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With so much of convergence and inflow of people from the region, how can the character of a city stay the same? Chandigarh, the pride and capital of two states, boasts of being the first planned city post-Independence of India. It is the manifestation of a dream that was envisioned for a modern India. Le Corbusier ensured it was a well-laid out city. Over the years, it has matured into a place where young crowd and state-of-the-art educational institutes bring freshness, while elderly retired people extend their peaceful experience. Over six decades, Chandigarh has grown from being a single city to a tricity— with two companions Mohali and Panchkula to share the identity with. As innumerable mango trees, which then marked the skyline of the city, gave way to more and more houses, flats, shining shops and malls, there has been a huge influx of immigrant population in the city. This migratory population comprises of those who plan to make the city their new adopted home while for many it is a stepping stone for another final destination. Daily wagers, house helps, rickshaw pullers and autowallahs belong to the former category while the latter one is growing every year in leaps and bounds by the student and young professional population. In addition to these two broad categories, many families in Punjab and Haryana cherish the dream of settling down in Chandigarh at some point of their lives. A significant number of cases of farmers/land owners in the region are selling off their lands and immovable properties to establish their roots in the modern city. With so much of convergence and inflow, how can the culture and personality of the city hope to stay the same? Speeding, disregarding traffic rules, small thefts, chain snatching, eve teasing when ignored, take the form of violent crimes like big thefts, murders, harassments, molestations and much more. Miscreants make the most of the wonderfully laid roads which ensure easy entry and exit to/from the city to either cross Punjab or Haryana border. Inner sector roads, University campus, outside girls' colleges, gehri route (spanning across sector 8, 9, 10, 11) are some well-known, vulnerable spots where girls/women are easy targets for wrongdoers. During festivals, especially on Holi, insecurity stares hard at our faces. Lawlessness in cities like Chandigarh is not because of “have-nots” trying to snatch from “haves,” because a majority of the crimes committed are not because of abject poverty. The nature of crimes is a clear indicator of “show-off strength”, “cheap thrills” and “possess extra to finance drugs or such”. People tend to take more liberties in places that is not their home town, being unknown. They do not share long-term stake in the city’s upkeep. In modern cities like Chandigarh, society may be getting comfortable with the concept of friendship between a boy and a girl, however, for many people who migrate from smaller towns and the hinterland, all this appears as a sign of “openness” in the society, which they do not see at their native places. They confuse it with women being considered “available”. It is the same mentality that Indians in general have with respect to Western women. What we see is primarily the clash of cultural values. Has the city resigned to its fate: Some people tend to cross red lights, so avoid accidents by starting a little late when green light flashes for you; we have chain snatchers in the city, so don't wear any gold ornaments; there are eve-teasers and molesters on the roads so women should not venture out post sundown. Is dancing to the tunes of the ruffians, our answer to them? It’s time for people of tricity to join hands and address the problem through a multi-pronged approach. Radio jockey Meenakshi, (see box) who was recently harassed by two guys in the heart of the city, has started a campaign, “Women Without Fear”. More and more people need to join in to make sure that the City Beautiful does not carry the burden of the cries of any victim on its heart and truly lives up to its name.
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