An irony of a dynamic city !

Scores of women attacked during New Year's eve

Mamtha Sharma from Bengaluru

The news that Bengaluru has been rated the world's most dynamic city in the annual Jones Lang Laselle City Momentum Index the other day has, predictably, made its administrators and the general public happy. For, apart from the natural elation over the confirmation and importance of Brand Bengaluru, it helps them forget the most shocking and disturbing developments that the IT capital allegedly witnessed barely a fortnight ago on New Year's eve.

According to a local daily which had an exclusive report of the incidents, along with photographs of the harassed victims , the city was witness to instances of alleged "mass molestation" of women ,young and old, on New Year's eve . That too on its most prestigious commercial streets of M G Road and Brigade Road.

The miscreants, abusers or predators whatever one may choose to call them , did not get deterred by the over 1500 odd police personnel who were on duty precisely to prevent such incidents. In the normal course, such shameful behaviour and ill treatment of women in any city is bound to anger sane people. The IT capital which prides itself for its progressive ways and where the pubs and bars continue to remain open till 12 a.m on weekends, is no different.

The police did not dismiss the charge though that several women were indeed harassed as drunken revellers tried to corner them . In many cases, the women themselves were inebriated. It did repeatedly assert that even after several days it had not received any reports on the alleged shameful incidents by any of the victims ,despite repeated appeals to them .

The police, however, tried to point out that no such "mass molestation" took place, backing its argument on the basis of the several CCTV camera clips it screened of the day concerned. None of them showed any such incident. Importantly, the police did maintain though that several women had approached its personnel for help , either to locate their male escorts, husbands or others in the crowd which was increasingly becoming unruly; unmanageable.

Nor, for that matter, had anyone come forward with a complaint of such "molestation." The news story,incidentally ,was based on the photographs taken by a seasoned photographer of a local daily who called it the "most terrible night." It was a traumatic experience for him. The photographer, incidentally, is known for his professionalism and commitment to the profession and therefore, it would be a mistake to brush aside or contest his evidence.

Yet , contradictory versions are now appearing ,from TV journalists who claim that no incidents of "mass molestation" took place. For instance, according to a veteran TV newsman who was there on the night of New Year to cover the story for his channel , there were several instances where drunken mobs did try to harass or tried to corner women and young girls.

But , as he claimed, he did not witness any "mass molestation" cases . He even helped many young couples who appeared to be new to the city and were lost in the crowd which was increasingly becoming raucous and unwieldly and even" dangerous." Significantly, the TV journalist is known for his unbiased and professional reporting and above all, is a man respected for his integrity. The police has not lost time in circulating his account to strengthen its claim that there was little evidence of "mass molestation" on New Year eve.

Now, these contradictory versions have given a totally different twist to the alleged incidents of "mass molestation" with a section of the politicians claiming that "an attempt was being made to tarnish Bengaluru's image." While admitting that even one case of molestation or eve teasing was bad for any city, they said it was unfair though " to paint the IT capital as a dangerous and totally unsafe for women . This was going too far." How else would you explain the fact that the crowds in different pubs and clubs in the city have not thinned , post the alleged "mass molestation, is their refrain.

Admittedly, there was this incident of "groping and molestation" ,also on the New Year eve, of a young girl who was waylaid in a city suburb. The youth involved ,along with his four accomplices , however, was arrested within 48 hours , thanks to the CCTV camera near the place of the incident that had captured the unfortunate trauma of the victim.

It is this success that has emboldened the city police to reiterate that it would act promptly to punish the guilty involved in the alleged mass molestation ,if only the victims come forward to report the crime. Till the time of writing ,the appeal apparently has not had any impact though the police is now claiming that it is not averse to filing the cases, suo mutu too.

The coverage of the "alleged mass molestation" in Bengaluru has also raised another important issue which,in a way strengthens the argument that most people are parading. According to them the national media has been seeking to boost its TRPs by reporting , even exaggerating ,i ncidents that take place in Bengaluru, big or small.

The coverage of the "alleged mass molestation" in Bengaluru has also raised another important issue which,in a way strengthens the argument that most people are parading. According to them the national media has been seeking to boost its TRPs by reporting , even exaggerating ,incidents that take place in Bengaluru, big or small.

