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
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