IndiaPost.com - 'Why are Indian men stuck in dark ages?'

I am a 32 year old, female Scottish tourist and business woman, and have been travelling and working in India for 5 months. Given the recent news highlighting the behavior of Indian men towards foreign female tourists, I have decided to write to you with the experiences I have encountered during my travels.

I have found most Indian men to be respectful and courteous, especially in the north, where in smaller villages and in rural areas there is a true sense of genuine decency and kindness from the local people. However, on reaching the larger towns and cities, such as Chennai and more notably Bangalore, who prides itself on being a modern, forward thinking and cosmopolitan city, I have experienced a very different and much less appealing side to India.

In Chennai, for example, I and my husband were asked to be joined at our table by a small group of gentlemen who seemed to be interested in our travels and reasons for visiting their country. We were more than happy to chat with them; however I became increasingly more uncomfortable as the gentleman sitting next to me touched my leg.

At first I thought this to be an innocent mistake but his intentions soon became clear when he proceeded to ask completely inappropriate questions regarding my sex life. Disgusted with this behavior we left the restaurant, only to be followed along the street and propositioned by another of the group on his motorbike.

The gentleman's excuse for his behavior was that he believed western women to be promiscuous and that this should be acceptable! I found this to be highly offensive and I was left with an insight of a very seedy side of India and a bad impression of Chennai men which is off-putting for me both in a travel and business sense.

In Bangalore, similar behavior was encountered when I and my husband went to a stylish bar frequented by both men and women. A group of young men approached us to chat about our visit. When my husband left for only two minutes to use the toilet, one gentleman immediately touched my face and hair. I pushed him away and made my objections very clear and when my husband returned, we made to leave.

However as we were leaving, another gentleman in the group made lewd and suggestive comments further adding to my embarrassment and insult. Again I was left with a feeling of distaste and an evening ruined. It is ironic that a city which is striving to be a world leading business and commerce hub complete with its sophisticated, modern bars and restaurants should embarrass and alienate itself in such a poor manner.

It poses the question "Why are many of its men still stuck in the dark ages?" And so, sadly, it will struggle to compete with the rest of the world in business and tourism whilst it still holds this highly offensive attitude towards half the world's population.

I have experienced a number of other incidences of being groped or harassed during my travels, and many of my female friends who have also traveled throughout India have had similar experiences.

It is ironic that in India's holy Puri I was jeered at by a couple of men as they passed on their motorbike. (Would these men act in a similar way towards Indian women?) In a country which prides itself in its moral chastity and often casts a critical eye over western 'Hollywood' behavior, I sadly sense an air of hypocrisy.

So while I leave India with a multitude of fond memories of its fascinating and diverse culture, wildlife, spirituality and natural beauty, I am also leaving with a slightly tarnished impression due to the behavior and ignorance of a minority of its men. Please note that on all these occasions I was modestly and conservatively dressed, respecting Indian culture.

I have read comments on many similar articles that women who were subjected to sexual harassment were somehow provocatively dressed or behaving in some flirtatious manner leading these 'poor' men astray. To me this seems like an unhelpful and poor justification to allow this behavior to continue, however, I would like to set the matter straight that this was certainly not the case.