At the launch of a coffee table book, Kajol and other experts discussed how women can help their own gender. Karan Bhardwaj took notes
Some studies have indicated that women are their own worst enemies, but is that really soIJ While you may differ on that, lakshmi, an acid attack survivor in Delhi, believes it to be true. At a panel discussion to discuss if women can really help women in taking a step forward, the braveheart said that it was a women who mocked and ridiculed her appearance after she got operated some eight years back. “I would often get humiliated by women. They would comment on my skin and talk nonsense. In this country, a woman is the biggest enemy of a woman,” she said. She was taking part in the discussion organised by the Vodafone Foundation after unveiling the book Women of Pure Wonder. The other panelists included actress Kajol, Suhel Seth, Priya Dutt and lawyer Malvika Rajkotia, who also raised concern over the increasing violence against the women.
lakshmi was just 14 when she was attacked by her friend’s brother, who was almost double her age. She fought for over seven years for the regulation of acid sales. “It’s been eight years and that one incident destroyed my life. I have lost my father, couldn’t get a job, my brother is unwell. I would often go to offices and ask for jobs but no one took me because of my face. Thanks to one social group who not only accepted me but also gave me a chance to re-invent my life,” she says.
Sitting next to her was Kajol who not only appreciated the girl but also blamed “men” for hampering woman’s growth. The actress said that it is men in the society who make it difficult for women to survive and do well. “Every woman goes through a lot of struggle. To struggle and succeed in today’s world, especially in India, is much tougher for a woman than for a man...The men, who seek for goddess’ blessings before anything auspicious, kill their daughters and beat up their wives. If we want to empower our women, we will have to change the mindsets,” she said.
While MP Priya Dutt emphasised on implementation of laws, social commentator Suhel Seth batted for the swift action in women-related cases.
“For any wrongdoing in our society, a girl is made a scapegoat. If a boy harasses her, she is believed to have given him advances and hints. If she wears her choice of clothes, then there’s issue with her upbringing. “And then we are advised to share problems with parents, who in small centres, blame their daughters only. Why is it that we have to put women in barsIJ I lived a prisoner’s life for some eight years. But now I have decided to move on,” lakshmi said. Seth said people could get away easily after doing heinous crimes. He asked for stricter and faster justice. Advocate Malvika Rajkotia said women should stop adhering to the norms set by the patriarchal society. “Unless and until we believe we are a separate gender which is not supposed to bow down to religious and chauvinist’s diktat, there will be no change,” she said.