Are we ready to face the truth about Mumbai?
How to be a chick...And other life lessons from she who knows better - By Shobhaa De
The time has come to look into the mirror and face a few uncomfortable truths about our city and ourselves. Forget the bilge. Forget the hype. Forget all those myths we have created about our great city. The ghastly fact of the matter is that today’s Mumbai is no different from any other city in India.
The mask is finally off. And Mumbai stands exposed as just another wretched Indian metropolis that has zero respect for itswomen .
Yes , even to Patna. Because each time they step out in Mumbai, there is no guarantee they’ll get home in one piece, or even at all. Yup, it’s that bad out there.
Had Thursday’s rape victim not been from our journalistic fraternity, I seriously doubt there would have been such an outcry. It would have been just another rape in Maximum City. We would have tch-tched for a bit and carried on with our lives.
Remember, even Nirbhaya’s case didn’t really change a thing in Delhi, despite the nationwide outrage. Rapes were reported in the Capital while Nirbhaya was still struggling for her life. And rapes continue in the Capital like Nirbhaya never happened. So it is in Mumbai. But with a difference. The victim is alive. And stable. She has given our cops valuable information that will help them to nail the perpetrators of the crime in court. But I fear for this brave young girl.
Who knows what those men were really after? Had she accidentally stumbled on to something they wanted to hide? Did she click pictures that could incriminate the men somehow? Were the men acting on their own? Or following orders? Is it just a case of anti-social elements seizing an opportunity and violating a young woman because they could? Tough questions. She could face far greater danger after she gets out of hospital. We should concern ourselves with her long term safety once she is discharged.
Great cities collapse and rot when then there is a crisis of leadership. Mumbai has not had a good leader in decades. Even during this particular crisis, we have heard mewing… bleating… not roars or growls. Where are those mighty netas who spend their time issuing dhamkis? Where is thesuave MP from South Mumbai when we need him the most? Who the hell is in charge of our city, our safety, anyway? Does anybody know? I certainly don’t.
Let’s face it - Mumbai has surrendered itself to hard core goondas who are hell-bent on destroying it. Ten years ago, these same hoodlums were more interested in looting the city and becoming overnight crorepatis. Today, there is nothing left to strip, except the honour of defenceless women. The fact that Mahalaxmi is not Sanjay Gandhi Park (which is a desolate area of the city), and that the rape took place during office hours, also points to the utter lack of responsiveness prevalent in our society. Her cries for help fell on deaf ears. How come? Because, nobody really cares a damn or gives a s**t. Rapes happen. So?
And what do you think will happen now? The cops will parade the accused and invite the media for a photo-op. Let’s change the story a bit here. Let’s insist on those men appearing before the furious city without the black hoods hiding their faces. Let’s insist on the cops doing away withthe practice for once. We want to see what these animals look like. We want to see for ourselves whether they squirm and cringe when those flashbulbs explode. But you know what? Nothing of the sort will happen. If the cops oblige, these beasts will probably stare back at us defiantly, and mock our anger. They will shuffle their feet and sneer.
Finally, it is we who’ll blink. Because we will be dying of shame. Even though there is really no shame left here, any more. Women’s lives have become cheap ( onions are more expensive and precious). Women are dispensable. Women ask for it. Women deserve what happens to them. From Maximum City to Besharam City. That’s Mumbai today. Deal with it.
The time has come to look into the mirror and face a few uncomfortable truths about our city and ourselves. Forget the bilge. Forget the hype. Forget all those myths we have created about our great city. The ghastly fact of the matter is that today’s Mumbai is no different from any other city in India.
The mask is finally off. And Mumbai stands exposed as just another wretched Indian metropolis that has zero respect for its
So let’s not kid ourselves that Mumbai is somehow ‘different’, more cosmopolitan, more liberal, more accommodating, more anything. No, it’s not. And the sooner we accept that about Mumbai, the better for us. No woman is safe in this city. No child is protected. And kaan khul ke soona – nobody is in charge here, either. Lawlessness rules. And women from other cities, who continue to kid themselves about their personal safety in Mumbai, can take a walk, pack their bags and go home.
Had Thursday’s rape victim not been from our journalistic fraternity, I seriously doubt there would have been such an outcry. It would have been just another rape in Maximum City. We would have tch-tched for a bit and carried on with our lives.
Remember, even Nirbhaya’s case didn’t really change a thing in Delhi, despite the nationwide outrage. Rapes were reported in the Capital while Nirbhaya was still struggling for her life. And rapes continue in the Capital like Nirbhaya never happened. So it is in Mumbai. But with a difference. The victim is alive. And stable. She has given our cops valuable information that will help them to nail the perpetrators of the crime in court. But I fear for this brave young girl.
Who knows what those men were really after? Had she accidentally stumbled on to something they wanted to hide? Did she click pictures that could incriminate the men somehow? Were the men acting on their own? Or following orders? Is it just a case of anti-social elements seizing an opportunity and violating a young woman because they could? Tough questions. She could face far greater danger after she gets out of hospital. We should concern ourselves with her long term safety once she is discharged.
Great cities collapse and rot when then there is a crisis of leadership. Mumbai has not had a good leader in decades. Even during this particular crisis, we have heard mewing… bleating… not roars or growls. Where are those mighty netas who spend their time issuing dhamkis? Where is the
Let’s face it - Mumbai has surrendered itself to hard core goondas who are hell-bent on destroying it. Ten years ago, these same hoodlums were more interested in looting the city and becoming overnight crorepatis. Today, there is nothing left to strip, except the honour of defenceless women. The fact that Mahalaxmi is not Sanjay Gandhi Park (which is a desolate area of the city), and that the rape took place during office hours, also points to the utter lack of responsiveness prevalent in our society. Her cries for help fell on deaf ears. How come? Because, nobody really cares a damn or gives a s**t. Rapes happen. So?
And what do you think will happen now? The cops will parade the accused and invite the media for a photo-op. Let’s change the story a bit here. Let’s insist on those men appearing before the furious city without the black hoods hiding their faces. Let’s insist on the cops doing away with
Finally, it is we who’ll blink. Because we will be dying of shame. Even though there is really no shame left here, any more. Women’s lives have become cheap ( onions are more expensive and precious). Women are dispensable. Women ask for it. Women deserve what happens to them. From Maximum City to Besharam City. That’s Mumbai today. Deal with it.
Disclaimer: The views expressed here are the author's own. The opinions and facts expressed here do not reflect the views of Mirror and Mirror does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
