Mind your language

Hameed Ashraf | NT

In most cases, the root cause of violence can be traced to the use of filthy language abusing mothers and sisters, claim police officials.

Mahadevapura police arrested two accused on Friday after one of them allegedly killed a 23-year-old youth by stabbing him with a soft drink bottle. It was revealed that all the three were drunk and had an argument over sharing alcohol.

According to sources, the deceased, Santosh, was a resident of Kaveri Nagar and an auto driver. The incident took place on Thursday around 7:30 pm when Santosh along with two of his friends went to a local bar.

While having liquor, Santosh allegedly took his friend’s glass and drank from it. Enraged, his friend started abusing and cursing him. The argument turned violent after they stepped out of the bar and in fury, his friend took a soft drink bottle, smashed it and stabbed Santosh on his neck and stomach before fleeing the spot.

It is said that the other accused tried to stop them from fighting, but the incessant exchange of expletives led to physical violence.

Every fight or quarrel starts by abusing the women without people thinking twice and very often, the use of these words leads to physical assault.

On Tuesday, a 22-year-old youth was stabbed by three youths just because his scooter brushed against their bike. According to sources, the argument between the boys turned violent when they hurled abuses at each other.

“I remember the first time I heard an offensive word outside my house. I was ten years of age,” Sunil Kumar, a 30-year-old resident of Vijayanagar said. “The words seemed weird and I didn’t know the meaning of those words then,” he added.

In February, a 27-year-old waiter at a bar was arrested by Konanakunte police for allegedly murdering a drunken man who had verbally abused him.

A couple of months ago, a 20-year-old youth of Devarachikkanahalli was beaten up by a person with criminal history. The reason was that the youth called him ‘Shishya’ (disciple) jokingly.

In return the accused abused his mother and sister verbally and thrashed him with heavy blows. A case had been filed with the jurisdictional police station regarding the incident.

Daily, people are confronted with such words, but no one stands against them. With the help of quality education, people have taken steps to evolve sensitive terms such as ‘differently-abled’, and socially banned the use of several racial and caste related insults. Yet, the terms that abuse the physical, mental capabilities and the sexuality of people are openly used.

Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Lava Kumar points out that parents, arguably, play the largest role in the character formation of their child and have a profound impact on how the child turns out after he or she grows up. Parenting is not just about caring for the physical growth of a child- it is every bit about enhancing the mental growth, too, said Kumar.

“Parents must ensure that their child gets a positive environment around them and they learn good things,” he said. “Next is the teacher at the school who is responsible for shaping the future of the students,” he added.

People have no idea as to from where the vulgar words stormed from, but it is evident that those currents have carried people too far from realisation. Be it a politician, policeman, trader, driver, vendor, student or even a beggar, people openly use filthy language and some even brazenly term abuse as a stress buster.

Bengaluru based historian Dharmendra Kumar Arenahalli said, “I don’t think abusive words would have been prevalent in ancient India. Because if it were, it would have been mentioned somewhere in our religious text,” he said.

It is high time people should ponder if one loves their own mother and sister, how can one think of hurling abuses denigrating women.

People should promptly file complaints
Sanket Yenagi, Attorney (Supreme Court) and Civil Rig