Creation: A Poetic Companion to "The Dummies' Guide to Sexual Harassment"

The original plan was to gather up all the mannequins, heavily laden with their hand-stickers, and bring them to the venue of the Public Forum on Street Sexual Harassment. It was to be a visually dramatic end to the 2016 Prajnya 16 Days Campaign against Gender Violence.

The plans had to change. Life's like that.

But to see off the mannequins which had spoken so eloquently to us and all who saw them about the everyday trauma of being touched, groped, pinched, stroked without one's consent, without some ritual to acknowledge their message, seemed wrong. We could not possibly just bundle, strip and return them to their generous owners.

So we returned to something we love at Prajnya--poetry. We invited four poets (Sharanya Manivannan, Alamu Rathinasabapathy, Michelle Ann James and N. Santha) who are a part of our community to contemplate the mannequins and tell us what they heard and felt.

We sent them these photos. They were to write a poem they could read/perform for us in the presence of the mannequins.

An Index of Sound-Clips on Gender Violence

Conversations between Devasena ES and the Prajnya Team

A Prajnya 16 Days Campaign Against Gender Violence Resource, 2014

Audio Resources that answer important questions about Gender Violence:

1. Call for Individual Action
2. What is Gender Violence
3. Bystander Intervention
4. Sexual Harassment on Public Transport
5. Can Women be Taken to the Police Station After Dark?
6. Women's helplines
7. Laws that Protect us Against Gender Violence
8. Workplace Sexual Harassment
9. Can Gender Violence be Prevented?

GEMspeak: Making a Difference

by Devasena E.S

I've had the privilege of being raised in a family that didn't believe I was not equal. I was told - my paternal grandmother drove a car wearing her ‘madisaar’. My uncles from my mom’s side never thought it was not their job to help the women in the kitchen. I've had friends and colleagues and now a partner who doesn't look at me or other women differently. 

As a natural outcome, I've always believed in individual rights (man or woman) – the right to marry, the right to stay single if you wish to, the right to have or not have children, a right to have a career or choosing to give it up if you prioritise something else, rights that didn't infringe anyone else's space. Rights and responsibilities are equal for a man and woman. If a man shouldn't drink and drive nor should a woman, the law shouldn't be expected to accord any such superficial concessions in the name of women’s rights.

However, with no change in any of these beliefs, I have come to truly undestand the need to support organizations that take up the cause of gender violence (unfortunately more women than men face gender violence). I am happy to be a part of Prajnya's annual 16 day campaign against gender violence. No, my participation will not wipe out the menacing problem, but this is definitely my support for the cause. In my day to day, non 'FB' or 'twitter' covered life, I will try and make a difference. 

Through these 16 days, I will share audio clips of my Q&A sessions with Swetha and Anupama of Prajnya. Hope it adds some value - particularly the ones with helpline numbers and rights and laws.

Meet Our GEMS: Devasena E.S.

A Drop in the Ocean

by Meera Srikant

Devasena ES (Deva) is a media freelancer. She worked as a Human Resources Management professional before she kick-started a career in media. She has been an RJ since 2003 and continues to host a daily show in a popular radio channel. She is also a voice-over artiste and a sub-titling professional. Deva is creating a sound cloud piece for the Prajnya 16-day campaign to create awareness about gender violence. She shares with us her views on gender violence and her reasons for being a part of this campaign.

Why is this issue important to you?

More than it being important to me, I think the issue is very important and we have to do our bit - even if that is a small drop in the ocean.

What is it you feel most strongly about?

I think it is very important to create awareness at every level. That's probably the key to arriving at most solutions.

Tell us about your activity for Prajnya campaign and what you hope to do with it?

In association with Prajnya, I hope to create audio clips that will hopefully be knowledge sharing tools.

Three things you would suggest to keep these individual actions going.

Most of us, including me, underestimate the difference one person can make. More than enlisting a series of activities, I would like to say - if there is something very small we can do, with our awareness, and remain consistent about that one thing at least - we'll be making a difference. For instance, if we decide to never employ a child (girl or boy) at home, that will make a difference.

GRITPrajnya Channel: A New Resource

Prajnya is primarily a research organization, with a commitment to public education (making information accessible to people) and networking (bringing together and working with others).

On the sixth day of the 2010 Prajnya 16 Days Campaign against Gender Violence, we are particularly delighted to bring you something that allows to fulfill all our mandates: A new single point compilation of audio-visual resources on gender violence that are available in the public domain, the new GRITPrajnya YouTube Channel.

We hope this will cut short search time before each new project, each new training programme. And we invite you to point us to resources we might include.

Email your suggestions to: media.prajnya@gmail.com