Rapes, Molestations and Gropings in India
A shocking title, I know.
But this is what has been in the news nearly every day since I arrived in India.
It started with a gang “molestation” (the Indian term for groping and fondling) that happened to a couple of women outside of an upscale Mumbai hotel on New Year’s Day. I think the women were of Indian descent but visiting from the U.S. and they had been harrassed (with their husbands unable to stop it) by a group of 50-70 rabble rousing men.
The event was captured on film by a number of journalists, which is probably the only reason it got so much attention. These occurrences happen often but are rarely reported in the news.
Since then, I’ve read about local Indian women and tourists being raped and molested throughout the country. The trend is disturbing and has definitely left me on alert as I am here on my own.
I will say that while the taxi drivers, touts and even the “man on the street” can be pretty obnoxious as far as following me, asking me for their business or simply wanting to know “what country you”, I’ve never felt threatened or insecure about myself or my belongings.
I have to believe that these molestations and rapes have been occurring for ages (three Japanese women were gang raped in Agra last year) and that they are just now gaining media attention (thank goodness!). They serve as reminders that we all need to be on alert, to not trust anyone offering us a drink on a train, to keep our hotel room door locked (a few foreign women have been raped recently in their hotels) and not to engage in conversations with strangers.
I’m usually not so strong about issuing warnings about travel, but these recent incidents even have me wondering about what’s going on. I’m a bit more on alert than I normally would be, but that can’t be all bad - right?
Don’t NOT come to India because of this string of events, but come prepared and ever-vigilant.
What’s YOUR experience been (whether in India or elsewhere)?
Happy Travels!
You can also read about my India travels on my blog at the Seattle Post Intelligencer.
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Beth -
Be safe. I believe that being vigilant, showing personal confidence and not putting yourself in obvious danger (like the things that you cited) are the best defense against being accosted - here or abroad.
Carol
My friend Misty just showed me your blog. I have lived in India (and Asia in general) for many years, both as a child and as an adult. Misty and I just returned from India last week.
I think what many people fail to put in perspective is that India is a huge, populous country. The papers in Kolkata did a nice evaluation of the issue by comparing the ratio of assaults on female tourists in India and Europe in proportion to the population. India, not surprisingly, came out as a safer choice.
That the problem is being publicized in the Indian media is a big step forward. In early 90s women, both local and foreign, were discouraged from filing police complaints, and the press pretended the issue didn’t exist.
In addition to what the other commenter said - cultural awareness and understanding of local customs and sensitivities will do a better job in keeping you safe than just showing personal confidence. And too much of personal confidence may be perceived as a challenge to the local male ego.
I live in the San Francisco East Bay and the proportion to the population of rapes in Oakland, Richmond, etc. is indeed higher than in India. So are the number of murders!
As mentioned in the comments above if the nember of rapes that have taken place are considred in the context of the huge population of India it will be found that the rate of assaults on female tourists in India are much lesser than other countries.History is evidence to the fact that the Indian is by and large a peace loving man as compared to his European or American counterpart.Then there is this age old belief amongst Indians that a guest is like God and has to be treated accordingly.Moreover the average Indian still suffers from an inferiority complex where the white man or woman is concerned even though the British left India more than 60 years ago.And lastly large segments of Indian population worship the female deity more than male Gods.Then the question could be asked,why even the few rapes that have happened.Well,the answer is simple.The Indian male is by and large sexually repressed.Attribute it to the prevailant social customs or whatever,this cannot be denied.
Considering everything i am of the opinion that women travelling solo in India could address this problem in the following manner:-
1.Being conservative about what one is wearing.
2.Not to act pally with men unless they know the man well,for most Indian men have this strange notion that if a woman is pally with men then she is available.One can always act serious without being offensive.
3.Not visiting deserted places in the dark alone.
4.If one was to face such a position in reallity,not to yield easily,but to put up resistance since given their fundamentally docile nature most Indian men would run away when faced with resistance