KOCHI: The Facebook post of a Bengaluru-based woman journalist, narrating the ordeal she had to undergo after travelling in an auto-rickshaw in the city, has evoked strong but mixed response from social media users. The writer, Aishwarya Subramanion, was verbally harassed in public glare by the auto driver who termed her dress as ‘inappropriate’.
Surprisingly, the auto driver was seconded by a passerby who told her that she should dress modestly.
The journalist said she was humiliated, pained and judged on the basis of what she was wearing.
Here is a glimpse into some of the responses from netizens .
It was shocking and harrowing to read the post. She has asserted that society cannot break away from the shackles of conventional norms without the aid of men -Anjana Gopakumar Culinary Arts Student, Manipal University, Karnataka.
I believe that a woman has limitations in society and this is part of Indian culture. People should dress modestly and within limits because one cannot predict the way the world would react -Jagdish Kumar, Chemistry Teacher.
In a democracy like India I believe that everyone has the right to wear clothes according to their likes and comforts. However, I feel that the auto driver had politely given his view to the girl and she could have taken it lightly instead of making it a big issue.” - Arjun Shankar, BCom Student, DCSMAT, Vagamon
This incident reveals that even in the 21st century a woman does not enjoy absolute freedom. Why is it that men are not commented upon their dressing style? - Akhila Nair, Economics Student, Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru
Everybody has the freedom to wear what they want but people should understand that we are not living in a lonely world. Society includes both good and bad people. Everyone has different perceptions. It is better for a boy or a girl to perceive the circumstance and dress accordingly- Akshay Raj, assistant manager, Happay (IT Firm), Bengaluru
The incident is encountered by most of the women nowadays. I believe that men should change their narrow chauvinistic attitude to bring about a change in society and to empower women - Reshma Ajith, engineering student, SCT, Thiruvananthapuram.
Some people give importance to moral values and culture. These people also enjoy provocative kind of dressing but their culture and moral values do not allow them to express it - Gokul G Nair, a journalism student of AJ College, Thonnakkal
Everyone has equal rights in the country. When men go out in shorts, folded lungi and without a shirt, they are not branded as men who don’t value culture. Why is it that everytime a woman wears a knee length dress, there is a culture shock?
- Jasim J S, a journalism student of AJ college Thonnakkal
“Dressing style is an individual’s freedom. People should not interfere in this personal right of an individual. Organisations for women empowerment and other welfare organisations should help women deal with such cases legally,” Anto Panicker, a second year BCom student of SN College, Punalur
-Roshni Sekhar, Amritha Pillai, Saroop K P