City of 'Bhoy'

 

In recent weeks, I open the newspapers, switch on the television or through my work have come across eve teasing, molestation and rapes in West Bengal. Kolkata from being a city of Joy has become a city of 'Bhoy' or fear as it is called in Bengali. It seems to be not a one off incident, but now a regular affair. It could also be that these things did happen in the State, but were never reported to the extent that they are now. Bad enough there have been rapes reported recently, but now eve teasing and molestation on the city's road are also rampant. When I speak to victims or those who were with them at that point in time when the incidents occur, I know the sense of uneasiness that has gripped them. For me as a girl in the city, I can see the deserted streets that give a sense of unwanted presence of citizens traversing their paths towards their destinations. This was not the case though a few years ago, but I spot the difference only because I live in an area which is usually buzzing with activity and the transformation is evident.

It is sad but true, that fear is instilled in the minds of citizens, women and men while fearlessness takes over the unruly masses that smirk at thought of being intimidating. When I say intimidating I refer to the gang of men on bikes showing their so called power by troubling citizens on the roads, the epitome of uncouth. I spoke to an actor Indrajit and his friend DJ Akash who narrate the incident on Park Street on a Saturday night when they saw a gang of 18 men on 9 motorcycles making rounds near their car when they spotted Indrajit's sister in law and neice. One said ' Uthale' while another said 'Uthale, kuch nahi hoga'. The actor and DJ kept mum instead of questioning the youth as the safety of women was first priority. The gang of bikers had the audacity to do this when the women were accompanied by 3 men. I ask them why they didn't file an FIR and they say they didn't have substantial evidence as the bikers were many in number and it was impossible to note down the bike numbers.

I speak to one Police officer about the lack of evidence being one of the reasons some people choose not to file a Police complaint and he tells me that evidence can be collected. But are these words enough to coax victims out of their shell of fear? What stops them? Is it the acceptance that the Police can't do much as most of the accussed will be out on bail as the laws have loopholes? Or is it that noone wants to get into that mess of Police and the court?

I speak to an American lady staying at a city hotel who was solicited by a waiter and she chose to file a complaint of sexual harrassment with the Police, while the American Consulate helps her out. The accussed is let off on bail. She tells me India has become worse than what it was, since her earlier visits in her 40 years of being married to a Bengali. I tell her that in the past, we citizens could not venture out of our houses late at night with fear of being unsafe lurking around somewhere, be it Kolkata or other cities. Also most women including me have faced eve teasing or molestation and have learnt to be street smart to fight back. While noone crossed the limits with foreigners as much before since there was somewhat a fear of the law, there were not so many people bragging about their political clout. Times have changed now and the fear for the law replaces fearlessness and hence crossing the limits with foreigners has become more prevalent now, perhaps for this reason.

Yet I say that it is not alarming enough to make women stay locked up in their homes. What needs to change is each one of us, whether women or men, should wrap ourselves up with an air of caution. Men too, for it is them who face the brunt. Like the TV anchor from Mumbai who along with her friend were molested outside an eatery in Howrah on a Monday night, while her male friend was beaten up by 5 men. It was as regular an event of the male friend getting food packed while the 2 women and the anchor's father sat in the car, only to have a drunkard pass lewd comments at the anchor's friend. When they protested, the event took a turn for the worse.  
   
But where does the buck stop? Is it that now targetting the modesty of woman is common and so it should be about digesting the fact or that the law and order situation could just get better eventually? Your guess is as good as mine and till the latter happens, fight back instead of staying quiet. I just hope the unpleasant times are a passing phase...a bad dream that will be replaced by better and safer times which is a wish that is on almost every Kolkatan's lips.