So do you feel safe?
With the American news focus on the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris and the subsequent raid in Belgium, people at home are asking the question. So since India is a complicated country of pluralities, let me give a complicated answer.
Hindu-Muslim violence is not unknown in Hyderabad. I mentioned visiting the Mecca Mosque in the Old Town and explained that it is typical to see a Hindu shrine near a Muslim mosque. One reason for that may be that each group is trying to "claim" the spot, particularly if it's considered holy or symbolic. That propensity resulted in an attack on the Mecca Mosque in May 2007 causing the deaths of sixteen people. Months later in August of the same year, two bombs went off simultaneously, one in an amusement park and the other near a popular restaurant resulting in the deaths of 42 people. Then again in February 2013 double blasts went off in different parts of the city killing 17 people. Extremist members from both national Hindu and radical international Muslim movements were suspected. PhD student Siboy told us that although he feels safe when he visits Nepal, he doesn't always feel safe in his own country.
However, life does go on, just as it does in the US after a school shooting or a theater shooting or a shooting in a workplace. Security measures are implemented, people take precautions. The campus gates are guarded as is every classroom building and dorm (typical on many campuses throughout Asia), business hotel entrances have a metal detector and guards, bags are checked at supermarkets and stores (another cultural norm), and residence registration is required for all incoming foreigners. Security is routine and people continue to drive madly, shop, and go about their business.
Are the roads safe?
It's exhilarating to ride in an auto rickshaw, even when it is inches from a moving bus in part because it doesn't move very fast--not over 40 mph. Even Ginea, who is savvy and vigilant, said, "I feel safe in the auto." Accidents are part of life, but not common. Last week we saw a motorcyclist brake suddenly and topple. Traffic slowed, pedestrians walked out to help him, and he continued on his way.
The trains--are women safe? Our facilitator Siboy helped us make our first train trip through Hyderabad and while we did see a man knock an old, seemingly drunk fellow to the floor of the train after he harassed him, no one seemed especially concerned. The older guy got up and apologized; the train proceeded to Lingumbali. When we're on our own, Ginea and I will take precautions and ride the women-only cars, just as a proper Indian woman would do.
So back to the question. Do you feel safe?
I suppose Bernard Maris felt safe when he went into the Charlie Hebdo office on January 7. I suppose most of us feel safe when we go to work in the morning, expecting to return to home and family in the evening.
The reality is that no one is always safe, but we go on living and loving and learning.
With the American news focus on the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris and the subsequent raid in Belgium, people at home are asking the question. So since India is a complicated country of pluralities, let me give a complicated answer.
Hindu-Muslim violence is not unknown in Hyderabad. I mentioned visiting the Mecca Mosque in the Old Town and explained that it is typical to see a Hindu shrine near a Muslim mosque. One reason for that may be that each group is trying to "claim" the spot, particularly if it's considered holy or symbolic. That propensity resulted in an attack on the Mecca Mosque in May 2007 causing the deaths of sixteen people. Months later in August of the same year, two bombs went off simultaneously, one in an amusement park and the other near a popular restaurant resulting in the deaths of 42 people. Then again in February 2013 double blasts went off in different parts of the city killing 17 people. Extremist members from both national Hindu and radical international Muslim movements were suspected. PhD student Siboy told us that although he feels safe when he visits Nepal, he doesn't always feel safe in his own country.
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| Metal detector and bag check at the nearby mall. |
However, life does go on, just as it does in the US after a school shooting or a theater shooting or a shooting in a workplace. Security measures are implemented, people take precautions. The campus gates are guarded as is every classroom building and dorm (typical on many campuses throughout Asia), business hotel entrances have a metal detector and guards, bags are checked at supermarkets and stores (another cultural norm), and residence registration is required for all incoming foreigners. Security is routine and people continue to drive madly, shop, and go about their business.
Are the roads safe?
 |
| Sunday afternoon traffic in the Old City. |
The trains--are women safe? Our facilitator Siboy helped us make our first train trip through Hyderabad and while we did see a man knock an old, seemingly drunk fellow to the floor of the train after he harassed him, no one seemed especially concerned. The older guy got up and apologized; the train proceeded to Lingumbali. When we're on our own, Ginea and I will take precautions and ride the women-only cars, just as a proper Indian woman would do.
So back to the question. Do you feel safe?
I suppose Bernard Maris felt safe when he went into the Charlie Hebdo office on January 7. I suppose most of us feel safe when we go to work in the morning, expecting to return to home and family in the evening.
The reality is that no one is always safe, but we go on living and loving and learning.
thanks for sharing all of your amazing information
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Something i found intriguing was the fact that there was a train only for women, like here in the U.S we never hear of such a thing
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