today's india is nothing new but it just got noticed eute to the presence of media. Its an old culture in india to dictate the terms of living by male population be it at home or office. Women is always at risk outside the home. Now even in home they are not secure.
Its high time for the people of india to wake up and see the real world and understand the true meaning of life.
The media persons, who were present during the incident and were capturing the happening, are also guilty of not helping the girl.
Culprits of this crime must be punished in such a way publically that
it might be an example for criminals.Police of that area should be
also questioned about their very poor performance as criminal had no
fear of them.One more thing "Public watching that crime scene is seems
likely to be a society of impotent's."
In view of performance of police & government ,i feel that those
muslim countries are far better where such criminal are killed
publically.Even women have less freedom there but they have security
at least.
1)She was celebrating her birthday in a pub. The incident happened
when she came out....What the hell a minor like her doing in a pub ?
2) Why did the pub owner allow a minor inside a pub ?? 3) Why did her
parents allow her, a minor to go to a pub ??? ... But still I'd say no
lady deserve the treatment she was treated with. This is a total
failure -- failure of the girl (misuse of freedom), failure of the
crowd to control the anger (they behaved like real wild animals),
failure of the police to prevent the incident, failure of the Govt to
enact strong laws for pubs etc. Why is media covering only one aspect
of the incident ????
The mad culprits should be heavily punished and the mad lady should be
sent for some counselling too.
Horrible is the situation and stinking,the incident.Is the country safe for anyone to live in? It is unthinkable that such things could happen in the open streets and that the culprits could do it with such immunity! Such perpetration of crime on the innocent and helpless leads to the rising of movements like naxalism! The crux of the hue and cry on the Electronic media was that the police was inactive and the public didn't come for the rescue of the victm.The police-part could be true but what can the public do? Who of them could have come ready to face up this cruel mob? Criminality runs in the blood of modern India and the result is this! Our heartfelt sympathy for the unfortunate victim.
Now the police will arrest the culprits, trail will take 5 years and
in case they are convicted and just in case they get death sentence,
human rights activists would arrive at the scene and ensure that they
are not hanged. The topic debated then would be ' the culprits were
young and of impressionable age and hence they need to be pardoned'.
The state of Assam would pass a resolution seeking pardon. TheHindu
will write an editorial seeking pardon and by that time many more
such women would have been manhandled.
Wait a minute.Ok. Girl from Assam manhandled. So what's news here? It
would have been a heinous crime if it would have happened in Gujarat.
The Union Govt and the intellectuals along with the human rights
activists and National Council Of Women would have taken suo motto
cognizance and Modi would have been bashed. Assam is under Congress
and hence we, the secularists, shall keep mum and uphold our secular
credentials.
Supporting this incident will tantamount to a moral crime. But how can you expect the passers-by to come to the rescue of the victim when invariably the perpetrators of the crime belong to ministers or police or bigwigs supported by them? The people in power have become so rich that they do not know how to spend money. Their sins are now giving returns by giving them the children who help them spend their money! These children engage in such anti-social and anti-national activities. Khaps would have wound up if the systems worked. How will the poor parents of the child be feeling? Where do they go now? Police, court, govt, even media - all are ruled generally by the rich corrupt people. So, like it or not, they will seek suport from the community elders (Khaps?).
An outraged nation should look at itself deeper and ponder about the
root cause rather than these symptoms. We have long stopped caring
about the all-round decay that has set into all parts of the system.
Police, law, judiciary, government---you name it. We make a hue and
cry when each new incident surfaces, which will die after a few days;
we'll then go back to our "normal" mode of apathy and tolerance of
everything as long as it doesn't affect us in a direct manner. Until,
of course, the next incident that will keep the headline writers busy.
Do we have it in ourselves to root out the rot that has taken over us?
