Day 13: Speak Up! Storytelling open mic for women

On the 13th day of the 2018 Prajnya 16 days Campaign against Gender Violence, Prajnya hosted an open mic storytelling evening for young women at our office. The idea behind the event was to invite young women to a women's circle and create a safe space to share stories of street sexual harassment.

This event was facilitated by our very first campaign coordinator, Nirupama Sarathy. The event started with the nine of us sitting on the floor and writing our name tags and choosing one adjective to define ourselves. Nirupama, then made us all write down the different actions which constitute to street sexual harassment.

With this glaring visual of two charts filled with actions pertaining to sexual harassment in front of us, each of us started sharing our experiences of street sexual harassment. Some of us even found it difficult to pick one story to share. The evening proceeded with laughter and a few tears. A ball of rope was passed between each narrator and we held on to it till it was time. The final imagery was a crisscross of threads which pulled with tension while narrating painful experiences and sagged in relief while the narrator switched to lighter moments and laughter.

We ended the session by letting go of the thread by making one wish. Nirupama then shared some posters on street sexual harassment laws. As the event was coming to an end, most of us felt like we could go on sharing as if a dam had broken resulting in all of us feeling lighter.

I can't thank Nirupama enough for taking the time out of her busy schedule to facilitate this amazing session!

Day 14: #MeToo #YouToo Survivors Together

The Campaign edition of the Women's History Roundtable Series featured storyteller and our 2014 Gender Equality Mobiliser, Sudha Umashanker.

Sudha had written two fictionalised accounts of workplace sexual harassment that she narrated to the gathering. This was followed by a very lively discussion that covered a great deal of ground from trauma and healing to law to stigma to the consequences of complaining or even sharing publicly. We spoke about social and other support (or lack thereof).

The Roundtable report will be linked here when it is posted on The PSW Weblog.

GEMspeak: The Making of 'The Story Behind Her Silence

by Sudha Umashanker

That we all need to speak out against Gender violence is a given. To do so as part of Prajnya’s 16 Day Campaign against Gender violence is both a cherished and gratifying opportunity. Specially so since a role was carved out for me in my avatar as storyteller by Swarna Rajagopalan, Managing Trustee, Prajnya  Initiatives  for Peace, Justice and Security.While I have always enjoyed telling  mythological stories and folk tales to children I have for some time now been trying to use stories to reinforce social messages, in driving campaigns  and while creating awareness about burning social issues. The reasons are not far to seek. The power of storytelling can never be underestimated and besides who doesn't love a well -told story?

To kick-start the exercise Swarna and I met over a quick bite on a day when it was pouring cats and dogs. Lesser mortals would have stayed put. Swarna having once been a Bombayite wasn't about to use the rain as an excuse. So I was game for it – my daughter who was visiting encouraged me to go ahead despite the fact that it was her birthday. I listened attentively to Swarna and made notes. Then shot her  an e-mail  with a few story possibilities. Her only caveat – let’s not go for stories  that are well known - let us look for the everyday ones, that happen around us. So I scoured the net, jogged my memory, talked to people and sent her a short list. 

Serendipitously, more gender violence stories landed on my lap - couple of which we had to drop in deference to the wishes of the families who didn't want to rake it up all over again. Finally we decided to go-ahead with one to start with, although all three that we zeroed in on were fine. 

For the next meeting we scheduled a Google chat as I was travelling. Connections played truant as usual. Pictures disappeared, audio failed intermittently  (are we really in the 21^st century ???) and between Swarna ,Campaign Co- coordinator Swetha Shankar and myself managed to have somewhat of a conversation  on what to highlight, where to record etc  since this was going to be a “virtual” event. The next day I wrote my story  or should I say “her story” in one shot. I guess it was just waiting to be told. Two days went by without any feedback as Swarna and Swetha were busy with an academic program. I was down with a nasty cold. When Swetha and I subsequently spoke I was doped thanks to the cold medication and my brain rather foggy. Then Swarna mailed. Observations, suggestions, pointers, exchange of ideas .More mails followed. Working with Prajnya is stimulating because they listen and engage in a meaningful way. By Sunday, we were clear about what changes we all wanted.

