India My country...

25th Jan 2009
India is My country, all Indians are my brothers and sisters, I love my country,..so goes our national pledge. We have been saying this pledge, initially not knowing the meaning but nevertheless repeating it along with our teachers, but later knowing fully what it means. No doubt we all love our country and our fellow country men. But is this really true, and do we have this safe, and secure feeling inside, just like the pledge tells us? Are we all, especially female folks lucky enough to move around at all times, in all situations safely? I always say, travelling abroad is easy when compared to travelling inside India, especially alone!!
My sister and me planned a two week trip to meet our old friends. So far so good.Every where we had a person to receive, a vehicle to pick us up, and friends to take us around. Last part of the trip was purely for sightseeing, and we had no local contacts, but of course with the Hotel and their hospitality team. The hotel being one of the best and five star, gave us the best as promised arrangements, and treatments, so we were more than comfortable and so had great time going around the monuments and museums. Due to lack of time, we planned for a late night new release movie, in one of the local theatres. Our hotel assured us, the city is very safe and people are very nice, and no crime rate at all. They provided us with a drop to the theatre at ten pm, and local cabs or autos will be plenty to bring us back to the hotel which is hardly any distance was the assurance, if not we could call them to send a vehicle was the deal. Anyways we went with the plan, and as we were entering the theatre there in the security check they objected my sister from taking her Camera which she forgot to keep it in the room. We deposited it in the safety locker, and went to watch the movie. The coming out from the movie is totally in different direction which does not take us to the place where we kept our camera but leads to the parking and main exit. There was no proper people to guide us which way to go, nor any security to show us how to collect it, unlike when we go inside. With in no time the whole place got empty, it being night time, people who had vehicles zoomed off, others trying to find their way..! At that point I being the so called local, as my sister is from US ( 30 yrs in United states!) felt hopelessly lost, and for a moment got scared..but had to come out of the situation..and all I could see was very few guys who were raising their bike engines and watching us with curiosity, but no help offered..! Shutters were coming down, and we really had to run this way that way before we got hold of our camera some how, for which we had to go in, out..! We came out practically being the last ones, but guess God was with us, so we got a cab ready, waiting and reached our hotel safe and with out any problem. I never said anything to my sister nor shared that momentary fear with her but thanked God for bringing us out of that situation with out any hassles. We reached our home towns& destinations, and the very next day I read in the paper the incident which happened with few foreigners in Mumbai, near Jw Marriott, and the beach. How badly locals behaved with them, molested them and treated them so horribly for which all Indians have to be ashamed. If guests are getting such treatment, I don't even need to mention what we locals have to face day in and out, especially females. I am not saying out side our country nothing wrong happens and we don't face problems there. But as citizens are we doing our part and as per the pledge..thinking and doing....India is my country, and all Indians are my .., ? so that women can go around more safely with a smile on their faces..hoping for a safe India? This post is a note of such hope.. on a pre republic day... Jai Hind!!