Oh little girl, you are just a pretty face, Why, then, do you conceal it, With your shame and your fear It is as you conceal Your sole and uttermost reason for being. Oh little girl, why do you try to fly, When I cut off your wings? Why should you want to be freed, When you and your pretty face Are conveniently fettered in chains? Oh little girl, why don't you stop! Why do you wish to fight me, When we both know I win? Alas! The chains have broken! You fell them! Why, oh, why? Oh little girl, are you just a pretty face?
#TRIBUTES- 3. RAHI FOUNDATION
Childhood sexual abuse and incest are problems deep-rooted in the gender discrimination and patriarchy latently practised in India. The RAHI Foundation considers it their very duty to bring this iniquity to light for attaining justice. The ‘newborn’ RAHI (Recovery And Healing Incest) has gained inconceivably strong support all over India. It is the only organisation of its kind throughout the country. It is a feminist group that provides a strong support-and-recovery environment to the survivors and aims at building an abuse-free, equal India. RAHI’s initiatives are focussed upon the belief that survivors can heal themselves, ‘convert their pain’ by working towards social prevention of these ills. One who has been through the immense pain understands the depth of the shock, the psychological trauma and finds their healing in the fact that their sacrifice is no longer shared by others.
“The silence speaks volumes”- the ideology of RAHI is summed up in this sentence. They use innovative means to communicate with survivors, students, social and health workers. Their therapeutic workshops and programmes provide assistance and empathy to survivors and uplift their self-confidence, making them independent in all spheres. As students, it is essential for us to be aware of these atrocious forms of abuse and RAHI conducts several programmes and internships for prospective social reformers.
RAHI’s documentary ‘The Little Girls We Were… And The Women We Are’ won the Best Educational Film Award at the 65th National Film Awards 2018, standing as a model of impregnability. Sexual abuse survivors have been silent for years due to numerous fears, which are natural in their position. But, thanks to RAHI, women are speaking up about their abuse fearlessly, asserting their rights and combatting the prolonged wrongdoings.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE- AN IMPACT OF GLOBAL LOCKDOWN
#TRIBUTES- 2. GULABI GANG
Members of this vigilante group, founded in 2006, stand largely against domestic abuse and other forms of violence against women. It was initially founded with the motive of engendering gender parity in rural, or India’s most impoverished, areas. The focus of the group remains the same even today, despite the wide reach it has now attained. They empower women to raise their voices, fight for justice and revolt against mistreatment. The gang is popular for its violent approach, despite the frequent use of several non-violent tactics as well. The women are not afraid to ‘fight rapists with lathis’ or ‘thrash (them) black and blue so they dare not attempt to do wrong to any girl or woman again’.
The Gulabi Gang, despite constituting large masses of women clad in pink saris, does not discriminate against any member or supporter on the grounds of gender. The group works not only against patriarchy, but also against human rights violation and male oppression. Many male members have joined the gang in solidarity, uniting against discriminatory and exploitative traditional practices such as child marriages and the dowry system. They teach women self-defence and means to be economically independent.
The organisation has gotten much recognition since the making of a documentary and a feature film (Pink Saris) and have thus risen to media and public attention. The ‘Pink Sari Revolution: A Tale Of Women And Power In India’ gave its own share of popularity and support to the gang in 2013. Their endeavours have earned them honours such as the ‘Godfrey Phillips Bravery Award’ and the ‘Ahilyabaiholkar Award’. Though not all vigilante methods are justifiable from the point of law, there are countless reasons to term this gang and their activities fearlessly fierce.
#TRIBUTES- 1. BRAHMA KUMARIS
The spiritual organisation led by, run by and comprising a majority of women, is unquestionably an inspiration and an encouragement to women all over the world. What started out as a team of no more than 50 spiritual workers in 1936, today, has risen to international fame with more than 8500 centres in India and across 130 nations of the world. The founder of this organisation strongly believed in women’s strength, capabilities, and their role in transforming the world. He began to respect, to uplift and educate women to be leaders, by imbibing in them the virtues of goddesses. He has illustrated, to all men, that only by respecting women, by treating them as our rightful equals, can we make our world a better place.
