In the past, several atrocities have been exposed but each of them died down after sometime. However,
people have not forgotten the gang-rape that happened in New Delhi almost two months ago. The voices of the youth refuse to go down.
Metrolife speaks to some youngsters of Bangalore to know if the numerous protests actually gave them a sense of mobilisation and sensitised them to the rights of women.
On the day the gang-rape victim died, the first and most intense protest had taken place at Freedom Park — a candlelit vigil with slogan-shouting, followed by an open discussion. But more than the eventual outcome of it, it was the sheer number of people who participated that was noteworthy "I was surprised to see so many people showing up since the news had spread only through social networking sites. But there was a sense of collectiveness and the anger was almost tangible," recalls Vani, a student who attended the protest. "I just remember feeling a lot stronger as a woman because the turnout showed that society did care, people did have opinions they were going to voice out regardless of who tried to stop them," she adds.
Soon after that, came the 'Skirt Walk', which saw 25 men of different ages wearing skirts and protesting in
Cubbon Park and the City's roads. Adithya Mallya, one of the organisers, feels that it was reasonably successful, despite only a seemingly insignificant number of the entire population showing up.
"The basic agenda was to change mindsets and make people understand that sexual assaults are not a result of what people wear. I feel the message was heard loud and clear. We even went to people on the roads and had some thought-provoking discussions on the issue,"
informs Adithya.
He also points out that protests are effective even if just one person is part of it. "It has to start somewhere and it isn't necessarily at a gathering of people holding placards. At 'Skirt Walk', only 200 people showed up and took a pledge to stop inaction against violation of women's rights. But when those 200 voices
permeate through the population, change will come," he says, optimism in his voice.
Exactly a month after the Delhi gang-rape incident, Mount Carmel College saw hundreds of students and teachers taking to the streets to protest, proving that the momentum and anger among youngsters is here to stay.
"We wanted to raise our voice against atrocities towards women and to give them
better dignity. Since the incident took place, a lot of girls have been talking about it,
but their involvement was
restricted to that. Protesting helped us feel connected to the issue. You can't overcome your fears in a day. But this was our step forward as a
student community," sums up Derin, a protestor.
Rohini Kejriwal
people have not forgotten the gang-rape that happened in New Delhi almost two months ago. The voices of the youth refuse to go down.
Metrolife speaks to some youngsters of Bangalore to know if the numerous protests actually gave them a sense of mobilisation and sensitised them to the rights of women.
On the day the gang-rape victim died, the first and most intense protest had taken place at Freedom Park — a candlelit vigil with slogan-shouting, followed by an open discussion. But more than the eventual outcome of it, it was the sheer number of people who participated that was noteworthy "I was surprised to see so many people showing up since the news had spread only through social networking sites. But there was a sense of collectiveness and the anger was almost tangible," recalls Vani, a student who attended the protest. "I just remember feeling a lot stronger as a woman because the turnout showed that society did care, people did have opinions they were going to voice out regardless of who tried to stop them," she adds.
Soon after that, came the 'Skirt Walk', which saw 25 men of different ages wearing skirts and protesting in
Cubbon Park and the City's roads. Adithya Mallya, one of the organisers, feels that it was reasonably successful, despite only a seemingly insignificant number of the entire population showing up.
"The basic agenda was to change mindsets and make people understand that sexual assaults are not a result of what people wear. I feel the message was heard loud and clear. We even went to people on the roads and had some thought-provoking discussions on the issue,"
informs Adithya.
He also points out that protests are effective even if just one person is part of it. "It has to start somewhere and it isn't necessarily at a gathering of people holding placards. At 'Skirt Walk', only 200 people showed up and took a pledge to stop inaction against violation of women's rights. But when those 200 voices
permeate through the population, change will come," he says, optimism in his voice.
Exactly a month after the Delhi gang-rape incident, Mount Carmel College saw hundreds of students and teachers taking to the streets to protest, proving that the momentum and anger among youngsters is here to stay.
"We wanted to raise our voice against atrocities towards women and to give them
better dignity. Since the incident took place, a lot of girls have been talking about it,
but their involvement was
restricted to that. Protesting helped us feel connected to the issue. You can't overcome your fears in a day. But this was our step forward as a
student community," sums up Derin, a protestor.
Rohini Kejriwal