I am a woman. I am conditioned by society to wear a shaggy sweater over my crop top because I am “not allowed” to show. He would comment, “Are you asking for IT?” I cannot laugh hard when I talk to him because his eyes trace the cracks of my dry lips and make inappropriate gestures. Wearing a short skirt and walking alone is a no because he asks, “Can we get a room?”
I am forced to loosen the belt of my bag and cover my back because he intentionally caresses me on the bus. I cannot be found alone in an elevator because he uses this opportunity to come closer and let out a hot breath on my skin. When I post a picture on social media, he zooms in on my curves. I am not just a woman but one with restrictions, one who fights battles of harassment each second.
I might not always know what to do in such situations. I might not always be aware of the help I could ask for. I might not always be sure of the authorities’ response when a complaint is filed. “In a patriarchy-driven society, women and girl children are subject to harassment on a daily basis. A woman is scrutinised, constantly. The abuse(s) she goes through can be in any form. It could also be inside her home,” shares Thamizhachi Thangapandian, a Member of Parliament.
The bureaucrat who is also a trained Bharatanatyam dancer is taking part in The Shakti Series. The online campaign, a collaboration between Rasoham, a cultural arts organisation, and the office of South Chennai, is aimed at creating awareness among women.
Laasya Narasimhachari, a classical dancer and founder-director of Rasoham, points out, “I have never seen issues as women-centric or men-centric. I have always believed that they are human or world issues, and it is a collective responsibility to address them.”
Armed to fight
According to Laasya, the initiative aims to enable women to make informed choices. “It provides accurate and reliable information regarding their safety and well-being which is the need of the hour. We have encapsulated various women-centric schemes of the state and the Union government. We are bringing it with artistic expressions,” adds Thamizhachi. From harassment helplines to safety homes, the team has tried to put together a list of comprehensive initiatives for the public.
The union of Rasoham, Laasya, and Thamizhachi happened “many years ago” for a performance on Manjanathi, a poem written by the MP. “I have always admired Thamizhachi as an extraordinary artiste and scholar, whose poetry is both deep and sensitive. I approached her with the idea of ‘The Shakti Series’ as a public awareness initiative on women’s safety,” says Laasya, who connected with fellow artistes in the last week of September to run a campaign throughout October after getting Thamizhachi on board.
“This is the time of the year when artistes are more awake because of Navaratri. I wanted to involve the community in a needed topic and collectively voice our views that will matter. We know the world the way it is. I am not saying to accept or reject it.
If this is where we are, then why cannot we make the most of the available knowledge and empower ourselves to make informed choices?” says Laasya about her idea behind the initiative. With every day being a trigger for women, she adds, “I believe certain messages need to be delivered at a certain time. This is a good time as we are celebrating feminine energies this month. This month in itself is meant for empowering.”
With an increase in the number of incidents where women’s safety is under threat, this has become an important time to talk about the issue. “Women are still the victims of power and exploitation.
The recent case of the terrible loss of a doctor in the hospital, in a working space, is a shocking example of that. We live in an extremely crucial time at the juncture of history in terms of policy turning into action points,” opines Thamizhachi, adding that the country needs more women to be aware, educated, and empowered so that they can fight against the oppressive forces by being fully aware of their capabilities and capacities.
Watch and learn!
The series is an art-and-awareness initiative to enlighten women about their potential. “This is not a performance but a contribution. We are using art, as a medium, to grab attention for a greater purpose,” explains Laasya. The campaign comprises Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak, Kathakali, Mohiniattam, Odissi, and Kattaikoothu.
In the videos uploaded to date, we can see a Kuchipudi dancer standing on a plate to show women balancing work and safety. Kathak tones are employed to portray domestic violence. In Kattaikoothu, the artiste wears a big red bindi symbolising the SOS button.
Nine dance schools and male artistes — musicians, actors, music directors, and dancers — have come together to create 30 to 60-second videos. “I wanted to involve men in this initiative because it shows solidarity and community engagement from that side,” she says. They are reiterating the same information using different art forms.
To do so, the performers’ creative vocabulary has changed. Instead of symbolism used in Natya Shastra, they have used common man’s expressions. For Thozhi Hostel, Laasya repeats a move showcasing a roof and a woman as a symbol. An officer corridor is set up to show workplace harassment. A call gesture — hand near the ear — is used and the numbers are displayed at the end of the videos.
The difficulty in this journey has been the rhythm placement of the drums, a powerful instrument to bring attention. “The chosen drum rhythm is unfamiliar to everyone and the style they practised, so I sat with every artiste and group to make them known. As we belong to the same community, the comprehension is good,” shares Laasya. As it is a collective effort the reach of the videos is “greater”. Since it is online, they are accessible to the audience at any time.
The target audience here are women. Thamizhachi wishes for more women to come forward in the political arena because when a woman sits on the chair, she raises the bar and sets standards. That is true because women with all their achievements push the boundary in which they are confined — from the clothes she wears and the job she does to the way she talks.
Watch the videos on @rasoham_official on Instagram
(Written by Sonu M Kothari)