I love Delhi but I really hate it. This sounds like a contradiction. It is not.
Tonight Delhi shattered any illusions I had about the concept of safety. One of my brothers was beaten up outside a popular hangout in Delhi. In the heart of South Delhi, in one of my favorite areas, Hauz Khas village, at a place called "Social." He stepped out with a beer. No one at "Social" stopped him, including the doorman. He walked outside and some bouncers started bellowing at him to leave his drink. Before he knew what was happening they were upon him, beating him with sticks. Before any of his friends could do anything he was on the floor being beaten. Not just that, they began egging on other bouncers from other places to come join them. Was he wrong in taking his drink out? Yes. Were their actions justified? Absolutely not.
The management at the "Social" refused to step outside and the cops who turned up (obviously after he had already suffered injuries!) refused to step into the place. All in all there was no one to help, no one to turn to. We raved and ranted, complained and yelled and were guided to a nearby police station. He was hit on his head, his left eye was impacted and he was severely hurt on his leg. He suffered shock and trauma and other psychological impacts.
After spending four hours at the police station, we were made to realize the futility of it all. Firstly, even before we got to the police station there was a major discussion bout how all the women should go home since it was late at night. So we realized our status as liabilities, but we still went to the police station. It is sad that one has to think twice about such things, where one has to reconsider situations on account of being a woman.
So we went to the police station with eye witnesses, pictures and a lot of righteous rage. It should have been a simple thing. It was not. What shocked me was the attitude of the cops, the management at "Social," as well as that of the people who own the security company where the overzealous bouncers came from. The distinct note of casualness, the blatant arrogance, the sheer nonchalance were so jarring that they shook me. There was no trace of the bouncers who beat up an innocent guy and disappeared within seconds. If they thought they were doing their job, why did they run away? Did I mention the fact they had been drinking? That one of them acted inappropriately with one of the girls who entered the club?
But run they did. The cops did nothing to stop them. At the police station, we given several reassurances that were showing up in 15 minutes. After four hours there was no trace of them. Then we were told that they were inside. Unless the Sarojini Nagar police station boasts of an underground secret passage, no one saw them enter! The staff from "Social"and the security company kept making all kinds of excuses. The insipid "yes we know it's our fault but what can we do now" scenario.
But the biggest disappointment were the police. There was absolutely no willingness to help. I felt we were in a Bollywood movie when I heard one of them say, "I am a government servant, don't tell me how to do my job." Then there was some talk of the bouncers being asked to go to AIIMS medical center to determine their alcohol level. We heard the cops speaking on the phone to the hospital staff to "please take care of it." That's when we realized that it was all a sham. They would not file our report. There was no sympathy from the cops, no responsibility taken by the staff or the security company.
All in all, it is an experience which is horrific in so many ways. The fact that we were thankful that they only found sticks to hit him with, because it could have been so much worse. The realization that blatant injustice happens in this city everyday and you have no one to turn to. The fact that I am writing this, the fact that we were even able to go back & forth with the cops for several hours, the fact that we will not let this go, already puts us in a privileged category. We are educated people, who have access to resources and contacts and yet I have never felt a more profound sense of helplessness.
Actually there was one more time... Another police station, another night in Delhi, many years ago. When a man kept touching my 14 yr old cousin for an entire hour in the PVR Saket movie theater. During intermission is when she finally told me and even though the management and cops were more supportive, nothing came out of it. The cops said being a minor, it may affect her reputation because who can say "how much" happened. It would only affect her adversely and so she begged to not file a report.
It was like an echo of that night when I realized that even if you are right, it doesn't matter. I heard that these bouncers had nothing to lose, that they would come after us if we pursued it, that it would be the most trouble for the victim.
Our lives are driven by fear, where it is easier to walk away than fight. Easier to avoid certain areas at certain times, than venture out and stand up for what it right. Where parents will tell their children to not go out late, to avoid confrontations.
