Blame not Romeo for sexual harassment in UP

Romeo Montague, the title character of William Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet secretly loved and married Juliet, a member of the rival House of Capulet.

He was forced into exile for slaying the cousin of Juliet in a duel and committed suicide upon hearing the false news of Juliet’s death.

All accounts indicate that Shakespeare’s Romeo was an extremely honourable man with absolute commitment towards the love of his life.

He was an ideal lover that any woman could wish for. The word Romeo has thus become synonymous with a passionate lover in various languages of the world. Romeo never teased girls.

It is, therefore, ironical that his name is being invoked to describe sexual harassers in Uttar Pradesh.

He would, perhaps, be turning in his grave and extremely dismayed to learn that the Uttar Pradesh Police has formed special anti-Romeo squads all over the state to deal with sexual harassers.

These squads are constantly on patrol, especially around all girls’ schools, colleges and coaching institutes.

Young boys found in the vicinity of women's institutions are subject to vigorous questioning to ascertain the legitimacy of their presence in the area.

One can’t just get away by saying that he is waiting for a sister or a relative to come out. He has to answer several queries and prove beyond doubt that he indeed has a sister or relative studying there.

Only then will the police let him go. If he fails to thus establish his credentials, lathi blows on the buttocks and sit-ups with ears held is the minimum he can expect.

Any couple found together in a park or a public place may receive similar treatment. If they are unable to prove they are bona fide, they are threatened their parents would be called and so on.

There was a TV report of a husband waiting outside a women's garment shop for his wife to complete her shopping. The man had a tough time convincing the cops and his wife was equally flustered at the police's behaviour when she came out of the shop.

The Uttar Pradesh police has suddenly discovered that their constabulary is endowed with hitherto unknown qualities.

The constabulary has a remarkable ability to identify a Romeo just by looking at the eyes of a person. They claim to have acquired this quality through years of policing experience.

It is a different matter altogether that the same length of experience has not imbibed in them the skills required to identify a hardened criminal even though his photograph may be displayed in every nook and corner.

The question is: what was the very same police doing all these years? Did they not know that the problem of sexual harassment has always existed?

Is it their case that the earlier political dispensation had prevented them from controlling even this crime which couldn’t possibly have any political connotations?

The principal of a girls’ college has also added to this episode her words of wisdom by proclaiming that a girl and a boy can never be friends and that the youth should only focus on academics.

Romance not being part of academics is a big no.

Such statements in this land of "Kamasutra" where our folklore is replete with innumerable love stories like "Laila-Majnu", "Sohni-Mahiwal", "Heer- Ranjha", and not the least "Radha-Krishan" sound jarring.

Many women, according to the clips telecast, have supported the initiative. Sexual harassment is abominable, no one would disagree.

The Uttar Pradesh government and senior police officers have repeatedly clarified that the drive is not meant to harass people.

This doesn’t seem to be translating into reality on ground and reports of harassment keep appearing.

The moot question being, if young boys and girls do not fall in love, who will?

If young boys and girls do not experiment with their lives, who will? What is wrong in a couple going out together holding hands?

Public display of affection within the limits of decency is much better than violence perpetrated by communal goons or the kind inflicted by an esteemed lawmaker on a person who was trying to do his job.

My advice to young couples visiting Uttar Pradesh during such hard times is that they get a marriage certificate and carry it with them.

Finally, my suggestion to the authorities is that they change the name of these squads to something more Indian.

After all, the current regime's focus is on “make in India” and “Swadeshi”.

So I suggest renaming these squads as “anti-Majnu squads” or “anti-Ranjha squads.

I am deliberately refraining from suggesting “anti-Krishan squads” for obvious reasons.