Be it outraging the modesty of a woman or making money on the sly by breaking the laws is a pastime which has dogged the citizens of this country. In spite of being a predominantly god fearing country and respect for mothers and sisters being instilled in the psyche yet it is most horrendous to see such acts of hooliganism all committed with the secured feeling of getting scot free. The feeling of "Nobody will know" dominates the minds of such misguided persons who take law into their own hands. On top of all this diktats by kap panchayats in some of the Northern states are most reprehensible with the political class choosing to look aside so as to not disturb their vote banks. The media too is guilty of promoting programs reflecting superstitious beliefs and propitiating gods on the advice of godmen to atone for assumed sins. Nehru's clarion call to develop a scientific temper seems to have fallen on deaf years. The nation needs to do some serious soul searching for a better tomorrow
Excellent editorial! I think that the onlookers in the Guwahati molestation case were as much guilty as the molestors themselves. The ghastly episode is an indicator of the sick mindset of the Indian male-dominated society. The Baghpat Khap fatwa is another example of this mindset. I sometimes wonder if we Indians are really living in the twenty-first century. Our mindset still belongs to the medieval era.
The situation reported is not an isolated one; newspapers/TV keep
repeating such tragedies almost daily, and from all parts of India.
Punishing a few culprits, while necessary, will not solve the problem
– it will neither be adequate deterrence, nor disseminate the message
to all that need to hear it. Setting up Incident Investigating
Committee (what's the Police for?) is fooling the people.
Like it or not, it is the adults who have provided the examples of
depravity. The youngsters see that there is total lawlessness in the
country, even the parents/guardians/employers can be relied upon to
bail them out! As in everything else, the youngsters want to
experiment and take things to the next level - in this case next level
of hell.
It is fanciful to impose morality on youngsters, while adults go scot
free. It is nonsense to believe that morality can be restored in a
vacuum, when the wider society is utterly corrupt and lawless – and
adults “protect” corruption and lawlessness!
Treating the issue as something banal will be wrong and issuing some intelligent solution will be welcomed because that will indeed lead to some grandiose accomplishment in the history of Social Security for women.
The plight of this young girl when being mobbed and stripped is so shameful that words cannot describe how I feel to be a woman in India. Whatever the provocation or whatever cheap thrills this mob of hooligans were seeking, the mindset of such thughs merits medical attention. The performance of the police and the Government in Assam too has been shocking. Unfortunately, after each incident like this against women is hotly debated and then life is back to normal. The outrage after women were attacked by thughs in a pub in Mysore was brushed under the carpet because the mob was playing their Hindutva card. India may be growing at 7-9 percent but by International standards of common decency and respect for women, India is regressing. Every one who joined in the fun in Gauhati must be immediately arrested and the Police Chief must apologize to the young lady in Public. Shame on us all!
Yatha raja thatha praja, goes a Sanskrit saying. When morality doesn't inform what our rulers do, how can we expect the people show the quality of being in accord with standards of right or good? This is not however to justify crime, whoever perpetrates it.
I heard that a television channel's camera person had recorded this
incident. How dare he chose to record the incident rather than
intervening and rescuing the girl? The passers-by are mute spectators
to this incident. Could not they have put their hands together and
knocked over those human animals? When a cricket luminary or cine
luminary unexpectedly show up at any place, the passers-by or
onlookers will flock around him/her and seek autograph. When this sort
of incident happens, why people stay away and continue walking
dismissing the incident happening as an illusion?
my question here is why the girl was molestated. Was she an easy prey?
If so then why? It is the merely fault of the administration even the
police cought the scene after thirty minutes. The wrongdoors must be
punished, when the girl was publically mortified why any body could
not show the courage to escape her, prbably they were more in number.
the offenders must be punished severly.
the bagpat scene seems quite disillusive for, the panchayat has better
understanding of there social condition, in this regard patriorical
view cannot be seen as culpable, it has nothing to do with it. police
officers try to solve the issue in practical terms. they have better
understanding of the scene than the guess work or mere showing
irritation. the must doing task is undoubtedly to punish the
wrongdoors inspite of making it an issue.
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