When the name Bangalore is heard, the pictures of huge IT industry with immensely dedicated and professional engineers from all around the world comes to our mind. But in the midst of these luxurious people we tend to ignore a despicable act going at the epicenter of the city, which directly or indirectly is affecting everyone. The act originates from the prostitution and goes on to child trafficking & setback on tourism.
Many a times I along with my friends have watched their inadmissible acts and ignored, thinking it is impossible to change. But each time I saw this it haunted me and forced me to take even the simplest step from my side. One fine evening while I encountered with this incident in my city, again, I could not resist myself and did what I could do from my level. I wrote a letter to Commissioner of Police, Bangalore and Prejwala foundation, a foundation that rehabilitates prostitutes. And here it goes, a letter that I mailed to the Commissioner of City Police, Bangalore on 12th Nov, 14.
To
The Police Commissioner
Bangalore City Police.
Date – 11th Nov, 14
Sub- Seeking your attention and help to curtail expanding prostitution at Majestic.
It gives me immense agony and unease to draw your attention towards one of the most despicable situation of Bangalore prevailing at its peak & that is of Prostitution. This situation has not only increased the trauma of prostitutes, illiterate children, and society, but also the tourists.
Through this letter I want to draw your attention by explaining everything in detail.
Bangalore is one of the finest cities of South India with it’s nickname ‘Silicon valley of Asia’, rich in heritage and culture, hub for engineering studies and vast inflow of labors from various part of the country. But on the other hand we notice very detrimental acts, that too going on at the center of the town. To be very specific, Kempegowda Bus Stand, commonly known as Majestic has become the hub for prostitutes and prostitution. Let me make myself further clear by stating a few live examples (why it needs your attention and strict action) that shook my brain and forced me to draw your attention.
How Women trafficking (especially female child) is prevailing at Majestic.
One evening while I was returning from Bangalore to Tumkur (my college) I boarded a bus, which was yet to start from Majestic, I saw something unusual. I saw in a corner where a woman with a weird and unusual dress was convincing another woman who resembled a beggar and had a child with her, on some issue. The hotness of the conversation, gave me some unusual and contemplated vibe. As they were talking in Kannada, I merely understood their conversation. After failing to understand the actual talk I stopped a passerby to somehow make me understand the conversation going between those two ladies. He understood and replied to me “The female with an awkward dress is a prostitute and the other one is a poor woman, I think rag picker or beggar with her little daughter. That prostitute is trying to convince the poor lady to come to their home and in lieu of that she would get good food and not a poor life”. I asked “but they may force her to join prostitution and what about the little girl, she would surely be drawn into prostitution”. He replied, “That is their main intention, they want their child only. But leave it, hardly anyone bothers these events, neither public nor police.” Finishing his statement, he boarded a bus and went. I also boarded the bus, which started to move away from the situation. My whole night went into a guilty state of my mind thinking why couldn’t I do anything.
The event was really of great concern, but the point to ponder upon is, it has become so common that the public and the police both have compromised with the situation instead of dealing with it. Sir, this is just a single incident of women trafficking, there might be many incidents going on every day at Majestic. Article 23 of Indian constitution clearly prohibits the trafficking of human being. Hence, when this current situation of violation of human right is going on, it’s the duty of police and public to stop the same.
2) How it’s affecting the life of common public.
When something unsocial happens in the society, it affects everyone, even to those who are not even a part of that society, in other word, when we try to change or challenge the nature, nature bounces back more harshly and even to everyone, irrespective of the level of their involvement. The same happens with the common public due to the situation prevailing at Majestic.
Prostitutes mostly stand in the tunnel of the Majestic bus stand, which connects station, roads, bus stand etc.. While one passes through the tunnel, the behavior of prostitute is highly condemnable. Prostitute starts following, touching private parts and holding hand, which becomes an embarrassing situation for the passerby. The situation becomes more tensed when one goes with their parents or family member and the next sentence what he utters is “Why is it still prevailing in such a beautiful city- Bangalore”. The police seems weak and fragile, which can be proved from the fact that many a time they ignore these women or their acts,which continues even in front of their eyes. Directive Principle of state policy of Indian constitution clearly states the direction to the state to make and promote a healthy environment and public place for it’s citizens. Although Directive Principle of States Policy is not justifiable by law, but it is the duty of state and it’s administration to abide by it as much as possible and police being the protector of the state has the duty to abide by DPSP.
3) How it’s affecting the revenue and impression of the city and state.
