For the first time in my life, I am feeling depressed and worried. Recently I went to the USA for a duration of about two months. My first overseas visit, changed my opinion about at least the USA. I was prejudiced that Americans are arrogant and a stupid bunch of people. I was prejudiced that as an Indian, I could face racial discrimination every other day in their country. But, I barely faced any trouble in the American state Michigan known to have among the highest crime rates. I was actually surprised the way a random stranger also greets you with a good morning or some other form of pleasantry, and though I agree that not all Americans try to help you in trouble, many do. One of the things that I loved about USA, was the way people respect rules, specially traffic rules. Driving in America is a pleasant experience, unlike in India. I think now I have a lot of respect for these Americans.
Earlier I used to take solace in the fact that in my county, I am not treated as a second grade citizen. But I was wrong. Last week I had a minor accident when someone hit my car from the rear, and the person who was driving rashly, started even threatening me with dire consequences. From my experience, police are of no help unless i give them a photograph of the criminal or unless the rash driver has a record of negligence driving or any other offense. Therefore it made no sense to follow up with the police. Am I a first grade citizen this country? Maybe if I have a lot of connections to powerful people or maybe if a I have a lot of money that I am willing to share a little with Police.
There was an article today in the Indian Express about a young man working with a Pharmaceutical company who got shot while trying to resist attempts of chain snatchers, in a crowded locality with many witnesses. Not surprisingly no bystander helped and the police made no arrests. It would be expecting too much from our police to even make headway into the investigation.
On page two of the same paper on the same day, Mr Y.S.Dadwal, our Chief of Police pointed out that even in developed nations, crime is high and in India the media always makes a mountain out of a molehill. Unfortunately, he did not mention that such crimes also get solved and settled in courts, unlike in our nation, where cases remain open for years and are contested in courts for sometimes decades.
Watching the news in USA or UK, he would realize that American media is more sensitive to such issues, and they do not just report news of such crimes. they follow up from every possible angle.
Kindly note that in areas like Chanakyapuri, where Mr Dadwal himself lives, and where high profiles people such as the daughter of our Prime Minster and other powerful bureaucrats live, there have been cases of kidnappings and rapes. This supposedly posh area adjoins markets like the Yashwant Place which are a haven for drug peddlers at night, or take for example the Sarojini Nagar market which is so contested that every festive season, there needs to be an alert issued against terror strikes.
Of course, in some aspects, Delhi police is a lot better than Gurgaon or NOIDA, where approaching the police means getting brushed off with abuses, but I would still want to ponder over the fact, that will we ever be a safe society where, crime is at a very low level if not completely eradicated?
If NCR is having crime go unchecked, I really wonder how it is in other states? Is it not worth migrating to a safer place, even of I may(or may not) be a first grade citizen? Atleast I wont get pushed around by the more powerful people.
