The One Billion Rising movement has got bigger this year with men participating in equal numbers. Apart from flash mobs, there will be car rallies, plays and musical performances at multiple venues. Divya Kaushik reports
When American activist Eve Ensler came to India around a month ago, there was a long queue of college students waiting to meet her, wherever she went. Her only introduction to most of them was that she is the woman who started One Billion Rising. The movement, started last year, emerged as the global campaign when women got together on streets and danced to spread the message against violence. According to Eve, “Dance is the best way to unite and express freedom.” The worldwide campaign got so big that it made Eve a household name even in rural areas. Going by the excitement among the youth that has grown manifold in the last one year, Eve said during her Indian visit, that this year the campaign will be bigger and better and women will rise together for justice.
This year it is ‘One Billion Rising for Justice.’ While flash mobs are definitely a major part of programmes being organised by various groups and NGOs in the city, there are musical performances, plays and discussions. And if you thought that the movement is ‘for women, by women’ then you are thinking on wrong lines. last year, too, a number of men joined the gang of girls to dance on streets, outside offices and wherever they could and this year too, equal number of men will participate in the events. “One Billion Rising for justice is about envisioning justice for all survivors of gender violence. Justice can take many forms. It can be an apology or reparations. Taking legal action. It can be about making the truth visible. It can be calling for an end to all forms of inequality, discrimination, misogyny and patriarchy. It is about demanding accountability and this movement is about rising for justice — be it personal, social, economic, cultural, environmental or political,” said Kamla Bhasin, who is working with Sangat — a South Asian Feminist Network and with some other organisations. She adds that the major change that has happened over the year is that the movement is spreading its wings in the rural areas. “I got to know that in Kutch folk artistes will gather for One Billion Rising and women from over 33 districts of Rajasthan will assemble to rise together. The objective of this campaign is to make women aware and help them fight against biases and injustice. This year we have also invited auto rickshaw wallas to participate in the movement. North Eastern students will come and talk about their experiences,” she added.
Aap Women Worldwide, an anti sex trafficking organisation, is part of the initiatives and has planned activities in the red light areas. Adolescent girls will perform two street plays on child marriage and the importance of education. There will be musical perfomances and flash mobs by various groups, a performance by Sonam Kalra, Azad Parinday and band Majma. There will be a play on gender discrimination and on multilingual Vagina Monologues and some other forms of creative expressions by Miranda house students. Speeches on Section 377, racism and disability rights will be a part of the programme.
The idea to yell, scream, sing and dance is exciting for youngsters. “I have spread the word among my friends and one should experience the energy when a huge group assembles and dance together,” said Devika Menon.