Tower protests: How Veeru syndrome in Basantis rewriting Sholay’s script

Varanasi/Prayagraj: Veeru climbed a water tank for Basanti in Sholay. Lately, Purvanchal districts have seen several replays of that iconic cinematic moment, but with a gendered twist.

Women are climbing water tanks, mobile towers and even high-tension poles to force the system’s hand. Sometimes it works. More often, it backfires. In Ballia, Jaunpur, Azamgarh, Pratapgarh and beyond, many have faced cases for endangering life, causing public nuisance, and draining govt resources.

Last month, a girl from a village under the Sukhpura police station limits in Ballia was in the news for nearly a fortnight. After filing an FIR against her lover and three others for sexual harassment, she climbed a mobile phone tower on April 7. Police worked for hours to bring her down and finally called her lover. He agreed, and the couple married at Maharshi Bhrigu Mandir on April 17. The groom then took his wife home.

But a minor girl from a village under the Nevadhia police station in Jaunpur was not as lucky. On April 2, she climbed a mobile tower in her village, demanding that her lover be released from jail and that they be allowed to live together. He was jailed on kidnapping and rape charges after her family lodged an FIR when they eloped. After bringing the girl down, the police sent her to the Government Children Home for Girls in Varanasi.

From March 29 to April 21, Pratapgarh police have registered five cases where women, aged between 18 and 22, climbed atop water tanks or mobile towers for their love. These incidents were reported from Leelapur, Kotwali, Kunda and Patti areas.

The first case was reported on March 29, when a woman, distressed over a romantic dispute, climbed a mobile tower demanding that her marriage with her boyfriend be solemnized. It took police more than two hours to pacify her before she was safely brought down in the presence of family members.

In April, a woman in the Patti area, upset over her family fixing her marriage against her wishes, climbed atop a tower and refused to come down. However, through persuasion and counseling, the police safely brought her down and advised her family against proceeding with the marriage without her consent. A senior officer told TOI that at least five cases of women climbing water tanks or mobile towers were reported within a month. But, in each instance, the police managed to bring them down safely. Still, the trend has left the force puzzled, as women appear to be using such risky acts to press for their demands.

In Jaunpur’s Shahganj, a 19-year-old climbed an electric pole demanding marriage with a youth jailed for sex on the promise of marriage. Out on bail, he had moved to Mumbai. Cops, QRT and firemen spent hours bringing her down.

In Mau’s Ghosi, a minor climbed a mobile tower on May 2, demanding her lover marry her. She came down after he was called and promised marriage. Families had opposed the match. A similar case was reported from Azamgarh’s Saraimir.

Police usually remain lenient in such cases, but they booked most of the men who climbed the towers. In Bilariaganj, Azamgarh, a man climbed a mobile tower on April 23, demanding marriage with the girl he loved after her wedding was fixed with someone else. After nearly two hours of drama, police brought him down but took him into custody.

A 17-year-old boy from Bansdih, Ballia, paid a heavy price for climbing a 33,000-volt high-tension electricity tower on April 19. He scaled the 80-metre tower demanding to speak with a 16-year-old girl from his village. He was held after being brought down. Two men in Nagra and Bansdih areas also faced legal action after climbing towers for love.

Officials said incidents of people climbing towers, overhead tanks and electric poles are not new or surprising. Such protests happen everywhere with people making different demands, often over property disputes, jobs, or police action in criminal cases. But they admitted that climbing towers to demand marriage or a relationship has become a growing trend.

“We have a clear SOP to deal with people who climb towers, overhead tanks or poles. Trained, senior officers experienced in such situations negotiate with them psychologically,” said ADG Varanasi Zone Piyush Mordia. “If a girl has climbed up, we deploy women officers, a team of women constables, and anyone who can convince her.”

Psychologists like Prof Rakesh Pandey of BHU said that these events are rarely suicidal. This can be called instrumental aggression displayed to the family or institution for a significant quest. It can be called ultimate bargaining, he said, mentioning that whenever they climb up any tower or pole people surround them with mobile cameras and solve their purpose of seeking attention.

“They try to create panic without caring that it damages personal or family reputation,” said Dr Brijesh Pandey, a sociologist at a women’s college. “Most of those involved come from sections where elders are less educated and pay little attention to ensuring the younger generation holds on to its core culture.”

Officials said the post-modern era, where advanced communication tools like smartphones are integral to life, is also pushing people to assert a separate identity.
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