Then began the process of internalising the story. I actually find it funny when I have to do this with my own lines. But I did it bit by bit – making changes along the way. It is one thing to write a story for reading aloud and quite writing a story that lends itself for oral telling. Recce was scheduled for Sunday by Jyothi and Ramesh - but on account of   a sudden crisis - it didn’t work as planned.

Finally we fixed the shoot for the 19^th Nov 2014 the only day when all of us were in town. In my cleared up living room space Ramesh painstakingly set up all the video recording equipment with Swetha holding aloft cutters and strengthening her shoulder muscles. Swarna observed keenly sending us good vibes and telling us her gut- feel was this was going to go very well. Which it did. Sadly the footage had to be junked because the traffic noises were far too loud despite shutting all the windows. The scout for an alternate venue began. Calls were made frantically, status messages put out on social media, offers were considered – (however we felt  we should go in for a venue that would come to us for free -after all this was for a cause ).

Then Swetha came up with this brilliant idea of a vacant flat that she knew of. After the location was approved by Ramesh, the shoot began. This venue was sound proof but for the occasional dog barking or the bike revving up, which almost blended with the storyline. It took two and half hours of solid work. To tell a story before a live audience is a different ball game as opposed to telling by looking into a camera. Tripping over words was not acceptable so we reshot whenever that occurred. Not counting all that it was one straight recording by and large. In addition select portions at whatever range Ramesh and Jyothi (who joined us later wanted) were shot. 

Swetha was busy clicking her own pictures as she was also documenting the process. Finally we were done, a good five days before the launch of the campaign. Team work works!  Relieved and happy we called it a wrap  but not before we willingly posed for  the mandatory selfies!

Meet Our GEMS: Sudha Umashanker

The Power of Stories

by Meera Srikant

Sudha Umashanker is a freelance journalist, columnist, social activist and storyteller. She has written on a wide variety of subjects ranging from women centric stories and gender issues to health articles, humour and spiritual columns. As a social activist she has run numerous campaigns for the use of seat belts and helmet, Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse, Maternal Health and Prevention of Child malnutrition, Eye donation, Barrier free environment for the physically challenged, Environment protection etc. An ardent advocate of women's rights she believes in equal rights for women and even performed the last rites for her father. She took to Storytelling a few years ago and uses it to support causes she believes in .Off and on she has also been a broadcaster and TV interviewer and has produced content for media houses on business, culture and cinema. She shares her plans for the Prajnya campaign.

Why is this issue important to you?

Gender violence is prevalent in many forms - overt and covert - in our society. From female infanticide to acid attacks to domestic violence (which runs the gamut from physical, emotional and mental abuse and violence) to genital mutilation, sexual harassment, rape and honour killings - the list is indeed long.

Girls and women are already hamstrung by various disadvantages thanks to primitive mind-sets. I feel we owe it to ourselves to help create a gender violence-free world where women can live without fear and oppression and function as equals.

What is it you feel most strongly about?

I feel strongly about preventive steps and knowledge sharing. Victims of gender violence must know that they need not and should not suffer silently and that there is help available.

My part in the campaign - what I hope to do with it.

As part of the campaign I have fleshed out a story of gender violence which arose out of a male child preference. I believe stories can powerfully convey messages as people tend to remember and retain stories and connect to them as opposed to dry facts and data. I must thank Ms Swarna Rajagopalan for providing me a platform to do that during this campaign .I hope the story receives many hits and stimulates thought once it is up on youtube.

Three things you would suggest to keep individual actions going.

 a) We must talk about these issues in a constructive way

 b) We must help women victims with support and solutions

 c) We must stop being judgmental and do our bit however small