Recent mob led attacks on young women show that not everything is shining in India. Attacks in different parts of the country such as in Guwahati, Assam, Delhi, Calcutta and elsewhere indicates the gulf between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ in India. The country does indeed have a large educated and privileged class that is the direct beneficiary of the progress the country is making on economic fronts but there is another India consisting of an urban mob of uneducated, jobless, internally migrated forced bachelors. This mob mentality behaves as prosecutor, judge and executioner, all in one.
It shows a weak and reluctant mode of governance while mobs are well aware that they will not be caught at first place and if by somehow got arrested , may face maximum one year simple imprisonment (free bed and bread at state’ expense!).
Other factors are also feeding into this mob mentality – the mass murder of female foetuses is distorting the gender ratio which is contributing to sexism and other gender-related imbalances and inequities in India. Then there are the already pervasive patriarchal biases in the sub continental psyche – a male-dominated society is not ready to accept an educated and economically independent women cadre.
It’s high time for the India’ central and state governments to take some real, not cosmetic, steps to protect the women from such treatment on the street. It’s not simple – police reforms, improved prosecution, speedy justice, court witness reforms, upbringing of children to learn morality at home, an education system which treats women as equal human beings, etc. It’s not that simple but if there is will, there is a way.
MASOOD KHAN
Saudi Arabia