Rape case shines a light on India's deep sickness

The rape of a young Indian medical student who subsequently died from her injuries unleashed heartfelt angry street demonstrations, especially from women who have suffered sexual abuse, along with much hand-wringing and crocodile tears from the authorities wishing the fuss would go away.

Her death should be a seminal moment in the modern history of India. India suffers from deep sicknesses, including pervasive corruption, the incompetence of the government, the cancer-ridden process of governance - as well as a widespread attitude that women are an inferior species.

The 23-year-old woman's death should be the spark to start mending the problems. Unfortunately, there is no sign that leading politicians understand or have the guts to tackle the issues demeaning India's great civilisation.

This was not an isolated incident. The Indian lexicon has a special phrase to describe how urban men habitually behave towards women - eve-teasing.

This may suggest playful kindergarten pranks, but eve-teasing is nothing like that. It is a contact sport where the object is sexual pleasure, and who cares if the woman is humiliated.

Other big international cities have sexual predators. In India, and especially in Delhi, they are more overt and violent. One of my Bombay (as it then was) reporters told me: "I absolutely will not go to Delhi. It is not a safe place for women. Men have no shame. It is not teasing, but violence. On public buses, they will grab a breast or bottom, snatch a necklace … Other passengers turn the other way. The police think you are mad if you report sexual violence."

The explosive growth of cities and the influx of millions of migrants have led to ambition and frustration, and a breakdown of social mores.