The memories of being beaten up in a Bangalore bus in 1995 have faded away. Bangalore to me is a safe city where I have moved around freely without being conscious of my clothes and have worked late hours as well. But yes, the sense of personal safety any city gives a woman can shatter in an instant as it happened today when on the way home from work at Timbre Media, in an auto, in a crowded traffic junction close to the Richmond Road Circle, three men swooped on my auto, ran next to it till they got in and took over the space that just an instant ago was mine.
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Were they escaping something, chasing someone? Maybe. Were they possibly looking for a woman to intimidate? Perhaps. There was no time to think and the auto was speeding again with one of them blocking the exit door. Luckily I have no fear of goons in my DNA, no matter how many, or how intimidating and so I did the only thing I could. I screamed and tried to get out and then when it did not work, I jumped out of the auto from the wrong side.
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The auto was speeding by now and so I held on for safety to the iron bar, while one of my feet scrapped the ground. I knew, I could have slipped and been run over by another vehicle but there was no other way to get away. I kept screaming and holding on. By now, the traffic around us and behind us had caught on and a boy in my auto tried to pull me in. But I resisted and finally the auto stopped to let me off and in an instant sped away.
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Yes, today the Gods were watching over me and another sympathetic auto driver stopped immediately to let me in and told me when the guys were running behind the auto trying to get in, everyone thought, they were just a bunch of boys having fun. It is only when they saw a woman screaming (me) and hanging on to the iron bar that they realised something was wrong.
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“They were not your friends, no?” he asked me. “I have a 14-year-old boy,” I answered, “..no, they were not my friends.” The auto driver chased the speeding men but lost the trail. I could have filed a police report too but there was nothing to report, not even a name or a registration number or an injury. A colleague suggested I should file a police complaint just in case a surveillance camera was working and so I intend to do it.
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I was driven safely home while the driver chatted, “Everyone saw but no one did anything.” Moral of story though for me and for every woman reading this is..
1: While taking public transport, do not zone out and be lost in your music or mobile phones. Remain alert. You may be oblivious to the surroundings but someone else may be watching you.
2:When you enter an auto, click a picture of the driver’s name and the details of the vehicle. Do not enter a vehicle where these details are not visible.
3:Don’t wait for an attack to begin. Trust your instincts to escape a situation before it goes too far.
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I am back home with just a dull ache in my arm. Everything is intact. I left nothing behind, not my sunglasses, not my handbag or even mobile. My sense of safety? Well, it will take some time to come back.
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Reema Moudgil has been writing for magazines and newspapers on art, cinema, issues, architecture and more since 1994, is an RJ, hosts a daily Ghazal show, runs unboxed writers, is the editor of Chicken Soup for The Indian Woman’s soul, the author of Perfect Eight (http://www.flipkart.com/perfect-eight-9380032870/p/itmdf87fpkhszfkb?pid=9789380032870&_l=A0vO9n9FWsBsMJKAKw47rw–&_r=dyRavyz2qKxOF7Yuc ) and an artist.
Thank God that no harm came in your way. Your brave stance much have put them off. I only that they be tracked down and handed with a severe punishment that they deserve.
Years ago I used to work in this area when there was a real circle/roundabout. I guess those were the days of innocence, a bygone era it seems! Take care..
*I meant – I only WISH -*
Reema I am a Bangalorean. And I feel sorry for what you experienced. But the more I think about it, it seems such a difficult problem. Somewhat like terrorism. Where just a few bad people can create fear. How can good people create the same fear in bad people?
Get well soon and lets keep fighting.
Reema, you are a very brave girl. Its a scary world out there with terribly insecure beasts. Lets keep fighting!
OMIGOD Reema! Thank God you are safe, my brave friend and you have only yourself and God to thank for!
Is safety for women no more?!!
Firstly I am happy you escaped! But mostly I am so bloody angry that this even happened at all, that we have to live with the threat of this violence every day. Damn damn damn them to hell and back
Oh God Reema..I just read this..I hope you are fine…I have spent over 2 years in Bangalore and autorickshaws were always my mode of transport, whatever time of the day or night….reading this I feel shocked beyond words.
Thank God Reema you are fine! My internet has been playing hide and seek, i read it today only. I’m shocked because I always thought Bangalore to be safer city, but… The auto-rickshaw driver seems to be a party to the whole incident! So scary! But hats off to your presence of mind and courage. take care. God Bless!
Thanks for sharing this. Inspiring. You are brave.
Each time something like this happens to me or others, I swear I’ll be damned if I ever give up.
terrible, if it could happen in broad day light just how bad it could be at other times
thanks everyone..a cubbon park lady cop told me today that they will try and source cctv footage..let’s see..if they can trace the auto that way..atleast that way, we will know what exactly happened..
thank god you are safe. hats off to ur courage.
Almost the same situation has arisen nationwide. These goons no longer look for dark secluded stretches. They strike in broad day light, at crowded places, between masses, blindly go their own way without any fear whatsoever of law or people around, And it is so unfortunate that we continue to be shrunken n enfeebled people just keep watching the show n doing nothing.
Read the whole story today. On my!!! God is really keeping an eye. Thank God and thank you for getting home safe. As you said, one needs to trust one’s instincts and take care. Thank you for posting.
God bless. Take care.
I was forwarded this by a friend who knew I followed your articles .I was absolutely shocked and am glad that you are safe .I too am a Bangalore resident so it was very disconcerting to know that this happened on such a busy road in broad daylight.As you say the men may been running from someone but the fact that the auto driver didn’t stop or question them or you ;,about their sudden entry puts a question mark on the episode .
Couple of typos in the previous comment, hence reposting it.
I am glad you were alert and got away. Good you are safe. Sharing an incident that happened to me a few months back in an auto in Bangalore. My folks live in Padmanabhnagar and I took an auto from there to Gandhi bazaar around 10:30 am. My journey began & suddenly near Devegowda hospital, instead of continuing straight the guy took a sharp & fast left towards PESIT/Mysore Road. Immediately my reaction was, ‘what are you doing?’ Then I asked him to stop. Instead he sped fast. I screamed and demanded to stop. He dint heed. I put my arm around his neck from the back and lugged it. He was taken aback and he slowed down. I jumped off. Before I could get back on and take note of his vehicle details he was gone. I remember seeing his license details in the auto, but couldn’t remember specifics. A freak incident on a freaky day. Now I make note of details with a photo or text details to close-ones.
Gosh Reema, how scary & how brave you were. Thank God you are safe. Take care my darling & let me know if you need anything. You never fail to inspire me.