To quote Vijay Muttur, a business executive, how else does one explain the fact that coinciding with the New Year developments in Bengaluru ,were reports that nearly 30 tribal women in Chattisgarh were assaulted by the police. The sexual violence was acccompanied by looting of their property. Why did the national media not talk about such incidents.

In fact, another Bengalorean, who has lived in the city for over a decade, wonders why incidents in the IT capital get such negative publicity even though cities like New Delhi and those in Haryana and UP are worse. Surely,these towns and cities also suffer cases of eve teasing or molestation. Why single out the IT capital which is known for its cosmopolitan culture and the ability to absorb people from all strata of society, goes the refrain.

This brings us to a broader issue. Why do cases of eve teasing and sexual molestation take place. Importantly, such cases are not of recent origin. Eve teasing in Delhi university buses were as common in the early sixties and seventies as they are today. It is another matter that such cases of gone up substantially,including those of rapes.

This increase is attributed to the easy availability of porn to youngsters and other depraved minds, according to Sandhya Mahan,a psychologiest. She believes that while porn in itself may not be harmful if viewed under a controlled environment , the viewer has to be mature enough to realise that what is shown is a mere make believe.

Of equal importance is the argument by Mallika K ,another psychologist, who believes that in India,women have never been considered equal by a large section of society. Therefore, to see them mingling with boys ,enjoying a drink or too, is enough to make the otherwise orthodox sections of society to question their character. More important, she argues that Indian men are conditioned to believe that women,as a whole, are mere objects to be pleasured,used and abused and ,of course, humiliated.

This also explains the irrational comments by politicians who believe that women should stay at home and refrain from wearing modern dresses.



