Moral of the story: Can't drink to Indian culture

A CULTURAL DIVIDE: The debate goes to the heart of the clash between tradition and modernity in India.

                

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On January 24 activists of the Sri Ram Sene (SRS) attacked women at a pub in Mangalore. The event that is being called India's shame goes to the heart of the clash between tradition and modernity in India. While many have condemned the violent attack, there seems to be a consensus between politicians that pub culture is immoral and is ruining Indian society.

However, women across India have protested that they have a right to go to pubs. What does the Mangalore incident mean to the Indian society? Are we genuinely fearful for the loss of Indian values? Or is the Indian society still regressive and narrow minded?

The issue was debated on CNN-IBN's special show Mangalore Morality and Culture. On the panel of experts were Actress Divya alias Ramya, Senior BJP leader, advocate and chairperson of the Karnataka Women's Commission Prameela Nesargi; former MP, Rajya Sabha, member of BJP BP Singhal; member of the band Indian Ocean, Rahul Ram; Editor, Manushi Madhu Kishwar and Editor, Marie Claire India, Shefalee Vasudev.

IS PUB CULTURE IMMORAL?

Though almost everyone has condemned the attack on the women at the Mangalore pub, politicians including Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa hold pub culture to be immoral.

Prameela began the debate and said she agreed with Yeddyurappa that pub culture is against the Indian culture. "Pub culture is bad because it opposes the morals and decency of the country," she said.

Singhal - who had earlier taken a strong stand that pub culture was ruining Indian society - joined the debate and said that though the incident was serious, one could not ban the SRS for just one misconduct. He also stated that drinking and the pub culture were against the Directive Principles of the Constitution.

Madhu Kishwar interrupted and said the Directive Principles do make it obligatory on the state to take the country towards prohibition. "However, since in India the Government has the monopoly on liquor licenses, drinking is more harmful in villages where men get drunk and physically abuse women and children. If drinking is against the Directive Principles of State Policy, then the Government should not be giving licenses to sell liquor," she said.

"I feel in a sense that pub culture is healthier. Men drink there with their friends and go home. In rural areas, men get drunk and go home where they beat up their wives and children," she said.

She also wanted to know from Singhal that when women have fought to get liquor shops closed in villages, why was the BJP Government not closing them?

Singhal responded and stated that the Karnataka government had already started by closing down pubs in the state. "You should congratulate the Karnataka government for making a start by closing down pubs," he stated acidly.

Madhu ridiculed his stand, retorting that it was much healthier to have consenting adults sit together and drink at a pub rather than the exploitation of women which took place in villages.

WHEN WILL MORAL POLICING END?

Shefalee joined the debate at this point and asked Singhal if the moral policing would come to an end if all Indian women stopped consuming alcohol and stopped wearing skimpy outfits? She further wanted to know from him whether after that the moral police would expect women to have children and dress traditionally? "Getting men and women out of a pro-choice activity is moral policing," she stated sharply.