Talibanizing of India - The Mangalore Pub Attack

Although I profess that I have not spent many years in India but I'm appalled at what's occurring in this country. True I'm an Indian and I love India as much as the next person, without trying to sound overly patriotic. After all it is the country of by birth. But I doubt this will be the country where my son will grow up or where my remains will be interred.

The recent event in the South Indian state of Karnataka has left me flummoxed. I just don't know how to react. Suddenly fundamental organizations and politicians have taken it upon themselves to stop the so-called "pub culture" in India. And their methods -- molesting and hitting young girls frequenting pubs.

They opine that their methods may be wrong but people need to look at the bigger picture -- stopping our sisters and mothers from getting corrupted by western influences. Indian women should not go to pubs, should not have boyfriends and should be seen with men who are not their husbands!

This is a laugh. It is a joke. Come on India faces bigger challenges than women going to pubs and drinking. I drink and smoke. So, does that mean I am a whore? I think people, especially Indian women, should not take this mindless attitude of few men who are suffering from serious psychological problems.

Do these saviors of Indian women think that by molesting and manhandling women, they are earning kudos? What right do they have to decide what I should do and not do? If this is going to the done thing, then aren't we retrogressing?

India is a country where women used to be respected and treated with dignity. However, this is now all in the past. Any man who thinks that he does not like a woman's behavior can just about do anything. At least that is what has come out from the recent Mangalore incident, which has blessings of politicians.

I used to think that the Talibans were bad. Now I'm wondering whether the Hindu fundamentalists are worse? India is a democracy and we have the right to do what we choose to do -- be it drinking, fornicating, smoking or pimping. The law of the land has to judge us and not some fools, who claim that they are here to stop the corruption of Indian women.

This is nothing but Talibanizing of India. Indian women rise and fight for your rights. You cannot let some archiac thinking stop your progress.