Will We Indians Ever Get Our Priorities Right?

If the media hype is to be believed, India went into collective mourning after the national cricket team crashed out of the World Cup. The damning report on the government-commissioned survey, which found that 53% of children in India are subjected to sexual abuse, deserves national mourning. Unfortunately – and to our eternal shame – apart from some weighty pronouncements from publicity-seeking experts, this indictment of our national character will scarcely cause a ripple among the majority of our countrymen.

The revelation that most of the sexual abuse takes place will take place within the extended family will hardly come as a surprise to many. There are several reasons why young kids allow themselves to be subjected to this degradation and humiliation: intimidation and threats; the ingrained Indian tradition that our elders know best; and sheer ignorance. A 10 year old girl, for example, would probably not even realize that she is being violated, when an uncle dangles her on his knee and fondles her private parts.

The Indian government, in its customary ham-handed fashion, is going off half cock in every direction but the right one. Compounding the ignorance of young children on this subject, the Maharashtra government has succumbed to the pressures from some self-appointed ‘moral guardians’ and banned sex education in municipal schools. The Mumbai police has its hands full rounding up young couples who have committed the unpardonable felony of holding hands – and stealing an occasional kiss – in public. This is their asinine method of looking after the welfare of our children.

The real tragedy of this country is that patently ludicrous actions like those described above hardly raise eyebrows among the general public. They have become so commonplace as to be almost inevitable. Meanwhile, there is the all important matter of our cricketers’ selection for the Bangladesh tour and endorsements and so forth. Don’t take my word for it: just pick up any newspaper and count the number of column inches devoted to this vital issue of national importance. India, my country, I weep for thee.