Justified Paranoia?

My dad was going to Delhi on business, and out of the blue asked me to go along with him!! So I flew to Delhi a day after him on the 28th of September. Other than the fact that I got stuck next to a REALLY obnoxious guy on the flight…it was SO fun travelling alone! And I ended up spending the coolest three days there EVER! The only thing that bothered me about Delhi is how bothered everyone is when we go out alone!

Maybe I am just used to cities like Bangalore and Singapore, but Delhi just seemed particularly unsafe. My parents must be the most paranoid parents in the world, but even they let me out alone in Bangalore. And I travelled to and back from work everyday in Singapore. The level of independence I get in Singapore, Bangalore and Delhi differs drastically.

In Singapore, I travelled by public transport alone, I walked from the MRT stations to home alone, I made last minute plans to meet people all over town, NO problem. Here, I can go out…but with friends, and everyone has to know where, when and with who! In Delhi, I need a chaperone! I don’t think it is a case of over-protectiveness of my parents though. Everyone’s parents seem to be slightly weary of letting their children out alone in Delhi…!

Why are some places safer than others? Why are streets unsafe at all? Independence is so great! The fact that we can’t have it is SO annoying.