The glorification of criminals like Lawrence Bishnoi, Sukesh Chandrashekhar, and Vikas Dubey has raised serious public concern, as it risks negatively influencing society, particularly impressionable young audiences.

Background of Gang Culture

• British Era Origins: 
  • Gang culture in India dates back to the colonial period, when British companies awarded infrastructure contracts to influential gang leaders to ensure timely completion. 
  • This fostered corruption and power struggles, with projects often involving underhanded deals.
• Modern Criminal Enterprises: 
  • In recent decades, gang activity has intensified in regions like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi, and Mumbai, where the lure of quick wealth and power drives individuals toward criminal enterprises. 
  • Today’s gangs engage in a spectrum of illegal activities, from smuggling to high-profile murders.

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Factors Responsible for the Rise of Gang Culture

• Media Sensationalization: Extensive news coverage of criminal activities often glamorises criminals, presenting them as larger-than-life figures. 
  • This portrayal fuels admiration among youth, who may start idolising or aspiring to join gangs.
• Social Media Influence: Pages like “Lawrence Bishnoi Zindabad” and “Vikas Dubey Amar Rahe” celebrate criminals, building fan bases that view their actions as admirable or heroic. 
• Entertainment Industry: Films and OTT platforms often depict criminals as charismatic anti-heroes with lavish lifestyles, romanticising criminal life. 
  • Characters like “Guddu Bhaiya” from Mirzapur embody this trend.
• Violent Video Games: Many games feature extreme violence, which can desensitise players to aggression. 
  • This normalises violent behaviour, reducing empathy and increasing acceptance of criminal actions as entertainment.
• Social Media as a Tool for Lifestyle Display: Criminals use social media to showcase luxurious lifestyles, with flashy displays of wealth and power that attract attention.
  • Videos of gangsters being arrested, often set to music, further amplify their influence, attracting impressionable youth to the criminal lifestyle.

Impact of Gang Culture

• Exploitation of Juveniles: Criminals frequently use minors (aged 12 to 16) in their operations, knowing they face lenient consequences under juvenile law.
  • Starting with minor tasks, these juveniles often progress to serious crimes, as seen in high-profile cases like the murder of Baba Sidique.
  • Juvenile crime rates have increased by 42% over five years.
• Psychological Desensitisation: Constant exposure to violence through social media, video games, and movies dulls emotional responses, leading to reduced empathy and emotional disconnection from real-life tragedies, including those affecting their families.
• Normalisation of Aggression: Violent video games and content create an environment where aggressive behaviour is normalised, making criminality appear more acceptable or even exciting.

Solution and Prevention

• Content Regulation:
  • Implement age-appropriate content filtering and stricter censorship in movies and series to prevent negative influences on youth. 
  • Extensive violence in media should be avoided,
• Family Connection: Encourage device-free family time, especially during meals, and promote shared activities. Strong family bonds can serve as a protective counter to the negative influences of social media and violent content.
• Empathy Building: Engage youth in discussions about real victim stories and encourage social work, helping them understand the true consequences of crime and fostering empathy.
• Media Responsibility: Content creators and media outlets must prioritise the welfare of youth over TRPs.
  • Responsible reporting and portrayal of criminal activities can help reduce the glamorization of criminals.
• Youth Awareness: Educate young people about the difference between fleeting fame and lasting respect. Success should be defined by positive contributions, not by glorifying criminal behaviour.
• Social Values: Society needs to re-evaluate its heroes. We must celebrate positive role models, like Bhagat Singh, rather than idolising criminals. Social media should focus on promoting leaders who inspire, rather than those who perpetuate crime.
• Collective Action: It’s time for society to unite in guiding the youth towards a brighter, crime-free future. Community efforts, education, and social reform are essential to combating the growing influence of criminal glorification on impressionable minds.

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Conclusion

The glorification of criminals undermines societal values and youth development. It reflects the need for a collective shift in media portrayals, social influences, and community awareness to safeguard the moral fabric of society.