pink samaritan
In the past few years, a lot has been discussed about how women can save themselves from sexual predators. In the wake of sexual crimes against women, self-defence workshops have cropped up and various defence techniques are taught to women who witness leering, jeering men in most public spaces. However, what can a woman do if she can’t use her superior martial art skills in a crisis situation? She can rely on her alert mind and improvise of course. And that’s what a young woman did at a Delhi metro station recently.
Megha, an engineering student was stalked by a man who followed her until the Golf Course metro station in Noida. When she got off at the station, she sensed something was not quite right and felt her stalker lurking around.
Hey ladies, you're not safe at ALL in a metro or metro stations. I'll tell you how.
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 2017A man followed me in the metro today. Mind you, 20 mins back. That is 8 pm. On a Sunday. Pretty normal right?
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 2017Stood near me in the metro on my route. Seemed pretty normal. A LOT of people take the same route. It's not fair to pin point anyone.
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 201Got off at the Golt Course metro station. Stood nearby, while pretending to talk on the phone with somebody. I was waiting for parents.
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 2017Tried to listen to my conversations with father to know where I was going. I sensed something was fishy and immidiately put on earphones
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 2017And started talking silently in the mic. He starts circling me. I see my father arrive and I start walking down. Mind you, no security.
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 2017I still don't try to be unfair and test waters by stopping regularly at steps. He stops with me. I rush to the car and he tries to push me.
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 2017Into a shady corner at the end of the staircase. I push him away, slap him.And make a LOT of noise. I ask him to stop and so I can catch him
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 2017A security guard is happily talking to people near panwari while this happens. Nobody runs to catch him. None. Nada. Cipher.
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 2017My father sees this. Gets out of the car and runs behind the man. Everybody enjoys the show. Happily and acts surprised. Mind you: only act.
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 2017Funiest part: Guard comes to me and says 'madame hume kyu ni bataya'. After I shouted my guts out. The audacity.
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 201Other people: Madame ye krtin, wo kartin.
You losers, when somebody attacks you: you can't think. I did the best I could.
Megha, who was speaking to her father, dropped her voice to almost a whisper and waited for her parents to pick her up at the metro station. She then saw him following her to the car and next thing she knew, she was pushed. However, she didn’t cower or run for her safety. She fought back.
Megha pushed him back, slapped him and screamed for help. Her father witnessed the scene and ran behind the man who attacked his daughter’s dignity. In the student’s words, all of this took place amid a crowd which stood back and gave their two cents after the entire scene unfolded.
The student’s frustration was apparent when she described the scene on her Twitter account. A series of tweets describe how no one helped her out in the situation. However, this brave heart found a way of protecting herself. Her only advice to young women in India? Know that women aren’t really safe anywhere and have to find a way of protecting themselves in almost any situation.
Be safe. Act fast. Worked for me. Have a strong personal space. Be very attentive of the people who cross the boundaries of it and act.
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 2017
Be safe. Act fast. Worked for me. Have a strong personal space. Be very attentive of the people who cross the boundaries of it and act.
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 2017End note: I'm shaken. Not scared. Only and only angry. Women deserve better.
— Megha (@Omeghaa_) May 28, 2017