The Chauvinism of Culture

So we had the most shameful incident happening on India's republic eve when members of a right wing Hindu group called the 'Shri Ram Sena' brutally attacking and molesting girls in a pub in the city of Mangalore. Because the attack got filmed by the media a huge outrage has occurred with most people condemming it. However members of the Ram Sena especially the president of the organization remain unapologetic calling themselves "custodians of the Indian culture".

As someone who sees himself as a male feminist(actually) I am outraged that such a thing could happen, as an Indian I am ashamed that organization like these even exist and we allow them to rule our cities.

If one read tuesday’s newspapers the chief of the organization responsible for attacks openly owes responsibility saying “women should not enter pubs and mix with youths as its against our culture”. There are no regrets.

What this attack will do is terrorize people especially women from going to pubs. The images of women running away in terror and being mishandled will scar so many women. They will be afraid not knowing when they can be attacked. Men can enjoy. For them our Indian culture allows them to drink whether in a bar or in a pub.

On the other hand while the media has played a very negative role in the entire affair, we should not shoot the messenger. The video of the attack ensured that there is such a huge outrage against the attack.

The sad thing is this is just another of a series of incidents showing how intolerant sociey and how willing people in power are to justify violence. We had the sacking of the Bhandarkar Oriental institute, the violence in protests against Taslima Nasreen by an unknown Muslim group, the attacks on North Indians by MNS, the MF Hussain controversy which has ensured India's most famous painter will spend his last days in exile, numerous riots, a painter being jailed in Gujrat(Vadodra) for painting nudes, the protest by the Shiv Sena against Valentines day. The list just goes on. In India its a fashion to get ur will done through violence.

I think we as a nation must stand up and say the mob mentality and vigilantism of any form must not be accepted.

The constitution allows us a right to freedom of expression. The freedom of expression does not allow us to indulge in hate speech or violence of any kind. If the so called ‘moral police’ were so upright they could have peacefully protested outside the pub. The Delhi high court has upheld the right of women to work as bartenders so what is the big deal with women in a pub.

As for the attackers in Mangalore , I suggest hang the basta*** and make an example out of them. On a more serious note, sentence all to minimum ten years of jail and give no bail. There wont be another attack on defenceless girls having their lunch and a drink in a pub.

Else it will continue.

Update-the embedded videos from indiatimes have been removed. Find them if you want to.