The Hindu Business Line : Should travel be a harassingly fearsome ordeal for women?

Story so far: An offbeat opportunity comes my way when I get to watch some of the first few matches at the ongoing World Cup. Wherever I turn, I see how Germany's economy gets a terrific boost from the game. Tragically, though, India is not in the race. Will we get to play in the next edition of the tournament in South Africa in 2010, I wonder?

Episode 133

Where there is a will there is a way, writes P. V. Sudhakar Rao, Deputy Manager, SBI, from Ongole, in response to the football dream. "Dear Swati Garu, the once-upon-a-time wonders such as electricity, airplane, phone and TV have now become common because of will and perseverance on the part of scientists. Similarly, the determination on the part of the Indian Football Federation will definitely make it possible for our team to make it to the World Cup next time. Let us wish them all the best." Positive thoughts, Sudhakar. Too optimistic, I fear.

"Respected madam, I read your articles every Monday in Business Line. They are informative as well as knowledgeable," reads the next mail, from Sham Sunder Gupta, a CA (Final) student from Ludhiana. Thanks, Sham. "Sports are of keen interest to me. As for your last week's topic on Indian football, I think the AIFF has taken up an uphill task. Project World Cup will not be successful, going by the progress that our soccer team has shown in the recent past."

How disappointing, but Sham has reasons. "We are currently ranked 117th in the world. Teams from South Asia such as Pakistan and Bangladesh are giving us tough challenge. Qualifying for the World Cup is a difficult task, which can only be achieved through step by step planning." Oh, what's that?

"Our first aim must be to excel in Asia. Second, we must play a number of matches in India so that our players are geared to play at the international level. It is altogether wrong to blame the media for not promoting the game. Sponsors will definitely come forward if the team performs well. Project World Cup is an optimistic plan but steps must be taken to ensure that the team qualifies for FIFA World Cup 2014. And, who knows, India could host the World Cup in the coming years." Sounds pragmatic, I'd say.

"Hi Swati, let's hope they can make it," says Priya. "In reality, sports, other than cricket and now to an extent tennis, are not given any importance in our society. I remember in my school days there was a budding tennis player who was advised to change schools by the management since she was missing classes!" Shocking.

"If this is the kind of encouragement, how can we expect world champions? Olympics is another platform where the image of our nation's strength in sports gets shattered. All promises are made once in four years, then, as usual forgotten." Woeful, I agree.

"To make a mark in the international arena, there should be a collective effort from all. Our education system should be revamped to accommodate the schedules of the budding sports students. Mindset of parents (so what, if your child is a sportsperson?) and the society has to change. Most important, sports should be sans politics, and the government should provide facilities in every locality." Useful suggestions.

"Hi Swati, I am a regular reader of your articles. You present current affairs in a really interesting way," mails in Govindraj, a CA Final student.

"As for this week's topic, who would not love to see our national team make it to World Cup finals? I am an avid sports lover and I like watching football. It is a pity that despite being such a large country we qualified only once for the World Cup and we didn't participate since the players refused to play wearing shoes."

We can only shed tears for those missed opportunities, but Govindraj has some down-to-earth views about the game. "As for the football federation's dream to take our team to the next World Cup, let us be a little realistic. Football, unlike cricket, is played all over the world . So to qualify for a tournament which involves around 150 countries is going to be tough."

Moreover, in a country like ours where cricket is like a religion, it would take something spectacular from our football team to entice people to follow the game, points out Govindraj. "Authorities should try to find young talent from across the country and hone their skills at a young age. Unless proper training is given at the grassroots level we cannot dream of building a dream team."

He is sad that our country's sports are marred by politics. "No wonder India has fared poorly in Olympics despite being such a big country, whereas smaller countries like Korea and Japan have overtaken us in this aspect. The authorities should start building a team right now so that we can have a strong contingent within the next 7-8 years. If that happens we may see India in World Cup 2014. Maybe." Good.

"Dear Swati, I am trying to detect a common thread between your last week's and this week's poser. Both can be considered as indicators of the quickening pace of the process of globalisation," writes S. Gnana Haran. "Football represents globalisation from the sports constituency," he says.

"The whole process can be viewed from seemingly two different angles: One, identifying, nurturing and competing in few areas where not many would find it easy to out-compete you; and two, being part of those which have pervasive influence, as in the case of English, football, yoga and so on." Deep analysis, I must concede.

"We are as smart as anybody in English but in the case of football we are nowhere. We are yet to open our account here. The objective here is not winning but effective participation, whereas in the case of English, winning IT and ITES jobs is the objective. In football, India has to gain the status of a player of consequence. Whether it would happen by 2010 is difficult to say with certainty. But the play has to start right away." Thanks Gnana.

A few days ago, I had to urgently go on an official trip to Coimbatore, where the company has a few field-testing stations for the newer formulations. Chandru gave me the ticket at the station, a few minutes before the train was to leave. "Swati, you are aged not 25 but 45, and your name is Mary Albert. This is what the travel agent could manage... "

I shook my head in protest. "If no tickets are available, I'll postpone the trip." Chandru pleaded, "Please, Swati, the matter is urgent. Our testing stations are waiting for the approval documents... here. You have to meet the Department officials tomorrow morning and explain... "

The orange light was on, and I found no point arguing further. Getting into the train, I quickly settled into my berth, attracting the least attention.

Within minutes, there was the perfunctory checking of tickets, which passed off without any incident. I pulled a sheet over me, wishing I would reach the destination fast.

Around midnight, when the whole coach was asleep, I could hear some noise from the berths below. A few men were harassing a young woman who was apparently travelling alone. There were liquor bottles around, and one of the men was even offering the drink to the frightened lady. "Come on! Take a sip... and dance!" he was saying menacingly.

I called my friend Narendra, an ACP, to seek his advice. "Another case of organ trade?" he asked me, in half jest, remembering our earlier meeting when we broke into a gang that was brokering kidneys. "No, Narendra," I said in a hush, and explained the scene in front of me.

"Listen, Swati," he said solemnly. "Don't plunge in. If you have a camera built into your cell, capture the images. Something to assist the prosecution." I told him my berth number and he hung up fast.

Relieved at having taken charge of the situation, I promptly fell asleep. About thirty minutes later, there was some scuffle below, and I pulled the sheet firmly on top of my head, thinking it was another ticket checker I had to contend with... It was only when I woke up, I realised that the bay was peaceful and bare; only, the young woman was staring out the window.

I took the seat opposite to her and said, "What happened to your tormentors?" She said angrily, "So, you know they were troubling me. Why didn't you come to my rescue! Fortunately, the cops came and dragged them away."

Immediately, I called Narendra over the cell and said, "Thanks for the fast response." He asked, "Where were you? Some Mary Albert was sleeping in your berth!" Before I could explain, the signal snapped.

To my surprised co-passenger, I showed the images I'd captured the previous night and said, "What's your e-mail id? I'll send the photographs of harassment, so you have an open-and-shut case of booking the culprits."

Coimbatore was still about 30 minutes away and I was idly watching the fields and hills through the window, wondering why is it that women have to agonise about being harassed when travelling alone. Or, are these only imagined fears? Send in your thoughts by Friday.

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