That violence happens in every country is known because it is usually seen and heard. Violence in India, on the other hand, is rarely seen and heard. A few reasons why:
1. The form of violence is COWARDLY: They are commited on helpless women. "Helpless" because women in india do not report violence (if they do, things often get worse for them). A NY-Times article reports that violence such as rape and dowry disputes in india lead to "the death of almost two million women a year."
2. The form of violence is COVERT: There is rampant witchcraft attacks that are believed to be unprovable and therefore unpunishable. Due to the "unprovable" nature of these attacks, the media only reports the killing of alleged witches, whereas certain sources such as 1-on-1 interactions suggest that witchcraft is frequently used to hurt or destroy individuals and families. Some reasons for witchcraft attacks are envy, greed, and vengeance.
3. NO PUNISHMENT: In "Why India is So Damn Violent," Rupa Subramanya says, "Consider that out of 635 cases of rape reported in Delhi this past year only one has led to a conviction." (Note that only a very small percentage of violence gets reported in india.) To show that the political establishment does not care, Rupa points out that "all of the major political parties field candidates accused of violent crimes including murder and rape ..."
4. A reality-denying CULTURE: We deny everything that's wrong about india. There is a strong "we're holier than the West" mindset (and anyone who speaks the truth is labeled unpatriotic). We know the facts, yet we pretend like violence is alien to the people of the land of Gandhi. We know that, as Ashis Nandy says, "Only a society having massive, unresolved problems of violence" can produce iconic sages of non-violence like Gandhi, yet we pretend.
What might be a good first step in terms of solution to the problem of violence? I would borrow from Chetan Bhagat, who (writing about another issue) says, "To change, first let us accept our shortcomings. We Indians lack some essential, good values ..." I trust his advice due to its simple truth that ... unless I know and accept the presence of defects in, say, my product, I am very unlikely to remove those defects and ship a quality product.
Added in April 2013: Black magician blamed for suicides
1. The form of violence is COWARDLY: They are commited on helpless women. "Helpless" because women in india do not report violence (if they do, things often get worse for them). A NY-Times article reports that violence such as rape and dowry disputes in india lead to "the death of almost two million women a year."
2. The form of violence is COVERT: There is rampant witchcraft attacks that are believed to be unprovable and therefore unpunishable. Due to the "unprovable" nature of these attacks, the media only reports the killing of alleged witches, whereas certain sources such as 1-on-1 interactions suggest that witchcraft is frequently used to hurt or destroy individuals and families. Some reasons for witchcraft attacks are envy, greed, and vengeance.
3. NO PUNISHMENT: In "Why India is So Damn Violent," Rupa Subramanya says, "Consider that out of 635 cases of rape reported in Delhi this past year only one has led to a conviction." (Note that only a very small percentage of violence gets reported in india.) To show that the political establishment does not care, Rupa points out that "all of the major political parties field candidates accused of violent crimes including murder and rape ..."
4. A reality-denying CULTURE: We deny everything that's wrong about india. There is a strong "we're holier than the West" mindset (and anyone who speaks the truth is labeled unpatriotic). We know the facts, yet we pretend like violence is alien to the people of the land of Gandhi. We know that, as Ashis Nandy says, "Only a society having massive, unresolved problems of violence" can produce iconic sages of non-violence like Gandhi, yet we pretend.
What might be a good first step in terms of solution to the problem of violence? I would borrow from Chetan Bhagat, who (writing about another issue) says, "To change, first let us accept our shortcomings. We Indians lack some essential, good values ..." I trust his advice due to its simple truth that ... unless I know and accept the presence of defects in, say, my product, I am very unlikely to remove those defects and ship a quality product.
Added in April 2013: Black magician blamed for suicides