Delhi Bus Turns Into a Question of Safety After Molestation Case - Cartoon

 

This cartoon uses dark humour to comment on a disturbing reality surrounding women’s safety in public transport. The cartoon refers to a reported molestation case in a Delhi bus, while presenting an exaggerated and ironic solution from the perspective of a woman passenger.

A woman is shown sitting on the roof of a bus while a man stands at the open door below. When asked about her unusual choice of seating, she says, “ऊपर ही ठीक हूँ भैया, नीचे ज़्यादा रिस्क है” — essentially, “I’m fine up here, brother; there is more risk down below.”

The humour comes from the absurdity of the situation. Travelling on the roof of a moving bus is obviously dangerous, yet the cartoon presents it as the safer alternative to being inside the bus. This reversal makes the underlying criticism sharper: when women do not feel safe in ordinary public spaces, even an obviously hazardous option can become the punchline.

The cartoon also highlights the contradiction between the basic purpose of public transport and the experience of passengers who face harassment or fear of harassment. A bus should provide a routine means of getting from one place to another, not force passengers to think about where they might be safest inside it.

By placing the woman literally above the bus, the cartoon turns a serious concern into a simple visual metaphor. The higher she goes, the more ridiculous the situation becomes — while the reason behind her choice remains deeply troubling.

Rather than focusing on the mechanics of the reported incident, the cartoon uses it to raise a broader question about safety, harassment and the everyday experience of women using public transportation.

The joke may make the viewer smile, but its message is uncomfortable: when the inside of a bus is portrayed as more dangerous than its roof, something is seriously wrong with the sense of security passengers should be able to expect.

Cartoon by - Kirtish Bhatt