Fear of a parent....

This is an interesting blog written by a concerned parent on the Mangalore pub incident that happened last week in Mangalore,India.

15 years ago when I was 20 something, I could not be seen in public with a girl, for some well-meaning uncle, cousin or neighbour would inform my patents, so I started seeing girls in the new fast food joints and shared moments of romance in the privacy of a secluded spots in parks or in nature.

Now I am a father of a child, I fear she would miss out on the best years of her teens, not having a crush, not writing a love note, not giving blank calls, ashamed of her body, and under confident of her self, grow up not knowing how to handle herself or take responsibility for her actions, I worry her life would be a guided tour of dependency and not a discovery.

The new fast food canters are now a easy prey to “seniks”, who could end up forcing my child with a knot to “symbolize” marriage, may be to a guy who she was probably discussing global financial crisis with, stupidly on valentine’s day, the pubs, police could video tape people, for holding hands or hugging, and worse still “sevaks” could beat up my young beautiful daughter for “moral” departure or "obscene" dressing.

I tried looking for secluded spots in my city, where my daughter, could spend time in privacy, evolve to understand her emotions and take responsibility for her judgment or interact with her dates, unfortunately all the beautiful spots have been replaced by gigantic shopping malls, with maddening crowds, I visited the only park in the city to see if my darling child could have the space to talk to her love, alas those police constables, chasing out cosy young couples, some booked, some bribed.

I have had enough, I decided that my child would have her days of growing up in the security of the “five star” hotels, she would have her romance, her candle light dinners, her sweet talks, her nights of grazing the stars, her first taste of spirits, her first date of love, behind the walls of these modern fortresses of capitalistic power, blessed with privacy and social anonymity, alas now those terrorists have targeted my only safe haven, the place that could indulge my daughters blossoming individuality,

I have made up my mind, I will not give up, I have moved into a “gated community” with friends, we have guards posted at the gates, we also have a swimming pool, a gym, a library and a enclosed party place with state of the art music system, a dedicated DJ and days when over 40’s are not allowed. This is my route, for my child’s future, for her transformation into a self reliant, responsible, strong, understanding citizen, and a mature adult.

We are now thinking of a school, a hospital, aged care facility, some farm land, a dedicated dietician, a preventive health specialist and a vet, for our gated property, we plan to train carpenters, painters, plumbers, electricians, hair dressers, cleaners from with in our families, no servants. Rest of India exists outside these gates; we have no eve teasers, no molesters, no paedophiles, no rapists, no dowry mongers, no abusers, no intimidators, our law is liberty and equality, believe equal societies similar to my dreams exist within the boundaries of many countries one of which ruled over India just 60 years ago.