There is apparently a race between Mumbai and Delhi for the rape capital of the country. And to think that these two are regarded as cosmopolitan and trend-setters for the rest of India, one shudders. To be fair some of the most so-called- "conservative" pockets of urban india are probably relatively better off with lower instances of crimes against women. This obnoxious case proves that just because women in some parts of the country wear western attire does not make the place any more modern, less conservative or any safer than areas which are still tradition bound. Just because men in Mumbai are more used to seeing women in western clothes does not make some of them any less animal/ savage-minded than other places. So instead of glossing over crimes and heaping praises on any city or condemning some others base-lessly readers should accept prevalence of higher crime rates in the so-called westernized urban centers. We should change our yardstick for gauging modernity and open-ness, and being faithfully hindu or culture-bound should not preclude anyone from being accepted as modern.
RE:Race for dubious distinction
by Fun Lover on Dec 20, 2007 03:01 AM Permalink
Modernity of clothes or Modernity of Gadgets is just external modernity. The real modernity should come from the mind. Note that the typical Indian male is lacking in this kind of modernity. So it is not only westernized city-centers, but also in the not-so-westernized places that crimes are committed against women and other vulnerable sections of the society. Take for example, the dowry problem, which is rampant in India. This is not due to western culture. This is our own 100% Indian problem. Or take the treatment of women in the Muslim communities. Even the muslim personal laws are biased against women. This is once again not due to western culture. Ultimately, if we blame something else other than ourselves for our problems, then we would be living in a state of self-delusion.
