Yesterday night I went out with a girl friend of mine to one of my favourite hangout pub in Bandra. Even on a Thursday night the place was filled with a decent number of people, mostly office crowd. Now you would be thinking whats so darn great about this, I mean this is a scenario in most metro cities. However I noticed one peculiar thing when I glanced around the small room. Though the present crowd mostly comprised of men, there were also quite a few women around, just by themselves or in small groups.

It reminded of the times when I use to come down to Mumbai for holidays and crib in front of my best friend about the attitude of Mumbaikars or Indians in general, where women could not go down to the pub or a nightclub without being assisted by their male friends or relatives. It was seen more of taboo and would put a question mark on the girl’s character if she ever dared to venture out alone to such places. Afterall decent Indian women, don’t indulge themselves in such activities, it was perceived.

Mumbai has always been generally very safe for women traveling alone. However one biggest annoyance I and I am sure many would have encountered, are the eagle-eyed stares in nightclubs and pups. While western clothing was fine, one would have to think twice before wearing short skirts and low-cut tops and baring shoulders was definitely a no-no in such outings.

But today these notions have changed in many ways and thankfully for the better. In a multi-cultural, multi-layered city like Mumbai, there is enough and more for everyone