Empowered against the lewd'icrous
Bengaluru women talk about their experiences and the precautions they take while commuting at night.
Walking on roads in the city, dressed in party outfits is the most uncomfortable experience for any women. Everybody from rickshaws and cab drivers to pedestrians, don’t refrain from openly objectifying them by whistling and making snide remarks.
But now, women in the city have had enough. From stun guns, to self defense classes, women are trying to prove that they are indestructible. The tables have turned and it’s now time for lecherous men to beware!
With the abundance of horror stories about woman being molested and children being raped, it’s quite a task for women to stay safe. “We shouldn’t have to look behind our shoulder every time we step out of our houses,” opines Kruthika Shah, a hotelier. “I got into an auto at around 11 pm after a party one night. A while later I saw the auto driver taking a different route than the one I normally took. When I questioned him, he said he was taking a shortcut. I got suspicious and immediately asked him to stop the vehicle. When he refused to stop, I threatened to call the police. He stopped in the middle of nowhere and I called my parents to pick me up. Ever since, I drive my car and prefer not to take autos. Or I carry pepper spray or a Swiss knife with me,” says Kruthika.
While some have the option of travelling by themselves, it’s not as easy for others. “I get off from work at 10 pm and rely on cabs to get home. In the beginning, I didn’t pay much attention to the driver and was constantly on my phone, but one day saw the driver taking a picture of me through the rare-view mirror. Luckily, we were moving through a crowded street so I got him to stop and delete the image. Ever since, I have started taking self-defense classes so if there trouble, I can protect myself,” says Nikhita Vaz, a call centre employee.
Such instances happen even in broad daylight. “I was on my way home from college and the driver stopped his rickshaw and informed me that it was a breakdown. Since I wasn’t too far from home, I decided to walk the rest of the way so I gave the driver the money. He refused to take it and I didn’t want to argue so I left the money and got out. The driver tugged my wrist and asked me to get back inside. I scratched his hand with my free hand and ran home. Ever since, I always carry a stun gun with me,” says Shikha Gaur, a marketing student.