It’s a shame that the average Indian woman does not seem to feel completely safe from harassers not just in deserted areas but even crowded public places. Often the reason why the perpetrator manages to get away without any repercussions is because bystanders fail to speak up and support the victim.
Recently a young woman from Delhi chose to share details of her train journey that left her disturbed. A lecherous ‘uncle’ ensures that she does remain comfortable even for a moment the whole time. What is even more hurtful is the fact that none of her other co-passengers care stop the pervert or even speak up against him which leaves her feeling vulnerable even in the midst of so many people.
Here's the complete text of her post:
Traveling alone in the train and sitting while the uncle sitting next to you is staring at you. Staring. The people sitting around you notice. They ignore. You believe that he'll stop but he doesn't. For 30 minutes you ignore him. He keeps staring. You look back, with as much anger as you can and ask him what's wrong. He ignores. Looks elsewhere. Sits and smiles. Five minutes later his hands accidentally brush against your breasts while trying to charge his phone where he watches Katrina Kaif gyrating to "Sheela ki jawani" and smiles. You ask him to sit away. He ignores. You climb to the upper berth and see that the uncle somehow found you on Instagram and is now following you and liking your posts. He still looks up and smiles. Stares. You shout at him from the upper berth and ask him what's wrong. He says he isn't doing anything wrong. The people around you still ignore the "drama". You feel terribly unsafe and angry at the same time. You decide to sleep. After a while uncle comes and taps on your shoulder and shows you your tinder profile and smiles. You ask him to stay away and let you sleep and tell him you'll complain if he bothers you again. He is sure that nothing can happen to him to him since your tinder profile has the word "sex" and hence you're definitely asking for it all. The TT comes to check the tickets and you tell him that the man is making you uncomfortable. No other co-passengers feel the need to say something while you argue with the TT that you need another seat or change the man's seat. The uncle still sits and smiles. TT leaves by saying there is "nothing he can do about it". You're tired and just want to let it be. So you let it be.
You sleep.
No, you try to sleep because you can't sleep as there's a constant fear in your mind.
There's only one woman in the entire coach, two seats away, she's old and with her husband.
You don't sleep.
Uncle smiles, and sleeps.
I'm sorry, did some asshole who's "entitled to have an opinion" announce that "women need to stop cribbing about safety"?
