One Billion Rising, Gurgaon : Photographs.

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Indian Homemaker

Indian women dancing in the streets?

After dark?

This is the same Gurgaon where women were advised to see public spaces, after 8 PM, as reserved for rapists, men and criminals. [Link]

On Dec 31st 2011, on this same M G Road a young woman was assaulted by gangs of men who also seem to believe that the roads were Reserved for them, specially after dark. [Link]

And this is the same Sahara Mall where a rape victim was accused of being at the wrong place at the wrong time? [Link]

Then what made it safe for so many women to be out on the streets of Gurgaon?

Is it the large numbers…?

Then does it mean larger numbers of women on streets make streets safer for women and children? [I agree with Ankita Yadava it does.]

Is it the presence of Police with instructions to take women’s safety seriously?

Does it help that there are men on the streets who understand that it’s not Protection but Freedom and Self Reliance that makes women safe.

Is it the awareness that these women are unlikely to be silenced?

Because they understand what it means to have a Voice.

A crowd had gathered and I am hoping that those present, even if they disagreed, were listening. [Link]

Equal Citizens, Equal Rights

And another post and photographs here:

One Billion Rising Gurgaon: Burying Misogyny and celebrating equality

In Gurgaon, jobs, safety and roads after 8 pm, reserved for men?

How does the Gurgaon administration make it even more difficult for women to find employment, and stay safe on Gurgaon roads?

So is sale and consumption of liquor related to crimes that take place in an area?

Photographs: Protest March, M G Road, Gurgaon.

Is there any other way this crime could have been controlled?

EDITED TO ADD: More pictures here on the facebook page of The Life and Times of an Indian Homemaker,

One Billion Rising, 14 Feb 2013, Funky Funeral: Misogyny Faut Hui. Kya Haseen Maut Hui

31 thoughts on “One Billion Rising, Gurgaon : Photographs.”

Usha Pisharody on February 15, 2013 at 4:06 pm said:

Utterly inspiring! Had two girls speak at the Assembly in school today, on the One Billion Rising campaign. A lot of teachers also found it an eye opener!

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agrajag on February 15, 2013 at 4:09 pm said:

Beautiful pictures, and a welcome sight. Thank you for posting these ! I have great admiration for the women of India who stand up and fight for what is right. I’m sad I couldn’t practically go to any of the protests, but I’m cheering you on from the sidelines.

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Rahmath on February 15, 2013 at 4:24 pm said:

Wow. Wish I was there too. When did this happen though? I had no idea!!!!!!
Awesome!

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- Indian Homemaker on February 15, 2013 at 9:40 pm said:
  
  Yesterday evening, 14th Feb. I am sure there will be more events organised for 8th March Rahmath, let’s keep each other informed and support whichever effort we can.
  
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shail on February 15, 2013 at 4:53 pm said:

Wonderful. Love your words that connect the pictures too.

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- sos on February 16, 2013 at 10:22 am said:
  
  Who thumbed this down?! Oh because you used indecent words like love
  
  Reply ↓
  - shail on February 16, 2013 at 11:55 am said:
    
    The thumbs-downer is such a wonderful guy/gal. (Lets see if this gets a thumbs-down!!)
    
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    - Amit on February 20, 2013 at 10:27 am said:
      
      I think he/she is a frustrated soul and considers this as is his/her greatest achievement in his/her life.
Amit on February 15, 2013 at 5:24 pm said:

I wish I was there too. The pictures are great.

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sandhya on February 15, 2013 at 5:55 pm said:

Wanted to post these two links here. Thoughts?
Posting them in separate comments to prevent it from going to spam.
http://tehelka.com/our-feminism-is-not-in-opposition-with-masculinity-its-not-a-race/

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- sandhya on February 15, 2013 at 5:57 pm said:
  
  And this one.
  http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/natalie-gyte/one-billion-rising-why-i-wont-support_b_2684595.html
  
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  - priya on February 16, 2013 at 4:33 am said:
    
    Sandhya, read this article by Natalie Gyte – she is right on some accounts – on the ‘white savior’ mentality and the fact that more resources need to be allotted to actual education programs. However in a country like India, the people who are supposed to be educating the ‘underprivileged’ – political leaders, police, teachers, principals, mothers, the educated middle class – they themselves practice/condone patriarchy – so who’s going to educate whom? We are a culture that shames our victims rathe than our criminals. What we need is overall awareness and attention to the issue. That is what this public display is doing. Can you imagine Indian moms taking to the streets, protesting? Getting involved? My mom never did that. This is so empowering. This ‘dancing and singing’ is not meant to belittle the victims’ suffering (as Natalie Gyte puts it) but rather to end the silence and the shame.
    
