Swara Bhaskar will launch the campaign Zurrat today to mark one year of the Delhi gang rape case. She tells Divya Kaushik about devoting her time for issues she strongly feels for and anchoring Shyam Benegal’s Samvidhaan
While others from her fraternity mostly take to Twitter and other online platforms to express their concern on social issues, Swara Bhaskar has no apprehensions in getting on streets and mingling with others to spread the word on socially relevant topics. The actress who is known for her role in films like Tanu Weds Manu and Ranjhanaa is now the face of the campaign Zurrat: Aazaad Chalo, Bebaak Chalo, to mark one year of the Delhi gang rape case. Mumbai-based theatre and protest music group Swaang and Delhi based cultural group Majmaa will join hands for an initiative against sexual and gender violence, set to take place in Delhi, from December 10-16. “I have been a part of Swaang since its inception. It is a group of artists, who contribute individually to promote a cause. last year, we came up with a Hindi-Punjabi protest song as a tribute to the Delhi gang rape victim and since it will be one year since the horrific incident, we wanted to plan something big that involves public participation,” said the actress.
She added, “Zurrat is a week-long campaign. It is an outcry of citizens to claim back the streets of the city. It is an effort to remember Jyoti’s fight and not allow it to fade into the oblivion of a statistical record or a number in a list of crimes in a city. Zurrat is the decision that from now on there shall be no more victims, only survivors and a promise that we shall fight. It is the collective cry of ‘no more.’”
Mostly we see the tributes in the name of Nirbhaya, but Swara says that they decided to use her original name “as her parents came out and said that they do not want any fake names for their daughter. let’s give her the recognition and respect that she deserves. There is no shame associated with her name.”
The campaign will begin with the launch of Zurrat Karo at Habitat today. The launch will be followed by performances by renowned artists, talks and interactions facilitated by experts of sociology and women’s rights, closing with a mobile music concert Zurrat on December 16. This will chart a ‘Rape Route’ through Delhi. It will move through the city and stop at six to eight spots, where the last five years rape cases have been reported. “We will be following the route that Jyoti took that night,” shared Swara, adding, “At each spot Swaang will be joined in performance of protest music by artists like Rabbi, Sona Mohapatra and Swanand Kirkire. It will also include student volunteers from Delhi. We have promoted the event on the online platform and have received tremendous response.”
Being a celebrity, Swara says that it helps in spreading the word, “but we hope more people will join in to take this initiative forward.” The actress has taken an entire month off from work to dedicate her time to Zurrat. “I will only work in January. Apart from my work, these are the things that I associate with and I will always try to devote my time and do whatever I can for the causes I feel strongly for. We have so many examples from Bollywood who apart from work have been promoting social causes, Shabana Azami, Farhan Akhtar, there are so many,” she said.
Swara will start dubbing for Shyam Benegal’s Samvidhaan, a 10-part mini series revolving around the making of Indian Constitution. “I will be anchoring the show and I am really proud of it,” she commented and added that by the end of January she will start shooting for her next film.