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Sorry, single woman not allowed !

16 February 2010 30 Comments

Have you heard of this phrase ?
I have. I have experienced it.

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The Charminar (Mosque of the Four Minarets)….

I was traveling alone to Hyderabad…  June 2009. I remember clearly; it was a Saturday, a public holiday when I had decided to see Charminar (Four towers) and it’s surroundings. After satisfying myself with Mecca mosque, I moved forward towards famous and charming Charminar.

There was utter chaos and rush everywhere; the roads were full of small vendors luring tourists to buy postcards and other stuff.

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Queue to go up…

I could see a long serpentine queue to go up the Charminar. Another queue to buy tickets was also long and had spread onto the road. There was only one ticket counter but that was ok since the queue was moving fast. Lathi wielding staff was well experienced to manage the crowd well. So, I too joined.

Before my turn came, suddenly one of them realized I was alone ! He told me I was not allowed to go up.
Why?

‘For precautionary measures we don’t allow single woman’.
At first I thought he was kidding. But others in queue agreed with him. Now, this was ridiculous, an insult. No, I won’t budge. I firmly stood there. As the queue moved, I moved too.

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Public is discouraged to go near the railings.

Two more persons came and requested me to come out of the queue. They were polite but firm. They didn’t have lady police and couldn’t have touched me.

I stood my ground, wanted to know a more authentic reason. I was not a terrorist, I wasn’t carrying any arms, I wasn’t a foreigner not understanding the local language and for God’s sake, I didn’t even have Swine Flu !

“Why don’t you understand? We want to save you.”
Save me? What from ?

Arguments and counter-arguments… moving ahead in the queue I expressed my wish to speak to someone higher who could at least listen to me. I reached ticket counter and bought a ticket. The gentleman at the window was too busy to even look up, let alone bothering about who the buyer was.

Yay !! I had a ticket.

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Looking down…

Fortunately there were two independent sets of guards, one monitoring the ground level and the other set at upper level. Holding my precious ticket, I came out again on the road, wondering how to go up. I am not the one to accept this kind of indignity.

My good fortunes ! They say God helps those who help themselves.
I heard a conversation. There was an elderly couple from Amritsar on a business trip contemplating whether to go up Charminar or not. Husband was keen but the wife didn’t want to stand in that long queue.
Ah ! there I could see my chance. I politely introduced myself and convinced them to go up. A trip to Hyderabad is incomplete without seeing Charminar. I offered to wait there with the lady till the gentleman brought two tickets.
In the meanwhile I told them my problem as well. They were also as surprised as I was and asked me to be with them.

Nonetheless, now we were three and nobody could stop us me. On the upper floor, there were more guards and more vigilant constantly asking people not to stand in one place for long and dutifully checking for any mishaps.

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Ladies should always be in a company.

Apparently we spoke to few locals & came to know there have been too many suicide cases and stopping single women from going up was the easiest step they could think of.

Points to ponder :-
1. Why only women, a man can also commit suicide?
2. Why this restriction on a public holiday when the place is fully packed?
3. Why there was no lady police/ staff/ guard ? Not a single one. Suicide again?
4. Instead of having 20-25 lathi wielding yelling guards in that small place, wouldn’t it be better to have some raised railings?
5. For same reason, why only suicide? A murder can also take place.
6. Why were they worried about only one death ? There was no security check for bombs etc, no deposit of bags. Anyone could carry explosives up there.
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30 Comments »

  • neeraj said:

    that’s so ridiculous.
    if someone is hell bent on committing suicide, then no one can stop him/her.
    i guess their point is that they don’t charminar to be used as a “jumping point”.
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    # 16 February 2010 at 10:35 AM
  • Arun said:

    Hi,
    Today, I visited this site first time … and this first column, I really liked your post here…Lot of columns I saw just now, but later I will check others.
    Well about this incident, it is really surprising to me as well. I visited char minar last year. but didn’t understand, what may be the problem, may be they want to care of alone girl, something like that….

    # 16 February 2010 at 5:28 PM
  • sandeep said:

    he he … for the first time, single woman are stopped from entering a place :) i am sure a lot of single men (who got stopped at places like discs) wud’ve luved it ;-)

    on a serious note – it doesnt make any sense – but a lot of things in india doesnt make sense. security guys tell u things like ‘u cant take photos here’ or ‘u cant carry a tripod here’ and wudnt know why they are instructed not to allow them! i believe, someone somewhere, found some connection and the practice stayed :)
    sandeep´s last [post] ..Day Break My ComLuv Profile

    # 16 February 2010 at 5:47 PM
  • Nisha (author) said:

    Neeraj,
    Yes, that’s absolute ridiculous.
    Even if they do not want Charminar getting a bad name, there are better ways to do it.

    # 16 February 2010 at 5:55 PM
  • Nisha (author) said:

    Arun,
    Welcome aboard ! Thanks for liking the site and I do hope you’ll continue to come and enjoy.

    Care for a lone girl ? They could have asked her if she needs any help at all.

    On the other hand, if they provide some guides (males/ females both) at the site; who are vigilant also I am sure the tourism is going to boost and women will not feel left outs.

    # 16 February 2010 at 6:14 PM
  • Nisha (author) said:

    Sandeep,
    Ha Ha.. I can understand it.

    But believe me, I was furious at that time and somehow trying to keep my cool.
    I wish Hyderabad’s tourism department reads this post and does something about it.