		EDITOR'S MAIL MATTERS OF PUBLIC POLICY FIVE-STATE POLL PUNJAB ELECTION ON RECORD FRANKLY SPEAKING REALPOLITIK CHANGING POLITICAL PROFILES THE NIGHT THAT WAS RBI AUTONOMY A DIVIDED PARTY DIDI'S POLITICS INDIA ESSAY VOICE FROM LONDON 45TH U.S. PRESIDENT HITS & MISSES MIXED BLESSING ENVIRONMENTAL NEGLECT BOOK BAZAAR BOOK BAZAAR BOOK BAZAAR YOGA IN DAILY LIFE-X SIGNS OF THE TIMES INTERVIEW BOLLYWOOD PANORAMA TRIBUTE THAT HEROIC EVENT LIVING WITH NATURE ART OF LIVING Issue:February' 2017 Subscribe Now	THE NIGHT THAT WAS An irony of a dynamic city ! Scores of women attacked during New Year's eve Mamtha Sharma from Bengaluru The news that Bengaluru has been rated the world's most dynamic city in the annual Jones Lang Laselle City Momentum Index the other day has, predictably, made its administrators and the general public happy. For, apart from the natural elation over the confirmation and importance of Brand Bengaluru, it helps them forget the most shocking and disturbing developments that the IT capital allegedly witnessed barely a fortnight ago on New Year's eve. According to a local daily which had an exclusive report of the incidents, along with photographs of the harassed victims , the city was witness to instances of alleged "mass molestation" of women ,young and old, on New Year's eve . That too on its most prestigious commercial streets of M G Road and Brigade Road. The miscreants, abusers or predators whatever one may choose to call them , did not get deterred by the over 1500 odd police personnel who were on duty precisely to prevent such incidents. In the normal course, such shameful behaviour and ill treatment of women in any city is bound to anger sane people. The IT capital which prides itself for its progressive ways and where the pubs and bars continue to remain open till 12 a.m on weekends, is no different. The police did not dismiss the charge though that several women were indeed harassed as drunken revellers tried to corner them . In many cases, the women themselves were inebriated. It did repeatedly assert that even after several days it had not received any reports on the alleged shameful incidents by any of the victims ,despite repeated appeals to them . The police, however, tried to point out that no such "mass molestation" took place, backing its argument on the basis of the several CCTV camera clips it screened of the day concerned. None of them showed any such incident. Importantly, the police did maintain though that several women had approached its personnel for help , either to locate their male escorts, husbands or others in the crowd which was increasingly becoming unruly; unmanageable. The police did not dismiss the charge though that several women were indeed harassed as drunken revellers tried to corner them . In many cases, the women themselves were inebriated. It did repeatedly assert that even after several days it had not received any reports on the alleged shameful incidents by any of the victims ,despite repeated appeals to them . Nor, for that matter, had anyone come forward with a complaint of such "molestation." The news story,incidentally ,was based on the photographs taken by a seasoned photographer of a local daily who called it the "most terrible night." It was a traumatic experience for him. The photographer, incidentally, is known for his professionalism and commitment to the profession and therefore, it would be a mistake to brush aside or contest his evidence. Yet , contradictory versions are now appearing ,from TV journalists who claim that no incidents of "mass molestation" took place. For instance, according to a veteran TV newsman who was there on the night of New Year to cover the story for his channel , there were several instances where drunken mobs did try to harass or tried to corner women and young girls. But , as he claimed, he did not witness any "mass molestation" cases . He even helped many young couples who appeared to be new to the city and were lost in the crowd which was increasingly becoming raucous and unwieldly and even" dangerous." Significantly, the TV journalist is known for his unbiased and professional reporting and above all, is a man respected for his integrity. The police has not lost time in circulating his account to strengthen its claim that there was little evidence of "mass molestation" on New Year eve. Now, these contradictory versions have given a totally different twist to the alleged incidents of "mass molestation" with a section of the politicians claiming that "an attempt was being made to tarnish Bengaluru's image." While admitting that even one case of molestation or eve teasing was bad for any city, they said it was unfair though " to paint the IT capital as a dangerous and totally unsafe for women . This was going too far." How else would you explain the fact that the crowds in different pubs and clubs in the city have not thinned , post the alleged "mass molestation, is their refrain. Admittedly, there was this incident of "groping and molestation" ,also on the New Year eve, of a young girl who was waylaid in a city suburb. The youth involved ,along with his four accomplices , however, was arrested within 48 hours , thanks to the CCTV camera near the place of the incident that had captured the unfortunate trauma of the victim. It is this success that has emboldened the city police to reiterate that it would act promptly to punish the guilty involved in the alleged mass molestation ,if only the victims come forward to report the crime. Till the time of writing ,the appeal apparently has not had any impact though the police is now claiming that it is not averse to filing the cases, suo mutu too. The coverage of the "alleged mass molestation" in Bengaluru has also raised another important issue which,in a way strengthens the argument that most people are parading. According to them the national media has been seeking to boost its TRPs by reporting , even exaggerating ,i ncidents that take place in Bengaluru, big or small. The coverage of the "alleged mass molestation" in Bengaluru has also raised another important issue which,in a way strengthens the argument that most people are parading. According to them the national media has been seeking to boost its TRPs by reporting , even exaggerating ,incidents that take place in Bengaluru, big or small. To quote Vijay Muttur, a business executive, how else does one explain the fact that coinciding with the New Year developments in Bengaluru ,were reports that nearly 30 tribal women in Chattisgarh were assaulted by the police. The sexual violence was acccompanied by looting of their property. Why did the national media not talk about such incidents. In fact, another Bengalorean, who has lived in the city for over a decade, wonders why incidents in the IT capital get such negative publicity even though cities like New Delhi and those in Haryana and UP are worse. Surely,these towns and cities also suffer cases of eve teasing or molestation. Why single out the IT capital which is known for its cosmopolitan culture and the ability to absorb people from all strata of society, goes the refrain. This brings us to a broader issue. Why do cases of eve teasing and sexual molestation take place. Importantly, such cases are not of recent origin. Eve teasing in Delhi university buses were as common in the early sixties and seventies as they are today. It is another matter that such cases of gone up substantially,including those of rapes. This increase is attributed to the easy availability of porn to youngsters and other depraved minds, according to Sandhya Mahan,a psychologiest. She believes that while porn in itself may not be harmful if viewed under a controlled environment , the viewer has to be mature enough to realise that what is shown is a mere make believe. Of equal importance is the argument by Mallika K ,another psychologist, who believes that in India,women have never been considered equal by a large section of society. Therefore, to see them mingling with boys ,enjoying a drink or too, is enough to make the otherwise orthodox sections of society to question their character. More important, she argues that Indian men are conditioned to believe that women,as a whole, are mere objects to be pleasured,used and abused and ,of course, humiliated. This also explains the irrational comments by politicians who believe that women should stay at home and refrain from wearing modern dresses.