The incident of beating up of women at a pub in Mangalore was seen by the whole country and was vehemently condemned by everyone..except the Hindu right-wing. Some people shrugged and thought that it's another incident of moral-policing from another 'sena' as they have become used to it.
What surprised me the most is the complete inertness of the people of Mangalore and Karnataka at large and the statement of the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Karnataka who condemned the attacks. But at the same time he criticized the 'pub culture' branding it as against the 'Indian culture' and thus, underlying and justifying the attack. One thing that I fail to comprehend is that what is the Indian culture? who defines it? where does it start or end? The old cliche of freedom of speech and expression in democracy has it's place in this whole incident. On one hand we have demonstration of hatred and violence by Ram Sena against the pubs. On the other hand, there is the freedom to socialize in places like pubs and bars which the majority has resonated.
Well, the bottom line is, that in this patriarchal society, every one wants to protect the Indian culture specially when it is in context of the involvement of the women of India. The culture is more or less synonymous with the behavior of women here. So , most of the time, 'saviours' of the Indian culture direct their wrath over women.
Well, at least such attacks have done one thing...The people who stayed away from pubs earlier must be curious enough to try it now..at least to defy such 'saviours'!!
God bless them........
I agree with CK Daftary, former attorney general of India when he quoted "A Republic without a pub in it will be a mere relic."
Sunday, February 8, 2009
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