Moral Policing – Rectifying or Destroying Culture?

Nagpur: Right wing activists disturb couples celebrating Valantine's Day in Nagpur, on Feb 14, 2015. (Photo: IANS)
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Apart from the 2009 pub attack and 2012 home stay attack which caught the eye of the media, there are several other cases which have not been heard of in the coastal belt of Karnataka. According to the data collected by the Karnataka Communal Harmony Forum there were 45 moral policing incidents in 2013, 39 incidents in 2014 and 10 incidents in 2015 so far.

In the recent incident a Muslim youth was thrashed for being with his colleague who was from the other community. Another incident was the attack on a party in a reputed hotel in Mangaluru on September 26 where the so called ‘activists’ with the police raided the place and asked the women to vacate and the men to continue partying. The move of the cops was appreciated by the Bajarang Dal’s Mangaluru head.

There are no set of hard bound rules on Indian culture. It is not part of the culture to keep women caged inside the house without any contact with the outside world. The same culture worships goddesses yet they fail to respect women.

Freedom according to the Constitution is the same for both men and women. The police is supposed to protect the rights of citizens, not help these goons. A vigilante group cannot take matters into their own hands if the police isn’t ready to co-operate.

The cases of moral policing have increased which puts Mangaluru to shame. Women are scared to even go out with their brothers with a thought that they would get beaten up like the rest.

How can Mangaluru be in the list of ‘Smart Cities’ when such activities take place? Widening roads, building malls and flats do not make Mangaluru a Smart City. When the citizens of Mangaluru are open to change, broad-minded and are willing to work with one another specially from a different religion, there will be peace and harmony. Only then can we say we are on the process of being a Smart City.

About Author:

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Niva Shetty from Mangaluru is pursuing her masters in Mass Communication and Journalism at Nitte Institute of Communication. Her hobbies are watching movies, listening to music, traveling and exploring places. She is a volunteer for Animal Care Trust, Shaktinagar. She is always ready to help out when it comes to volunteering for animals.


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11 Comments

  1. Moral policing in India is no different than what Taliban does in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The only difference is that it is imposed by the RSS instead of Taliban! Moral policing violates fundamental rights of Indians and also the civil rights of Indians. People cannot tolerate a girl meeting a boy because they could not do it or have no guts to do it. What happens between two people is their own business. Whether it is the Taliban or the RSS – they have no business to interfere and they must be held accountable for any violation of the fundamental and/or civil rights and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

  2. A Good write up by Ms.Niva Shetty. BUT the Practical Facts Look a little different. No Doubt All Rights are Given in the Constitution to Women on Equal terms. The Reality points to generally its The One community having Affairs or ”Love” or Fun with the Majority community Girls. When the other Community prevents Girls to even Show their face. Its just my observation without any bias.No doubt Violence of Any kind has to strongly dealt with. BUT unless we try to understand the Reality we will only be trying to Treat the Symptoms & NOT the CAUSE. Even the Party at the ‘Reputed’ Hotel was organized by one community boys [ I was told, not sure] & Naturally the Girls are from the different community. So when people want to Create trouble they will tell the case of Film Actors having Girls from Majority community even as Second Wives after marrying having their Religion Kids and Again Marrying Kareena Kapoor, Kiran Rao, Amritha Singh, Reena, Gauri, Mallika Chaiyya Chaiyya Girl, etc…Its All very nice & Secular…BUT when Only one community, Majority Community feels used, these inner angst remains. We have to address this. Even as comparison Pakistan has reduced the Hindu population to bare 1 % where as it increase here. All these Are the True Real Causes & NOT just what you have written. This is my observation….We can have a healthy debate on it to find a mid way to find a Real Solution to this Constant irritation in the To Be SMART CITY…..NICE Article Ms. Niva…Cheers..!!!

  3. “It is not part of the culture to keep women caged inside the house without any contact with the outside world”

    Author seems to be confused when it comes to some of the realities in our society. Long gone are the days when women were kept ‘caged’. A quick look at our schools, banks, factories, malls, IT sector and hospitals will show you plenty of Hindu and Christian women taking full advantage of modern India, its liberal policies and opportunities. However, there is one community that is known for moral policing its women and stopping them from getting higher education or employment. The same community is also known for making women hide their identity in the name of ‘modesty’. I wish Author focused on real cases of moral policing than recycling some of the old incidents.

  4. “The only difference is that it is imposed by the RSS instead of Taliban!” – B.Dinesha.

