The Silent Witness: A Society That Looks Away

Public transport has always been a space where strangers share fleeting moments of their daily lives, some lost in thought, others immersed in their devices, and many just trying to get through the journey. On this particular day, as I squeezed into the overcrowded bus on my way to college, I was mildly disappointed about not securing a window seat. Resigned to standing, I let my gaze wander, observing the people around me. That’s when I noticed her, a woman, likely in her mid-30s, boarding with her two young children.

Wanting to ease her burden in the packed bus, I offered to hold her child’s school bag and continued listening to my music. But in the midst of the ordinary, something disturbing caught my eye. A man standing ahead of me was sneakily taking inappropriate photos of the woman and posting them somewhere.

A surge of anger and disgust filled me. My instinct was to call him out, to expose what he was doing. But then came hesitation—what if no one believed me? What if I became the next target? As doubt crept in, I chose to stay quiet, telling myself I needed to be sure before acting. Yet, the guilt gnawed at me. I couldn’t just stand by.

Determined to seek help, I informed the bus conductor, expecting some form of action. But his response left me stunned.

"It’s okay if it happens. These things happen every day. Even if we warn him, he won’t change. Women must learn to adjust."

His words cut through me like a blade...not just for their insensitivity but for the sheer acceptance of wrongdoing as if it were a norm. Refusing to give up, I turned to an elderly woman beside me, hoping she would understand, hoping she would share my outrage. But once again, I was met with indifference.

"Just ignore it. It’s best to stay quiet or pretend you didn’t see anything."

My heart sank. I had always believed that women would stand up for one another, that if no one else did, we would at least have each other’s backs. But here I was, facing a truth more painful than the incident itself, society had normalized silence.

How did we get here? How did we reach a point where speaking up feels dangerous, while staying silent is considered the safer choice? 

I realized that society shouldn't be the one to shape my thoughts or silence my voice. Just because something happens often doesn’t make it right. Change starts when we think for ourselves, question harmful norms, and refuse to accept silence as the only option. 

Society can sometimes lead you down the wrong path, so don't let it dictate your personal decisions. Think for yourself and choose what feels right for you.