After the Celebrations… In the wee hours of January 1st, Deepika Sharma and her group of five friends experienced a never to be forgotten nightmare. Returning home, after a party, their car was caught in a traffic signal crowded with revellers. Says Sharma, "There was a group of bikers greeting us boisterously. We took it in kind and answered back spiritedly until we realised that the boys were getting lewd with their comments. Before we could start rolling up the glass, the creeps had their hands through the open windows. Soon they were all over us, pinching and poking. We screamed but nobody came forward to help. It was disgusting and left all of us feeling shaken. My year is spoiled and I shall never forget this horrible incident for life."
A frightening and shameful story, but mercifully not in Goa. Across cities - in Mumbai, Delhi or Kolkatta, women had a tough time in crowds, with men behaving sickeningly. In streets, private bashes, nightclubs and even celebrity events they were touched, groped or stroked by inebriated men in a celebratory mode. Comparatively, the feminine sex had an easier time in Goa. Attribute it to the openness of our society or the inherent decency of the locals that encouraged a similar good behavior from the visiting outsiders, but New Year's celebrations in amchem state were free from unsavory encounters for women. There were at least eight to ten major events going on in the beach belt of Candolim and girls attending them had a stress-free time. Agrees, Shilpa Kamat, a youngster from Calangute who attended the Bacardi Blast on Dec 30th, "The streets were very crowded and we had to use our bikes. There were hordes of young boys from Karnataka and elsewhere yet we were alright." Kamat adds, "The only dicey situation was while entering the venue. It was a bit of chaos with plenty of opportunities for groping. However, we managed with most of us feeling intact." Other party goers point out that presence of cops everywhere was perhaps an inhibiting factor. Apparently there were packs of police among the jam-packed crowds, and they did a good job of managing things. But, Mr Niraj Thakur, District Superintendent, North Goa, is in a conciliatory mood. He says, "The credit should go to the people of Goa and not to us police." He explains, "I am sure that the police of other states were equally vigilant during New Year time. But they cannot help it if citizens do not behave." Elaborates, District Superintendent Mr Prabhudesai, South Goa, "We anticipated the crowds and had our entire staff of about 600 cops on patrol. They were doing the rounds with clear instructions to intervene in case of trouble. In addition, there was an extra unit from the CRPF and the Reserve Force to lend an hand." In the same breath, Mr Prabhudesai, adds, "This is a safer place for women." So, at the end, it is thumbs up for the decent men in Goa. Notwithstanding our other ills, women apparently are better off and it is the way people want it to be. http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=01085 -- DEV BOREM KORUM. Gabe Menezes. London, England