Damaging the image
A Level-2 travel advisory for India has been issued by the US. State Department, which has international implications and activist discussions in its wake. There are occasions when national governments are well within their rights in warning their citizens traveling to foreign lands, but the way travel advisories are framed, contrasted with the tone employed, must always be contextual. They cannot stand against generalized statements.
India is a vast democracy with 1.4 billion-plus population with the spirit of making every effort toward safety-related governance. There are problems, as there would be anywhere in a large and immensely populous land; however, it is important not to let the narratives of crime or terrorism eat into the best strides made toward law enforcement, female safety, and infrastructure.
Tourists from every conceivable corner of the world have been descending on India for its majestic heritage and ancient traditions of hospitality and healing-running cities of Delhi and Mumbai, unexplored Kerala, and serene Himalayan-laden with spiritually charged experiential magic, India shall not merely serve as a tourist experience. Second, pointing on a handful of incidents sighted through US travel advisory notices also tends to undermine the unstinting Indian culture marked by warmth, grit, and innovation.
The advisory particularly cites rural areas and regions such as J&K, parts of central India, and the northeast-areas which are culturally very rich and strategically important, and some also undergoing positive changes. Instead of increasing alarm, a better approach should have been to partner with Indian authorities to ensure that travelers receive guidance, specific to locations and well-informed, instead of cast-in-stone stringent warnings.
Labels hit Indian society as dangerous for solo women travelers, risk perpetuating a stereotype some women travelers themselves have disputed. Thousands of women from all over the world have traveled safely in India, often feeling a great sense of sisterhood, support, and curiosity from the people they meet.
India works toward a safer and inviting tomorrow, investing in community policing, digital safety platforms, women’s helplines, and public awareness campaigns. These are the marks of a democracy willing to look inward and work on rectifying its challenges-not the actions of a country indifferent to its trials. A hard constructive dialogue should replace tintinnabulations. Travel is meant to be an experience of learning, not a fear factor.
Dr. Mehak Jonjua Author, Journalist & Media Mentor