The long struggles of the members of this respectable institution, the fearless traverses, the indomitable spirit, the insurmountable faith which shielded them from the atrocities in their surroundings even at the time of the Partition, have paid off. Brahma Kumaris is in general consultative status with UNICEF and the United Nations ECOSOC. They are working with UNICEF and UNESCO at headquarters, as well as within the national committees and commissions, promoting several initiatives and programmes, some specifically for women, youth and children.
As an organisation largely administered by women, Brahma Kumaris has encouraged empowerment and leadership of women by actively participating in the UN World Conferences for Women. These unstoppable spiritual workers has demonstrated that there is nothing that men and women cannot achieve along the path of equality.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
Happy Women’s day to one and all! Today is a special day for all the feminists throughout the world. The theme for IWD2020 is Each For Equal. Celebrating this day is a step towards achieving gender parity, but it stands unacknowledged unless we understand the significance of this day. Today is the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the ‘most visionary agenda for women’s rights and empowerment everywhere’.
This campaign supports forging inclusive workplaces so women thrive, encouraging women to earn on their own terms, empowering them through health education and increasing visibility for female creatives. Everyone might have different ways of celebrating this day and each of them is unique and ingenious in its own way, as long as we respect the motive of the day. While this day is a way of marking and commemorating women’s struggle for equality, it is extremely important that we make each day equivalent to women’s day. In this sense, each day women must be treated as equals to men, and their ideas, wishes, needs must be given the same importance as those of men.
The theme for this year, Each For Equal aims to bring together ‘people of every gender, age, ethnicity, race, religion and country’. Equality must not be stained with the such differences. All of us strive to live in a world where we and our loved ones are treated all as equals. And that is not possible as long as we do not treat everyone as equals, ourselves.
(Written By: Pravartika Gandhi)
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SCIENCE
MEANING OF GENDER EQUALITY TO THE YOUTH
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Women in several countries such as Pakistan are materialised and made to feel inferior. They are subjected to harassment, as described in the article attached above. Though this kind of treatment may be more recurrent in certain countries, harassment and assault on sexual basis is a global worry today. Most of us know that it isn’t right, but do nothing. A few of us still believe it is alright. Yet, very few of us, the rare ones, know that this is wrong and take a step to make a change. We encourage each one of you to be those rare ones, for it is inconceivable to correct the situation unless all of us act.
RIP, PRIYANKA REDDY
It is not very uncommon nowadays to hear about rapes and murders. These felonies are not a recent occurrence, but what is recent, is that the number of these felonies occurring has straightaway shot up. The risk has gone up so high presently that India has been ranked the most dangerous country for women, by the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Priyanka Reddy, whose brutal rape and murder shook the nation, was a young girl, unknown to the adversity of her fate. Just like several other victims. Gagged and dragged, the courageous woman yet fought bravely, but she was unable to win against the four men manhandling her. Because she was alone. Unless all the women and even men, who are justly against the unjust practices against women, stand together, each woman will be alone and no one can be a winner.
Moreover, rapists all over the world have developed the belief of killing the victim after the act, for a live victim might open his or her mouth to the society one day. Same was the destiny of Priyanka Reddy, who was left smothered and burnt at a bridge in Hyderabad. Her destiny could not have been this. Her destiny could have been changed if only the culprits of each rape case before her had received the punishment they deserved. If only the rapists were told by the society and the justice system, “Your barbaric practices of sexual assault will not be tolerated, not anymore.” Many would look down upon her and pity her fate. I, however, feel that she was a hero, a salute to all the rape victims, a caution to all the rapists.
According to the Nirbhaya Act 2013, the four rapists involved were supposed to be given rigorous imprisonment for at least 20 years. Now, however, they are shot already by the Hyderabadi police, to prevent them fleeing. Some would criticise this step, call it unlawful. I strongly commend this action, believing it is a slap in the face of all rapists, an ointment to the wounds of all rape victims.
TheFemininePost 