Was I Right

Everybody by now has read about the teenage girl who was molested by a gang in full public view, In Guwahati......

Though what i am about to relate has nothing to do with the above incident all the same ,the news reminded me of an incident that happened several years ago in the month of July which i wanted to add  in my blog,   but kept postponing. so here it is..
We were very new to Bangalore. I had enrolled for a three day workshop on Developmental Journalism with CDL.. Our home was quite far from the workshop venue which involved me taking two buses to reach the spot. 

On the first day of the programme we were let off early. On the second day we went to the Press club to watch how a press release is conducted. From there we returned to the training venue. we had some brainstorming, some exercises to differentiate all the journalism terms we learnt that day and we did some mock demonstrations of vociferous/silent rally etc.. It was dark when we left the training. I had to catch a bus from Coles Park to Majestic and from there another bus to Mahalaxmi Layout. The bus was full  and the ladies seat were  occupied by male passengers.

I was really tired that day. I was having a bad MC, added to that lots of physical activity at the training venue and since we had just come to Bangalore a few days ago, the previous day i spent unpacking some of the household goods. Srikanth was away to Delhi on a project and my girls were young. It was nearing 8.30 in the evening.I looked about for a seat and also looked at a few of the faces. They seemed hostile, also there was a waft of alcoholic breath in the vicinity. The conductor gave me a ticket but did not bother to tell the men to vacate the ladies seat. So i knew i had no help from these quarters so i stood at the spot behind the driver. And i was only lady in the bus and i could get this bus after an half hour wait. I felt the area was too seedy and I was scared. It began to rain and my main concern was the girls at home. I did not have a cell phone. So i had no other alternative left than to catch this bus.

A few seconds later another girl got into the bus.i was relieved. She politely asked the men to give up the ladies seat but they totally ignored her. Few of the men sitting at the behind passed some lewd remarks at the girl. Later the girl was angry with me and asked me why i did not fight for a seat. So i told her (in a sufficiently  loud voice that i could muster) i have been literally on my feet since 6 hours but another two or more would not kill me and that I am quite a strong woman at that..all of a sudden two of the men in the front seat got up. I told them no its ok please sit. but they ignored us and proceeded to the back of the bus.

Me and the girl occupied the seat just vacated. and asked the girl, 'Did we both really have a chance if all the men had chosen to flock together to get even at us if we had ranted and raved? I am no superwoman and even if i did know martial arts it does not work in real life as shown in the movies.' Two against 35+ men and with no support from the driver and conductor of the bus..no way..'

You all must be wondering why i did not catch the auto,  i did not have extra cash on me. did not know the proper route and i always feel safe travelling with  many people, than alone in an auto during night.

But did i do the right thing? or was i a coward?

and yes by the way i have this strange ability to gauge an environment if it is hostile or conducive...all about positive and negative energies...

Ladies who read my post how would you have handled this situation??
Coming back to the Guwahati Incident:

(One of us had asked this question: In a situation where you feel you can help a person (for example an accident/or natural calamity like floods or earthquake), would you shoot the incident or help the victim if its in your reach..The girl in Guwahati who was stripped and molested..the question arises someone could shoot the scenes but did not go to her aid....but in this case the journalists say they did try to help but they were outnumbered)

Guwahati incident is a classic example of mob mentality..the men attack her as if social condemnation is required for her behaviour. for one, she came out of a bar and secondly she bad mouthed the men who passed remarks on her...Other people kept silent thinking she deserved what was coming...
( I have witnessed mob mentality twice wherein perfectly decent persons turn into monsters/vicious people in a few seconds time..once during Indira Gandhi Assassination and second on a bus from Mumbai to Mangalore)

Where is our country headed to.........??It took Four days for the Government to wake up and take action?