This illegal act of a few members of the society, whatever is the reason, is vastly affecting the revenue and impression by affecting the tourism sector. It’s a known fact that prevailing of these acts at those places which are a part of tourism. Let me give an incident observed by me.
A foreign tourist was on his visit to the Bangalore city. While he was passing through the tunnel, he got confused about the way that would take him to the Majestic Bus stand, hence he went to ask a lady. Unfortunately the lady was a prostitute and started to behave the same. While the tourist was unaware of the fact, he felt uncomfortable and started to move on. Suddenly around three or four ladies came and started telling them that they would help him to reach the bus stand and they said that he had to go by an auto. Then they started taking him in a wrong direction and towards an auto. I could understand the trap in which the tourist was about to get stuck and wanted to help him. After making myself courageous I went up to those ladies to handle the situation. At first the ladies started misbehaving with me, but then I started shouting and screaming to call the people or police for help. People who were ignorant earlier now came to handle the situation. Prostitutes ran away, there was no loss to the tourist, but I could feel the amount of dissatisfaction and dejection he was feeling.
Sir, these all are the incidents that may take place with any of the tourist. It is the duty of government to make a tourism friendly environment and gain a lot of benefits from this industry with minimal of input. Hence this is a matter which needs to be investigated and improved upon by your team and we public.
4) Trauma of Prostitutes.
Till now it seemed it was only one end of a situation that is suffering, but the fact is not the same. Prostitutes also go through a lot of pain and suffering and logically speaking, it is prostitution which is wrong, unsocial and despicable, not the prostitutes. It is the situation, which forces them to enter into these professions not their choice. Once, one of my friends told me about his encounter and a long talk with a prostitute. What conclusion he could draw from the encounter (which he narrated me later) was, the girls who are poor are drawn into the profession, by giving fantasy of a beautiful life. Although after many days of mental torture they adapt to the situation, but the pain does not end here, they have to further face the same from many customers and their boss who treat them like an object. The other point to notice, in context with Majestic is (She revealed), most of the prostitutes working are from north India. This implies either it has expanded to vaster level or females are misinterpreted and pulled into this profession. She also revealed that in a few situations, some women are also forced to sell their body parts like kidney, eye, etc., in order to get money for everyone’s survival. Many are eager to come out of this profession, but the chain or link of this profession and the devil thought, “What after this, because society won’t accept them” forces them to continue with the same profession. Therefore it’s not only that society is under stress but also theprostitutes themselves. They are enthusiastic to come out, the only need is a bit of effort from your system, civil society and few NGOs.
Now, after addressing the problem, it is our duty to find out the solution. The main reason behind the occurrence of this situation is the poor living, as in the case of first incident where a girl was about to be trafficked. But prior to that long-term goal I request you and your team to please introduce a short-term goal by rehabilitating them to make city social and cleaner.
The same letter I have written to Prajwala Foundation (A Prostitute rehabilitation NGO) to seek help from them to rehabilitate these prostitutes and secure a good life to them also.
Sir, ignorance may lead it to a huge problem since it may spread like a cancer. You along with your system, an NGO Prajwala (which has habilitated many women) and I with few of my interested friends can change and bring happiness to many people (Around a million people are directly or indirectly affected by this situation at Majestic). It is my humble request to please draw your attention and take serious step to make a healthy society and provide support to various women.
Sir,
Eagerly waiting for your positive and constructive response. Also ready with my team of youth and the commendable Prajwala Foundation to take any healthy step anytime for everyone’s fruitful and good life.
Thanking you,
Ujjawal Kumar
(A Youth who believes change can be brought)
On 13th Nov I got a mail from Commissioner of police Bangalore stating, “Dear Ujjawal, you have brought into attention a very harmful incident of our city in a very justifiable manner. I assure you, a strict action will be taken on your email petition. The email petition is forwarded to the deputy commission for further action. Thank you”
Every time I visit Majestic, I try to find out whether the situation has really been eradicated, and when I don’t see any of the situations like before it gives me immense pleasure and pride, but again few questions haunt me. Has the situation really been eradicated or am I under illusion, but whatever it is let’s hope very soon either the situation gets really eradicated or my illusion becomes true for my city.
This also pushes me to dedicate the poem ‘Solitude’ to the Prostitutes, written by Ella Wilcox, a prominent figure during World War II for her poem ‘Stevedores’.
Laugh and the world laughs with you;
Weep, and you weep alone.………..
… “They want full measure of all your pleasure;
But they do not need your woe.
Note: This post is a part of our #MyCityMyStory series. To check out more posts from this series, please click here.