    Is it the same Dinesha with multiple degrees from London? Oh well, looking at his hatred towards RSS, I wonder what kind of degrees he got from Londonistaan!! I’m sure he has many friends in Luton!! smiles…It’s nauseating to see how quickly these guys compare RSS to Taliban. RSS has been around for so many decades and it is known for organizing ‘saarvajanika ganeshotsava’ while Talibaan is a armed militant organization that took power in Afghanistan by slaughtering whoever opposed it.

    One has all the rights to criticize RSS. However, to compare RSS to Talibaan shows the level of dishonesty, religious bigotry and derangement these guys are suffering from. Also, it shows how they are all secret sympathizers of Taalibaan and the dark ideology behind it!! Otherwise, why would you ever compare RSS to Taliban ???

  5. Do not call them Moral Police, we do not have moral police in India like in Saudi Arabia. These are Hindhu terreriests.

  6. The figures for 2015 are incorrect. There have been 40 incidents till end of October!
    Ms Shetty could have approached us for the up to date information.

    Suresh Bhat (Karnataka Communal harmony Forum)

  7. RSS is as bad as Taliban and ISIS as implied by some of the readers over the forum. This reflects either poor knowledge or pure hatred!! Either way, it deserves to be ignored. On the other hand, I wish journalists had more respect for facts before forming their opinions!! Oh well…

    • Original R.Pai – “On the other hand, I wish journalists had more respect for facts before forming their opinions!! Oh well…”

      This is quite the contrary to what RSS Paimaam said and did, prior to May, 2014, i.e. when the Congress was in power.

      BUT, IN THE MONTH OF MAY, 2014, “BHUDDHA JAYANTHI” OCCURRED ON THE FULL MOON NIGHT. ON THAT NIGHT, WISDOM DONNED ON RSS BUDDHA! HE NOW SAYS THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT HE PREACHED AND PROPAGATED! THIS IS THE MODI EFFECT. LOL

      When Congress was in power, he insisted for the trial by the press. Now, he insists for trial by the kangaroo court of RSS!!!

    • RSS is as bad as Taliban and ISIS as implied by some of the readers over the forum. This reflects either poor knowledge or pure hatred!! Either way, it deserves to be ignored. On the other hand, I wish journalists had more respect for facts before forming their opinions!! Oh well… – RampaNNA

      Oh well…, ಗುವೆಲ್. ya Rampa,

      While the RSS fellas are way down the like when compared to the Daesh and the Taleban, they are no altar boys either.

      At best, they are ‘Cringeworthy’? All of know what that RSS cheapo (Goaaaaalmaaaaalkara) wrote in his Hate Book. And hell, no! It wasn’t penned down by some ‘Pravaadi after waking up from some ಸೋಮ ರಸ ಹ್ಯಾಂಗೋವರ್ (Hangover ya Rampa!) and that too in the 7th century? See how I make it a point to translate the MOST imp stuff for some Kannada medium chaps like Rampa & that fellow called….. KEB.. no.. USB…. Oh no…. KSB). 🙂 Poor fellas….. one from Buntwala… one from Puttura or whereevera….. sigh!

      I think the RSS Jokers must have had their Indian Diaspora (One specific fella from the US in particular and and other fella from Mumbai/Sharjah/Kazakhstan/Luanda/Bantwala in general) in mind… how these new-age kids don’t like to walk around showing their stork-thin legs for all and sundry to pity! 🙁 WHAT is the world coming to ya Rampa?

      And to think our Rampa was placing his RSS on an equal plane with his Boddanna, Israelanna etc. And to think that our clueless USB had ‘passed’ verdict on a particular case.. which the presiding Judge threw out with barely concealed contempt! Hahahahahaha.

      Man… Saturday evening.. and so many jokes ALREADY! I couldn’t ask for a better weekend. 🙂

  8. Dear readers,

    UNICEF estimates that the turnover of foeticide industry has now reached 244 million dollar from 77 million dollar in 2006.Nearly 7-8000 per year brides are murdered for the lack of full payment of dowry. Nearly 3-5000 bridesare committing suicides for dowry. Brides are thought as commodities and the pre marriageand marriage have been described as ‘consumption oriented reproductive journey’.

    ‘Death Before Birth’ – A Study on Female Foeticide in India
    http://www.researchgate.net/publication/215590009_'Death_Before_Birth'_-_A_Study_on_Female_Foeticide_in_India

    About 5-7 lakh girls a year or 2000 girls a day go missing in India due to female foeticide.Officials say India has over 3m sex workers.

    Are these free street patrolling ‘moral police’ of RSS had ever imagined the magnitude of daughters being killed before birth? Are they ready to liberate those sisters and daughters by tying ‘mangalsutra’ to those indulged in sex slave? Are they are ready to marry girls without dowry?

    Jai Hind

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