Mass Molestation in Bangaluru and Delhi: Expression of the
Criminal Character of the Lumpen Neo-Rich Class of Neoliberal India
We must rise up now, lest it will be too late!
Friends!
The cringeworthy incidents of mass molestation on
the New Year's eve in Bangaluru and Delhi's Mukherji Nagar have shaken the very
conscience of every thinking individual. Every sensitive person is outraged.
These incidents have exposed the barbaric patriarchal mindset running through
the veins of our society. These incidents have also revealed the double-faced
character of the neoliberal, modern and "educated" neo-rich and upper
middle classes of India. On the one hand, these classes possess all the clothes,
shoes, cars and other consumer goods of the global brands, and on the other, we
often see the glimpses of despotic, anti-democratic, anti-women, anti-worker
character of these classes. However, the incidents of mass molestation on the
eve of New Year in Bangaluru and Delhi and the attack on the Police when the
Police tried to stop them has laid bare the criminal and lumpen character of
this entire class in an unprecedented fashion.
The police administration has not been able to do
anything substantial after these incidents. We can safely expect that nor will
it be able to do anything in future as well. The reason being that on that
fateful night the mob on the street was comprised of "spoilt brats"
of well-to-do families, myriad kinds of wealthy middlemen, relatives of or
members of the coteries of ministers-bureaucrats, big traders, rich property
dealers, kulaks and rich farmers. Whenever workers or common youth, women,
working class dalits take to streets for their just rights, the police wastes
no time in attacking them with lathi-charge, tear gas, etc! Immediately, the
batallions of CRPF and RAF are called in action and the state unleashes its
terror on the struggling youth, women, workers and dalits. However, when
progenies of the neo-rich run amock on the streets, try to pull girls off their
scooties, molest them, then the Police pleads helplessness and even gets beaten
up by them and runs away! Why? Because even the common constables of Police
know that this criminal mob is comprised of brats of political
leaders-ministers-bureaucrats or rich people having connections with them! That
is why, the Police at most tries to make them "understand" and when
they do not understand, then the Police itself "understands."
Friends! Comrades! It is essential to understand
that these incidents are not exceptions. These incidents show the real
character of this neo-rich class. This is the class which amassed a lot of
wealth in the last three decades, that is, after the inauguration of the
neo-liberal policies. It is overwhelmed by this windfall and intoxicated by
this opulence. This neo-rich feel that they can buy anything with money. At the
same time, the vulgar corporate capitalist culture which commodifies women has
obliterated the difference between human beings and things for these neo-rich.
For them, women are nothing more than a mass of flesh. Their heroes are sexist
vulgar singers like Yo Yo Honey Singh, Badshah, etc who in their songs
constantly metaphorise the body of women with different consumer goods like
cars, etc. This only shows that for them women are nothing more than things to
consume. This neo-rich class is brimming with a beast-like, fanatical and
barbaric sense of entitlement. Under the spell of this sense, it feels that
since it has money, it can get anything. This class represents the unholy
alliance between Patriarchy and Capitalism in its most barbaric, aggressive and
disgusting form. Undoubtedly, the patriarchal values are present in the working
masses also and especially among the lumpen proletariat (that is, the
proletariat bereft of class consciousness), lumpen lower middle class, the most
despicable forms of this patriarchy can be seen. However, the life source of
this patriarchy actually emanates from the political power and culture of the
capitalist, especially, the neo-rich capitalist class. Needless to say, the
values, traditions and culture of those who own media, education system,
information system, will also dominate other classes of society, at least, till
the time these other classes have a revolutionary cultural alternative.
Moreover, the issue of Patriarchy is not simply an issue of mindset, culture
and values-traditions. In fact, it is a political issue and is intricately
linked with the question of political power! The present capitalist
state system nurtures the patriarchy. Therefore, we can effectively fight
against patriarchy only when we also fight against the entire present system
which sustains it! Comrades, it is essential that we do not limit our struggle
to the campus only! We must take it to all those neighbourhoods where the
bastions of reaction are thriving and flourishing and win over our sisters, our
comrades. We are not going to stay in the campus forever. In such a scenario,
it would be suicidal to confine our struggle to the campus.
As far as the question of fighting today for our
freedom, safety and dignity is concerned, these incidents have made this much
certain : we cannot rely on the police administration in our fight against
these criminal elements. When the police itself runs away from the scene, how
can we trust it to protect us? We must mobilize and organize ourselves and
fight for our freedom, safety and dignity ourselves! If we do not take this
initiative today, it would become impossible for us to live freely, dress
freely, eat and drink freely, choose our life-partner freely! We must take the
decision today! Tomorrow will be too late! We
propose that we organize a march as soon as possible and take out this march
within the campus as well as the adjoining neighbourhoods and reclaim the
public space! If we do not organize such a march in response to the incidents
of New Year's eve, then these criminal degerates and misogynists will be
encouraged. So - break the inertia, comrades! Unfetter yourself! If you think
we must organize such a march, please call us immediately on the following
numbers.
The age of darkness will give way, those who
fight will own the day!
"Those who do not move,
do not notice their chains." - Rosa Luxemburg
l University Community for Democracy and Equality (UCDE)
l Stree Mukti League
Contact : 9764594057, 9145332849, 9923547074 Email - ucde.mu@gmail.com
Blog - ucde-mu.blogspot.com Facebook page - facebook.com/ucdemu
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