#RiddhisMusings #RiddhiThinks #Selfdefence #selfhelp #attackthendefend #beaware
Are we safe?
Your safety is your own responsibility.
I recently had to meet with the management of a school
based in Wadala.
Unfortunately I did not have the car at
hand and did not get an Ola for long.
I therefore had to hire an autorikshaw. As
with most of us these days, I got so busy with calls on my mobile that I
crossed Bandra from where I was supposed to hire a taxi without realising it. The
rickshaw driver took advantage of this fact and decided to take the longest
possible route to Wadala via Chembur. He then dropped me at an unknown place
(to me), where I could see only trucks and nobody else. On asking why he was dropping
me off there, I was told “aage auto nahi jaayega” (autos won’t go further).
For a moment I just couldn't understand
what to do. I was already late for the meet and hence started walking. I
finally got a taxi and started my GPS.
According to the GPS the place I was to go
to was just close by; but the taxi driver sensing that I was unfamiliar with
the place started driving really fast.
Panicking, I asked him to stop and he did
near a building on the East of Wadala, completely isolated and a place where no
girl would dare to go.
He then asked me to get down; and without
thinking twice, I shouted and showed him a knife (I carry a small knife in my
bag) and sprayed a little pepper spray. That worked and he started coughing
badly. I told him to turn the taxi around or I would spray it in his eyes; simultaneous
I started dialling the police emergency number.
The taxi driver had the audacity to say “kya
aurat hai ...goonda hai ekdum” (what kind of a woman are you, an absolute
thug).
To which I replied “tumhare jaise hote hai
phir goonda Banna hi padta hai”! (With people like you around, we women have to
become thugs!)
Thankfully he took a turn and dropped me on
the highway, from where I finally got another taxi and reached my meeting
albeit 50 mins late.
The reason for writing this post is to make
women aware that your safety is in your own hands. Screaming and shouting for
help should be secondary, fighting off the attacker should be your first instinct.
Your safety is in your hands; nobody else is responsible for that.
Have presence of mind and be aware.
Wow. You are a girl of strength Riddhi. Hats off. Very correctly you have mentioned "Our safety is in our hands, no one else is responsible at first"
ReplyDeleteThanks for putting up such strong posts.
That is indeed spontaneous thinking. You are a brave woman Riddhi. This is a lesson for all of us.
ReplyDeleteLet's make sure to be safe. Self defence in today's times is a need!
Luv you. You truly are an inspiration. You need to share this experience and the way you handled with all the girls on this earth. Keep up this daring spirit. We have real Laxmibais even now.
ReplyDeleteBravo!! You have always been an inspiration. Even I have come across such situations so I take care of myself,when am alone and sometimes of girls around too while travelling in public transport.
ReplyDeleteAgree...my safety in my hands..always be alert while traveling alone...great share Riddhi👌👍
ReplyDeleteAgree...my safety in my hands..always be alert while traveling alone...great share Riddhi👌👍
ReplyDeleteVery brave of u riddhi we all need to see our safety first n travelling alone we need to make our selfs brave enough to fight with these guyz thanx riddhi for sharing n very well done .
ReplyDeleteIt is essential to take such incidents seriously. It could happen to anyone.. Thanks for sharing Riddhi
ReplyDeleteNice one..Smart thinking and prompt execution of idea .Well done..Agree with you that girls have to fight their attacker and not commit Jauhar like padmavati.
ReplyDeleteAgree completely. In today's kalyug, offense is the best defence. If you show confidence and aggression, bullies back off since bullies are cowards. Well done, keep it up. Never show fear as it acts as a motivator for the aggressor
ReplyDeleteAgree completely. In today's kalyug, offense is the best defence. If you show confidence and aggression, bullies back off since bullies are cowards. Well done, keep it up. Never show fear as it acts as a motivator for the aggressor
ReplyDeleteWell done riddhi, what are the precautions one needs to take to avoid all this ? If we can discuss that it can add more to being cautious
ReplyDeleteThere are many things to learn from your experience
ReplyDelete1. Be alert
2.use technology it helps.
3.Have a knowledge of Ur destination.
4.look around when travelling alone.
5.keep your family and friends informed about your whereabouts.via text.
6.keep you mind alert ...like u did..carry safety measures with yourself...Riddhi ji you are very brave...I really pray none of us should go through this kind of experience... Thanks
Wow, super.. we really need to learn to protect ourselves.. even basic presence of mind and self defence can be of great help for us..
ReplyDeleteKudos Riddhi!
Bravo Riddhi. Well said Ms.Manisha too.
ReplyDeleterom Man's point of view, i consider woman an inherent member of family in some form or other (mother, wife, daughter etc.)and therefore invariably none shd hate either and life goes complimentary with each other in the relations it is maintained. It is the obligation to take care of her in all situations.
Nevertheless, in the context referred here,this ideal scenario is not seen and ifeel as a man along with the points suggested by manisha, we shd train girl/woman to deal the situation right from the age 10 through videos or through classes. I firmly believe self defence training shd be mandatory wheb the child studies 8th class.
Totally agree... We have to be thugs with these kind of people around.... I even teach my daughter to be bold because in today's world we can't sit back at home and we have to fight for ourselves.... Can't just rely on people around ..... Be bold and believe your instinct ....
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a brave response .Its easy to say to be brave and not panic but its difficult to act in such suituations. You did wonderful job and we are learning from you by example you set for us.Great work keep inspiring us
ReplyDeleteShocking.... courageous nd alert response from your end is remarkable nd a good example for many... Whenever I travel in such situation I make sure that I am not on calls or any other media which is avoidable at that point... just to remain aware of the route nd if new route before entering or as soon as I enter the vehicle, I call someone familiar with the route to explain me the way nd also try to share the auto no.just for the driver to know that someone knows exactly where I am... I do this specially with unaware routes or when I take a cab...my cabs are generally booked by someone in my family so the driver is aware that cab is being tracked on GPS...
ReplyDeleteShocking.... courageous nd alert response from your end is remarkable nd a good example for many... Whenever I travel in such situation I make sure that I am not on calls or any other media which is avoidable at that point... just to remain aware of the route nd if new route before entering or as soon as I enter the vehicle, I call someone familiar with the route to explain me the way nd also try to share the auto no.just for the driver to know that someone knows exactly where I am... I do this specially with unaware routes or when I take a cab...my cabs are generally booked by someone in my family so the driver is aware that cab is being tracked on GPS...
ReplyDeleteHey Riddhi,
ReplyDeleteThat was quick thinking & brave.
It would surely inspire and awaken many to realize their own responsibility towards themselves and also their right potential.
(In positive context) What mattered here the most, was, that you were prepared with tools to attack for your self-defence.
But, alas ! most of them are not.
As we all agree that our safety is our own responsibility, implies that every one of us need to have an awareness about the seriousness of the subject situation and at the same time, find ways to combat such mishaps.
You are living in a city, you move with technology, you are learned and responsible.
But pity ! majority of them are not.
So creating an awareness at the ground level is the process which should be given momentum.
It is not with a mindset to save & protect ourselves, but to empower and enable ourselves for our own advantage.
Applies for men too, as much for the women.
One thing I would strongly mention is, that when you are travelling in unknown areas, with unknown people around, one must focus on having an alert eye, keep watching the surroundings as u move, keep having mental note of landmarks we come across, and to avoid getting distracted to respond to social media temptations every few minutes.
This I feel is one of the biggest problems which allows someone to take advantage of your un-awareness.
There are many things/actions which can be thought of, exercized and implemented in such a way so as to make it a safe heaven for all to co-exist.
Bravery at its best!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat presence of mind