I witnessed my first and last street harassment 10 years back, when was in college. I was 19, a second year student. I accompanied my friend's lover. Since he was out of station on that day I had to go with his girlfriend to the Erode railway station(TN). She was supposed to get the train to Kerala. The arrival time of the train to Kerala would be late night. So we had to wait till it comes. Later another friend also joined with us. That was the first time I sat in railway station at midnight. I didn’t’ have any idea how the guys from various colleges would behave after having drinks, when they go for holidays. I saw so many “fair & handsome” guys reminding me the debutant bollywood heroes. A gang of 10 guys were beating a guy. An old man was scolding them. The gang war between the different or same college boys are very usual and commonly seen everywhere. Then the train arrived to the station. As the train was slowing down many girls rushed to the compartment’s door, and gathered around to get the seat. Only one can go through the compartment's door there might be around 25 girls were waiting around the door as they were carrying heavy bags in both of their hands or one hand. They were busily looking for a way to the door to get in. Some of them tried to keep their bag inside through the window.
My friend (girl) went near to the train tried to get into compartment, myself and another friend were carrying her luggage. We were nearing to the crowd; there I saw a guy who is my junior was coming from another side of the crowd. A girl who was trying to go into the door, He went behind her and pinched that girl’s back and then he came away from there. He was directing towards as and said “hi” then crossed us. Since we were on run to give the luggage to her i didn't even replied him.
After we back my friend told me that He is drunk. (He meant that the drunken fellow isn’t aware what he does. I wonder I never heard any drunkard got the wrong bus or train). I can’t feel as a girl when someone harassed her. But still I couldn’t digest it. Felt shame being a guy. My friends told me these are usually happened. Later I heard some of my classmates do this every time they go to the station. Some guys used to go out for hitting the women in crowd on purpose. A guy told me (some) girls like boys doing this to them. What shocked me more is whoever narrated these things to me had critic as it doesn’t a wrong behavior at all.
In TamilNadu or Kerala as far as I know still you can’t find most of the small town girls wearing any modern dress. Rarely we can see a girl wear other than churidhar. That day when I witnessed that harassment I noticed every girl there with churidhar and put their Duppata both side of their shoulder. But whistling, passing comments, staring as they go are happening everywhere.
Action Shero Anonymous
Place: Coimbatore, India