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- Indian Homemaker on February 15, 2013 at 6:29 pm said:
  
  Sandhya, what I saw being done was awesome and very impactful. First there was a talk about Misogyny and Patriarchy (will share the video if it has been recorded reasonably well) – and being able dance in a public space is empowering for Indian women, very empowering if they manage to do it without being harassed for doing so. I think it’s good for Indian people to see Indian women dancing freely and uninhibited even when they are not doing it for religious reasons. And once they had some attention, they managed to make some powerful points and one had to hear the cheering and also the look on some of the onlookers’ faces to see that the speeches made a difference. Many onlookers could not imagine a man seeking consent from his wife, but this was asked as a question and those watching heard the women say it loud and clear that it was wrong for a married man to have sex with a sleeping or unwilling spouse. I have no doubt that it made a difference. I wish we could have have more such activities and more Indians could hear why Patriarchy is a social evil and how it nurtures Misogyny.
  
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radha on February 15, 2013 at 8:14 pm said:

your are 100% right, it will certainly get the young men and women , especially the men to think and something good will come out of it. if a women is hurt then it affects the men too, just like we dont like our sons and husbands to be hurt most men dont like their daughters and wives to be hurt too, this will show them in subtle ways they should stop patriarchy and see it thru the eyes of women.
of cours ethere will be those who think this is against the men,culture and what not , no on can change them .

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Deeps on February 15, 2013 at 8:37 pm said:

Such wonderful pictures..wish I could have attended too! And I agree with Shail, just loved the way you connected the pics with your words!
Wish and hope to see more such initiatives gaining ground in our country.

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Jaspal Kaur Singh on February 15, 2013 at 9:39 pm said:

This event just charged me up and I pledge that everyday, I will try to keep the message of this event alive by doing something radical for Women Power–be it to lend a hand to an oppressed woman, to raise my voice against abuse, to take a small step toward eradicating female infanticide, to bring equality in any manner I can–you reminded me that steps can be taken to change consciousness!! Thank you!!

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priya on February 15, 2013 at 10:24 pm said:

It made me emotional to see these pictures. This is a great way to build awareness. I think this is what really sends the message in India – taking to the streets, making a noise about it, get attention to the issue (how many of these men watching on the sidelines are going to read intellectual articles on this issue – this gets the message to them loud and clear). They should start doing street plays on this theme to reach the underprivileged sections of society. And I hope they make a movie on this issue to make the middle class (educated but ignorant) aware of issues like victim blaming, etc. I’m going to send these pictures to everyone I know. Thank you for posting them!

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- Indian Homemaker on February 15, 2013 at 10:34 pm said:
  
  They did do a street play and it started with this song,
  
  It was a song about enjoying freedom and open sky… let me try to remember.
  
  And it ended with this song, but they started with “saari umra hum mar mar ke jee liye, ik pal to humein jeene do. Bachpan to gaya, jawaani bhi gayee…”
  
  Reply ↓
N'onymous on February 16, 2013 at 10:23 am said:

I read that the response was poor:

No rising: Where have the capital’s protesters gone?

But the Delhi chapter of “One Billion Rising” turned out to be more of a media mela with journalists and participating organisers making up for most of the crowd.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_no-rising-where-have-the-capital-s-protesters-gone_1800117

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Ravi Kumar on February 17, 2013 at 10:46 am said:

NDTV has a discussion on this billion raising campaign. In that show Ms. Deepika Narayan Bharadwaj asked very valuable questions for them remaining people don’t have answers other than embarrassing smiles. You can watch that show in here

http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/prime-time/video-story/265005?hp

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mysoul on February 17, 2013 at 12:19 pm said:

I love the way you have presented this…I am so glad it has at the least come to this. At the least the Silence is Broken. Now I wait for each woman to rise within their own families to counter the ideas that are detrimental to the society as a whole – discrimination in any form cripples the society in the long run.

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Friend on May 1, 2013 at 5:15 pm said:

Hi, I need your permission to take / use few photos for my web site http://www.zubram.com. Please let me know whether I can take them? Particularly the 2 photos above the caption ” Equal Citizens, Equal Rights” …
Thank YOU
subramanyam

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- Indian Homemaker on May 1, 2013 at 5:33 pm said:
  
  Please go ahead but give credit and link them back to this post.
  
  Reply ↓
  - Friend on May 2, 2013 at 10:27 am said:
    
    thank YOU
    
    Reply ↓
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