Day 324-2011 : Shame on you, Mumbai!

On 20 October 2011 Keenan Santos, Reuben Fernandes and a group of their friends, who were standing outside Amboli Kitchen and Bar, at Andheri in Mumbai, were assaulted by a mob. The assault was in retaliation to an altercation between Reuben & Keenan’s friends and a member of the mob, who was drunk and had fallen over one of the girls in the group, earlier. In the fight that followed, Keenan Santos was killed and Reuben Fernandes succumbed to his injuries 13 days later at a hospital in Mumbai.

Sounds like an everyday event in a metro like Mumbai?  Maybe, but it raises several important questions about the cultural ethos and the moral fabric of the city.  This is a story of how these two bravehearts stood up against the anti-social elements, to fight injustice and for what was right.  Something that all of us have been taught since our school days, by teachers and parents alike.  This is also a story of a violent attack happening on a busy street of Mumbai, where nobody remembered those morals and values.  No one on the bustling street came forward to help the victims, in spite of the girls screaming for help.  There was a crowd of bystanders watching what was going on but not a single soul from the crowd had the courage to help the victims. 

Much has been said in the past about the much celebrated 'spirit' of Mumbai during various crises such as the flash floods and terror attacks. Where was this 'spirit' of Mumbai when this incident happened? I am sure this was an incident which could have been controlled by such ordinary citizens at that moment, if they had the courage to do so, unlike the floods and the terror attacks. The fact is, there is no such 'spirit'! The fact is that we are all scared. The fact is that the repeated blows to the cultural ethos of the city due to terror attacks and riots have made us all insensitive. Insensitive to anything other than what concerns us. We go about our lives quietly, not interfering in other people's affairs.  Do we have the courage to stop it? Next time, if you see a girl being harassed, will we have the courage to act?

Much has also been said in the past about how Mumbai is such a safe place for women and how it is different from say, Delhi. Such a claim, frankly, sounds very hollow to me. When a crowd of people could not stop a bunch of eve-teasers on a busy street in the city that never sleeps, how safe is it?   I have repeatedly written about how Mumbai has changed in the last decade for the worse in my posts on this blog and this is just another reminder of the continuing degradation.  But the fact is, this could have happened anywhere in the country and Mumbai is no different from any of them. Not any more. 

Another interesting fact in the story is that the girls with the victims did try to contact the police using the 100 number, while the boys were fighting off the goons.  It is alleged that the call was on 'waiting' and it would take 20 minutes before it could be attended to.  Did the police and its delayed response mechanisms contribute to the death of the two men?

This case has been taken up by the media with great gusto, helping the families and friends of the victims to get justice.  The accused have been arrested.  But the question remains.  Will Keenan & Reuben get justice?  Only the other day, one heard that Manu Sharma, the convict in the Jessica Lal case has been granted a 5 day parole!  What kind of justice is this?

The campaign to support the cause of delivering justice to Keenan & Reuben implores Mumbai to 'wake up'.  Will Mumbai wake up?

Take care.