Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: An American woman faced a shocking incident of sexual harassment on the Delhi Metro when a teenage boy groped her after she agreed to a photo. The boy’s mother and sister defended his actions, claiming he was simply curious about blondes.Gaurav Sabnis, an Indian-origin professor at New Jersey’s Stevens Institute of Technology, shared the woman’s account on X. He had warned his former student to stay cautious during her India trip for a friend’s wedding, especially in Delhi where she might draw unwanted attention as a white .“When this former student called me in November for suggestions for her India trip for a friend’s wedding, I told her, be on guard for sexual harassment. Especially in Delhi. Here, you’re just another blond. There, you’ll be a target. Sadly, it came true,” Sabnis wrote, posting a screenshot of her text.The woman described the ordeal: “While my colleagues and hosts were great and I had a fun memorable 8 days in India, there was one unfortunate and ugly incident. That just soured my mood so much that I was withdrawn and depressed for a couple of days.”“A teenage boy, maybe 14 or 15, at a Delhi Metro station just ruined it forever. He was with his mom and sister so thought okay why not. He puts an arm on my shoulder. Weird but okay, he’s a teenager. And then, professor, he just straight up grabbed my breasts hard and spanked my butt and giggled like he had played a joke. pretty much EXPLODED in anger, grabbing him by the collar and pushing him away. He fell and his mother started getting upset at me saying I was “overreacting”. That he had never met a blond lady up close so he got “carried away”. What kind of parenting is that? I loved your country and I wish I could say return, but don’t think ever will. In fact I’m going to give all of South Asia a pass.”Social media users condemned the family’s defense as enabling and victim-blaming. Many highlighted molestation as a serious crime and suggested filing a complaint, while other Indians apologised .on behalf of the boy and his family.One wrote, “I know exactly what you mean. Whenever my daughter travelled in India, she was left deeply bewildered—why people spoke to her while staring at her chest instead of meeting her eyes, why they asked for selfies as if she were an object rather than a person, and why so many felt entitled to touch, feel, or grab her. The experience was confusing, unsettling, and profoundly violating.”Another said, “Most unfortunate. The over protective mother’s reaction is highly condemnable and a major factor in moulding the way men behave.”A third commented, “Victim blaming is a common thing in North India especially” and ““Overreacting” what a disgusting reaction from the lady, instead of reprimanding her kid.”
