How many of us stand up to an act of injustice?
When we witness a woman being harassed, a child being beaten or a poor man being abused, how many of us have the courage to walk up to the perpetrator and stop their atrocious act? Perhaps not many of us. But a group of teenagers were brave enough to do so.
Shweta Kothari, a journalist and an academic, took to Twitter to share how on Christmas night at a restaurant in Jhansi, they saw a husband forcing alcohol down the throat of his wife and a bunch of teenagers, about 16-17 years old, stood up to him.
Last night we saw courage!
We (me and my husband) sat at a table early, in a restaurant in Jhansi.
Behind us were a bunch of 16-17 years old – and a couple with two daughters.
— Shweta Kothari (@Shwkothari) December 26, 2022
On seeing what the husband was doing with his wife, the kids shouted in the couple’s direction and started protesting. The entitled man with zero ounces of shame said that since the woman was his wife, he could do whatever he pleased.
A few minutes later, the teenagers started shouting in the direction of the couple. This man was forcing the woman with him to have alcohol. Pushing it down her throat.
— Shweta Kothari (@Shwkothari) December 26, 2022
These teenagers, they stood up and started protesting. One of them said- ‘you can’t do that. She is not liking it, you are forcing her.’
The man, unabashed, stood and said, ‘she is my wife. I can do whatever. Who the hell are you people?’
— Shweta Kothari (@Shwkothari) December 26, 2022
When the situation escalated, the management intervened. This resulted in the man not touching his wife for the next 20 minutes because the kids were brave enough to protest.
Situation quickly escalated and the management intervened. The wife was petrified, did not say a word.
It all ended with the man sitting there for next 20 mins, not touching his wife once, after these young people protested.
— Shweta Kothari (@Shwkothari) December 26, 2022
One of the kids was named Atharv, whose parents expressed how proud they are of him for standing up to that man.
We need more parents like Bela Kochar, who raise their children well! pic.twitter.com/Jj2nju5xcR
— Shweta Kothari (@Shwkothari) December 26, 2022
While several people lauded the courage of the kids, they couldn’t help but wonder what the husband might have done with the wife upon reaching home. However, it was also highlighted that people should not look away when such acts are being committed and should raise their voices.
The young always show more courage – see Iran, Afghanistan etc…before we start to overthink & play safe
But I can’t help wonder about what happened after the couple went home. A man who behaves like this in public is likely to be far far worse in private. Hope she’s safe 🤞🙏
— Devina Mehra (@devinamehra) December 26, 2022
Kudos to the kids. I hate to think what might have happened once that family went home.
— Deepa. (@deepa_s) December 26, 2022
Yes, that’s courageous. But I really worry for the lady at home. I hope he doesn’t take it out on her.
But kudos to the young people for intervening. We need such bystanders— Natasha Ramarathnam (@nuts2406) December 26, 2022
This is the type of humans we need.
Whenever you see a wrong thing, please respond to it.— Chandra Kiran (@I_ChandraKiran) December 26, 2022
Kudos to the kids! This restores our faith in the younger generation. But we also hope that the woman in question is safe.