Voices on violence -- Part II

As part of this year's campaign, the video project, Chennai Men say NO to Violence against Women, gathered 16 prominent men in the city who gave their thoughts on why they say NO to violence against women. These videos were not scripted and the men expressed their own personal opinions.

Here's a collection of their voices:
".....every man somewhere embedded in his head has a violent streak because he does believe he is more powerful of the two sexes......" -- T.M. Krishna, Carnatic musician

"....(children) learn from their parents and families more then they learn from books and school. If we start having violence at home, unfortunately that is the thing they start learning as well...." -- Kiruba Shankar, CEO of BusinessBlogging

"Women should be empowered. Violence against them would decrease if they were empowered...I was addressing a group of rotarians at a rotary meeting once and I was extremely surprised to find out when I asked the question, 'Do you what or who determines the sex of the child?', and only two out of a group of sixty seemed to know....." -- P.C. Ramakrishna, theatre personality

"It is ironic that I am even having to discuss an issue of violence against women in my country, a country that was founded and built upon the concept of non-violence.." -- Karthik Kumar, actor

"....men have to come out of the mind-set. First of all, they have to treat woman as human. Do not think of them as mother or sister, but at least think like they are your friends..." -- Arasu Dennis, prominent restobar manager

"...I think they should set an example to also implicate that kind of law where even some men who doesn't like to treat women equally are forced to treat them equally..." -- Sadhagopan Ramesh, cricketer

"...they say a country is as good as we treat our women and I am ashamed to say that we seem to be lagging far behind on that everyday, every moment..." -- Anil Srinivasan, pianist

"...there is no wonder that 45 percent of the women in our country are anemic and underweight. Every fourth child born in this country is underweight...." -- Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, member of Parliment (Rajya Sabha)

"....I think our culture has a big role in conditioning us and in shaping how we view each other but equally we have a big role in shaping our culture..." -- Nityanand Jayaraman, writer & social activist

"...the fact that it is a global phenomenon, happens across the world, puts men as part of mankind to great shame...." -- Venky Rajgopal, Chairman and Managing Director of Indian Terrain Fashions Ltd

"....if you have beat women, be ashamed, be distressed. Don't do this mistake any more...." -- Peer Mohamed, Special Correspondent, Puthiya Thalaimurai

"...don't think of such shameful things as heroism....." -- RJ Dheena

"...any man who indulges in violence at any point of time against his wife or anyone else, particularly of the opposite sex, has a problem with his own sense of identity...." -- P.W.C. Davidar, I.A.S

".....So that the children are not hungry, can wear nice dress and eat good food, with difficulty, they (women) go out and work. when they come back, in different forms, they are forced to face difficulties on the bus...." -- E. Sarathbabu, CEO Food King

"....I think chivalry boils down to every man taking a vow on valentine's day or some other occasion that they will not take a rupee as dowry, that they will finance and in fact defray the cost of the entire wedding should you insist on having a reception....." -- Sanjay Pinto, advocate & columnist

"....Its not new. Its been there for a while. It is largely related to this whole notion of purity and chastity that we have which we apply only to women....." -- Dr. Vijay Nagaswami, psychiatrist

To watch the individual videos, log on to www.youtube.com/gritprajnya

Dr. Vijay Nagaswami says NO to Violence against Women

Dr Vijay Nagaswami, acclaimed Author, Psychiatrist and Relationship Consultant joins the 'Chennai Men say No to Violence against Women' series in this, the last of 16 videos.

Dr Nagaswami stoutly refuses to offer any theories or explanations for why violence occurs, pointing out that we should not rationalise what is completely unacceptable and inappropriate behaviour. He observes that we do not equip women to deal with conflict in relationships, to acknowledge or respond to any systemic or personal violence. He also draws attention to the different rules that govern men and women - 'men who are sexually active are studs, women are sluts'.

After having qualified as a psychiatrist in 1984, Dr Vijay Nagaswami served the Schizophrenia Research Foundation (India) in various capacities and eventually as Deputy Director until the mid-90s. Today, Dr Nagaswami focuses on Individual, Couple & Corporate Psychotherapy, and has written five books on various aspects of relationships, and on schizophrenia.

Sanjay Pinto says NO to Violence against Women

Prajnya's 'Chennai Men say NO' series continues with Sanjay Pinto, currently Advocate at the Madras High Court. Mr Pinto calls out to all those men who have either been perpetrators themselves or involved in a conspiracy of silence, to break this silence, to encourage and support women who want to file complaints and seek justice. He proposes a new definition of chivalry - not buying diamonds or roses - but vowing to never take even one rupee as dowry.

In his previous avatar, Sanjay Pinto was the Resident Editor and Bureau Chief of NDTV 24x7 & the Executive Editor of NDTV Hindu and a recipient of the Rotary Award For Vocational Excellence. He currently also writes a column for The Hindu on social media and works closely with young people to improve their public speaking skills

E. Sarathbabu says NO to Violence against Women

Entrepreneur, Youth Icon, Young Indian Leader. E. Sarathbabu, a man who wears many hats, now joins the 'