Now Kolkata joins the ’slutwalk’ movement
May 24th, 2012 - 11:16 pm ICT by IANS
Kolkata, May 24 (IANS) The eastern metropolis resonated with slogans of “Jaa porechi, besh korechi (I don’t care what people think of my dressing sense)” as over a hundred women, men and children, including foreign nationals, took to the streets as part of the Kolkata Slutwalk to protest against any form of sexual harassment.
Eschewing any particular dress code, a procession of about 150 people — school and college students, teachers, office goers, slum dwellers and social workers from the US — artistically covered in body-art and donning a variety of dresses from saris to shorts, began the march from Jadavpur University in the evening amidst slogan shouting.
What started in the city as a virtual movement on Facebook by a first year M.A. student, Sulakshana Biswas, became a reality when eight like-minded youngsters got together and pooled in their resources and started distributing pamphlets and spreading the word for the walj.
Explaining her agenda, Biswas said: “Sexual harassment has got nothing to do with the clothes one wears or with gender. We are also against victim blaming”
One of the organisers, Shreya Sen from Tata Institute of Social Sciences at Mumbai, explained: “SLUT is expressing oneself verbally, physically, sexually. We intend to use our bodies as canvasses, and distribute pamphlets on the way to the citizens, and express ourselves through slogans. Since it is gender inclusive, there will be members from the transgender community as well”.
The walk saw lots of men who have been victims of sexual harassment in the city. Soumek Chowdhry, one of the victims, an aspiring actor and Salsa dancer, said: “This is one small step, hopefully it will make an impact,if not an immediate change”.
“Statistically Kolkata ranks second after Delhi in sex crimes. Kolkata needs awareness”, said Priyardishini, an Mphil student at the Jadavpur University.
A faculty member at the varsity’s English department, Rimi B.Chatterjee supported the cause, saying: “What remains hidden needs to come out now. We need to take a stand and not shy away from these issues”.
Joining the Kolkatans were Hemley Gonzalez and his volunteers of the Responsible Charity from US which has a branch in Kolkata as well. “I respect women and have seen what they face and therefore I am participating”.
A Polish participant pitched in: “I am labeled as a slut because I am white. I needed to do this”.
Slutwalk is a global movement that started in Toronto. It came to India last year with cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Bhopal and now Kolkata holding such rallies.
- Women denounce gender violence in Peru 'SlutWalk' - Nov 13, 2011
- 'Slut walk' protests begin in Australia - May 28, 2011
- Debate on gender inequality sets mood for Slut Walk - Jul 10, 2011
- Thousands do SlutWalk in Toronto to protest police officer's remark - Apr 04, 2011
- Women and men sign up for Bhopal Slutwalk - Jul 08, 2011
- Poonam Pandey to lead slutwalk in Mumbai - Jul 31, 2011
- Delhi slutwalk grabs headlines in Canada - Aug 02, 2011
- Delhi all set for its first Slutwalk - Jul 30, 2011
- 'Slut Walk' in Delhi to fight sexual violence - Jun 19, 2011
- Delhi hosts Slut Walk, flays sexual violence (With Images) - Jul 31, 2011
- Delhi to host 'Slut Walk' Sunday - Jul 29, 2011
- Sexual discrimination reconsidered - Aug 06, 2010
- Outrage over Brit nightclub's 50pc off offer for "first 50 sluts" - Jan 06, 2010
- Facebook, gay marriage in Lalu's line of fire - Aug 11, 2011
- 90pc women 'sexually harassed at the workplace' - Aug 11, 2010
Tags: aspiring actor, besh, body art, cau, chatterjee, eastern metropolis, facebook, foreign nationals, institute of social sciences, jadavpur university, mphil student, rimi, saris, sex crimes, sexual harassment, shreya, slum dwellers, tata institute of social sciences, teachers office, transgender community