    # 16 February 2010 at 6:21 PM
  • anjuli said:

    what an experience!!!! hah- I especially loved your questions and thoughts at the end…great pics and memorable experience. You are one tough cookie- standing your ground and not giving in.
    anjuli´s last [post] ..Feb 14th- Accra- Rawling’s House My ComLuv Profile

    # 17 February 2010 at 4:15 AM
  • Nisha (author) said:

    Anjuli,
    It was an unique experience. They did not want to tell me on my face the reason for stopping me. Nothing is written anywhere or official. I guess everything is maintained by a pvt party.

    When I got to know the reasons, these were the thoughts that immediately crossed my mind.

    # 17 February 2010 at 8:25 PM
  • Doli said:

    that’s so weird! i thought initially that they were worried for your safety :) when i read it is bcoz of suicides, it sounded so weird.. there are better ways to prevent that from happening!
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    # 17 February 2010 at 10:49 PM
  • Vamsee said:

    This is crazy…I had no idea that single women were not allowed in the Charminar!! I actually thought they closed admission because of suicides.
    Anyway… I am so glad you stuck your ground and figured out a way.
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    # 18 February 2010 at 2:03 PM
  • Manish Kumar said:

    I have been to charminar once but a was not aware of this suicide thing.
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    # 18 February 2010 at 8:09 PM
  • Nisha (author) said:

    Doli,
    Exactly ! There are certainly better ways to tackle this issue. :)

    # 18 February 2010 at 9:48 PM
  • Nisha (author) said:

    Vamsee,
    I would not have left without seeing it…. by whatever way. :)

    # 18 February 2010 at 9:48 PM
  • Nisha (author) said:

    Manish Kumar,
    I have no idea since when they started this practice or when they gonna stop this. :)

    # 18 February 2010 at 9:49 PM
  • Zhu said:

    I must say I have never heard that sentence before!

    I’m glad you stood your ground and managed to get in. I respect all cultures but when the rule is dumb, go for it and break it! And this one is clearly outdated and misogynistic…
    Zhu´s last [post] ..Winterlude in Québec My ComLuv Profile

    # 19 February 2010 at 6:56 AM
  • varun said:

    crappy rules…. !!

    # 19 February 2010 at 7:38 PM
  • mumbai paused said:

    That’s why we call it Incredible India. Our incredibly bewildering set of rules

    # 20 February 2010 at 11:31 AM
  • Ram N said:

    I guess “harassment” was also in their minds.

    But i clearly agree with your stand and being assertive in getting the ticket. In the name of security many a times we are foolish.

    # 22 February 2010 at 12:04 PM
  • Nisha (author) said:

    Zhu,
    Even I respect cultures but respecting something should not lead to following something blindly.

    Varun,
    Welcome here.

    Yes, indeed they are ridiculous.

    Keep coming.

    # 25 February 2010 at 1:33 AM
  • Nisha (author) said:

    Mumbai P,
    Really incredible. :)

    Ram,
    I wonder how long it’ll work like that. There has to be some sense in what we are doing.

    # 26 February 2010 at 1:40 AM
  • neha said:

    You’d think improving security would be a better solution to stopping (paying) public from visiting a landmark. But it’s probably easier to impose ridiculous restrictions than correct a situation. So it goes …

    # 26 February 2010 at 4:24 PM
  • Celine said:

    Ridiculous!
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    # 2 March 2010 at 2:10 AM
  • magiceye said:

    strange and sexist!
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    # 29 March 2010 at 6:39 PM
  • Joe Zachs said:

    Never knew about this rule. I am sure its not a written rule. (must have been made up by the local people)
    Joe Zachs´s last [post] ..The flying fantasy My ComLuv Profile

    # 18 April 2010 at 7:25 AM
  • The year that was.. 2009 said:

    [...] Then in summers it was again a solo 3 day trip to Hyderabad, my first to the city. I stayed in a hotel opposite railway station and had glorious time walking along the lake, negotiating with the autowalas and arguing with saviours of women. [...]

    # 22 April 2010 at 12:27 PM
  • Nisha (author) said:

    Joe Zachs,
    Certainly it is not a written rule but everybody was okay with it.

    # 22 April 2010 at 10:11 PM
  • radha said:

    I have climbed up – but very long ago. Found it rather claustrophobic – the narrow staircase, the crowds… but a visit is a must. And strange that they have this funny thing about single women!! Hyderabadis can be wierd. I should know :-) ( but it is a great place, really!)
    radha´s last [post] ..Handmade and Sun-kissed My ComLuv Profile

    # 26 April 2010 at 10:31 PM
  • Nisha (author) said:

    Radha,
    I think it’s a new rule … But what I don’t understand how can they decide that only women are suicide prone ? :)

    # 27 April 2010 at 12:40 AM
  • Aarti said:

    The last time i was in Hydie, Charminar was closed for visitors… but i so wanted to go up and get a view!!

    Am glad you stood ground and found that couple to solve the issue :) L
    Aarti´s last [post] ..By the water cooler Sly me!My ComLuv Profile

    # 31 October 2010 at 7:01 PM
  • Nisha (author) said:

    Aarti,
    It’s ridiculous. Why they think only women will commit suicide? And there was no check for bombs etc. What about that?

    Or they think women can’t travel alone ?

    I, for one, defy. :D

    # 3 November 2010 at 5:31 PM

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