Trapped by Tradition

[Shatterpoint]

In my research on India I have come across some very disturbing things, just found out that India is one of the largest sex/child/human trafficking countries in the world. There was also another documentary on child brides in India which along with Afghanistan is at the top of the list.

I can't believe that things like this are still tolerated in India, it also looks like sexual harassment of women in India is rife and tolerated and called "eve teasing" when in actual fact it is sexual harassment.

I want to get Indian posters perspective on this and how India can stamp out such stone age practices, it's quite shocking to see how rife this is in India, here are the links, to be honest I would not expect this from a country like India.

"About this episode

Acclaimed Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor invites the CNN Freedom Project to see what modern-day slavery looks like in his home country, India. This documentary chronicles Kapoor's trip to a remote village in North India where nearly all of the women have been sent into prostitution or sex slavery, often by male members of their own family or community. But thanks to work done by organizations like Plan India, the numbers of trafficking victims in this region are decreasing every month."

Link:- Watch Trapped by Tradition Online | theage.tv

The Truth About Child Brides

"Nel Hedayat is a young British-Afghani woman who sets out to discover what life is really like for some of the thousands of child brides across the world.

She has a particular interest as her grandmother was married at 12 and her aunt at 15 and both had long and largely happy marriages.

Nel travels to India and Bangladesh, countries with two of the highest rates of child marriage in the world and what she sees challenges everything she thought."

Link:- ABC Television | The complete TV guide for ABC1, ABC2, ABC3, ABC News24 & ABC iView

 

[Desert Fox]

Maybe USA can invade india and liberate all of those millions of oppressed women and children sold into sex slavery and treated as sex objects.

 

[russellpeters]

things are changing for the better, and people have awareness. media is talking about it and there are laws against these things. surely it will take time and we have many challenges, but we will be there

Maybe USA can invade india and liberate all of those millions of oppressed women and children sold into sex slavery and treated as sex objects.

lol...roflmao!

 

[Shatterpoint]

I started this thread in the Indian forum because I want a serious discussion on this topic, I want Indian's perspectives on this and a lot of you Indian posters are intelligent people. Stuff like this needs to be talked about, I just find it extraordinary that this is allowed to happen and is tolerated by Indian society.

I know India is a huge country and things take time to change, I know the India is coming to grips with the 21st century and still has a lot of ancient traditions, I did not start this thread to put India down, I just want honest discussion on this topic.

 

[punit]

whatever u stated is true to an extent. useless tradition is holding us back. Solution is education added by a strong enforcement of laws. our size and vastness is both asset and liability at the same time.

 

[Shatterpoint]

Thanks punit, but is enough being done in your country? It's all well and good to say education, laws etc but I don't think much is being done on the ground at grass roots level.

India is indeed a massive country, with massive diversity as well, but this is a very concerning situation, I just wonder how informed the general Indian population is about this.

Sex trafficking of children is as bad as you can get, but when it is encouraged and tolerated as well it says a lot about how deep and wide spread it is.

 

[Soumitra]

We don't deny that things like child marriages or female feoticide take place in some parts of India. The govt. has passed laws against these andd all these are illegal. There is a need to educate the people regarding these things. Indian superstar Aamir Khan has recently launched a TV show Satyameva Jayate which exposes these harsh practices and asks tough questions. Already heh as pushed state govts to start fast track courts and punish the guilty.

Like you said change happens but it happens slowly. We are a nation of 1.2 billion and it takes time for change to percolate to the remotest corners.

We are aware of these problems and are committed to take them head on. We have made great strides in 65 years of our independence but much more needs to be done.

I liked the fact that you have asked a genuine question with no intention of trolling (at least it appears like this). We do not brush the questions under a carpet but you have to understand one thing. The problems that you mention are a part of India but they do not define India. There are many other beautiful things in India. There is a culture thousand years old. There is a growing middle class which is geared to take on the world. There are big companies who are among the best in the world. We are World champions in cricket and Chess. We are the world's largest democracy in a region where democratic govts are like a candle in the wind.

Yes India is a land of contrasts but it is these contrasts which make India beautiful. Come and experience India - you will love it.

 

[Shatterpoint]

Soumitra thank you for the post, yes I am just shocked that this happens in India, I am learning about India as myself and my family will be coming there in October/November. I realize that there is no magic wand to solve all problems, I also know that India is trying hard, but it seems like the efforts on the ground are seriously lacking.

It's good that you have pointed out that a lot of stars, news channels etc are pushing this into the public mindset, I do not mean to cause offense to Indian posters on here, I want to have a debate and get all of your points of views as well. I think this is a very serious issue for India and India needs to do everything in its power to stamp these practices out.

Like I said the Indian posters on here are intelligent people and I know you guys like to have good intelligent debates, what more can be done in India in your opinions to educate the people?

 

[Killswitch]

Wrong thread. This has nothing to do with defense.

 

[Supply&Demand]

Maybe USA can invade india and liberate all of those millions of oppressed women and children sold into sex slavery and treated as sex objects.

ask them first invade Pakistan..it is not like Pakistan is golden place for women and children..infact if u r a woman from a minority group..chances are that u will kidnapped, raped and converted...

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

Thanks punit, but is enough being done in your country? It's all well and good to say education, laws etc but I don't think much is being done on the ground at grass roots level.

India is indeed a massive country, with massive diversity as well, but this is a very concerning situation, I just wonder how informed the general Indian population is about this.

Sex trafficking of children is as bad as you can get, but when it is encouraged and tolerated as well it says a lot about how deep and wide spread it is.

Shatterpoint, u said it urself.. India is a massive country with massive population... Since we are a trapped tradition, people take more time to come out of it, and these days we are coming out of problems fast.. Already southern states have nearly eradicated them(but still exists in small %), and the northern states are getting developed faster now .. So when science meets tradition some ugly things turn out.. In next 15 years, when the older gen passes out, u can see a remarkable change in india...

 

[T90TankGuy]

yes this problem exist , it can only be eradicated by educating people what is right or wrong . but try to understand India is huge . 1.2 billion lives. trapped by social and traditional rites , which are today outdated but cant be left by the way side overnight . it will take time . 20 - 30 yrs is a realistic time frame . but change does come , if there has been one thing constant in India, its that change comes, but slowly .

 

[Shatterpoint]

Here is something people can do, watch this video about eve teasing in India, a group of women in Mumbai are trying to get this campaign going.

Mumbai Women Speak Out Against Eve Teasing | Diary of a White Indian Housewife

 

[Vibs]

Indian scenario for women is actually quiet confusing. Its the land of Kama Sutra but people do not like to openly talk or discuss about sex. Outside the cities, dating is usually taboo and any romantic affair is usually looked down upon. The sex ratio is heavily skewed. Illiteracy in certain Northern states does not help either. In fact the geographical effect on the behaviour of people also indicates where these trends lie. Delhi which is close to Uttar Pradesh, Haryana etc tends have problems with crimes against women with girls unable to feel safe during evenings travelling alone. On the other hand we have Mumbai which is in the heart of Maharashtra where women travel alone even at 1 am at night feeling secure. Yet with migrants coming in, Mumbai too has started to see increased incidents.
There is a big cultural change required, especially in certain states to put an end to this. Unfortunately there doesnot seem to be a short term solution for this il.

 

[joekrish]

We have changed and are still changing. From the days of SATI, child marriages,a man dominated society to many, many more. You will have to live in India to see the changes we have and are going through.