This is the Delhi that we live in.
Tonight Delhi shattered any illusions I had about the concept of safety. One of my brothers was beaten up outside a popular hangout in Delhi. In the heart of South Delhi, in one of my favorite areas, Hauz Khas village, at a place called "Social." He stepped out with a beer. No one at "Social" stopped him, including the doorman. He walked outside and some bouncers started bellowing at him to leave his drink. Before he knew what was happening they were upon him, beating him with sticks. Before any of his friends could do anything he was on the floor being beaten. Not just that, they began egging on other bouncers from other places to come join them. Was he wrong in taking his drink out? Yes. Were their actions justified? Absolutely not.
The management at the "Social" refused to step outside and the cops who turned up (obviously after he had already suffered injuries!) refused to step into the place. All in all there was no one to help, no one to turn to. We raved and ranted, complained and yelled and were guided to a nearby police station. He was hit on his head, his left eye was impacted and he was severely hurt on his leg. He suffered shock and trauma and other psychological impacts.
After spending four hours at the police station, we were made to realize the futility of it all. Firstly, even before we got to the police station there was a major discussion bout how all the women should go home since it was late at night. So we realized our status as liabilities, but we still went to the police station. It is sad that one has to think twice about such things, where one has to reconsider situations on account of being a woman.
So we went to the police station with eye witnesses, pictures and a lot of righteous rage. It should have been a simple thing. It was not. What shocked me was the attitude of the cops, the management at "Social," as well as that of the people who own the security company where the overzealous bouncers came from. The distinct note of casualness, the blatant arrogance, the sheer nonchalance were so jarring that they shook me. There was no trace of the bouncers who beat up an innocent guy and disappeared within seconds. If they thought they were doing their job, why did they run away? Did I mention the fact they had been drinking? That one of them acted inappropriately with one of the girls who entered the club?
But run they did. The cops did nothing to stop them. At the police station, we given several reassurances that were showing up in 15 minutes. After four hours there was no trace of them. Then we were told that they were inside. Unless the Sarojini Nagar police station boasts of an underground secret passage, no one saw them enter! The staff from "Social"and the security company kept making all kinds of excuses. The insipid "yes we know it's our fault but what can we do now" scenario.
But the biggest disappointment were the police. There was absolutely no willingness to help. I felt we were in a Bollywood movie when I heard one of them say, "I am a government servant, don't tell me how to do my job." Then there was some talk of the bouncers being asked to go to AIIMS medical center to determine their alcohol level. We heard the cops speaking on the phone to the hospital staff to "please take care of it." That's when we realized that it was all a sham. They would not file our report. There was no sympathy from the cops, no responsibility taken by the staff or the security company.
All in all, it is an experience which is horrific in so many ways. The fact that we were thankful that they only found sticks to hit him with, because it could have been so much worse. The realization that blatant injustice happens in this city everyday and you have no one to turn to. The fact that I am writing this, the fact that we were even able to go back & forth with the cops for several hours, the fact that we will not let this go, already puts us in a privileged category. We are educated people, who have access to resources and contacts and yet I have never felt a more profound sense of helplessness.
Actually there was one more time... Another police station, another night in Delhi, many years ago. When a man kept touching my 14 yr old cousin for an entire hour in the PVR Saket movie theater. During intermission is when she finally told me and even though the management and cops were more supportive, nothing came out of it. The cops said being a minor, it may affect her reputation because who can say "how much" happened. It would only affect her adversely and so she begged to not file a report.
It was like an echo of that night when I realized that even if you are right, it doesn't matter. I heard that these bouncers had nothing to lose, that they would come after us if we pursued it, that it would be the most trouble for the victim.
Our lives are driven by fear, where it is easier to walk away than fight. Easier to avoid certain areas at certain times, than venture out and stand up for what it right. Where parents will tell their children to not go out late, to avoid confrontations.
This is the Delhi that we live in.
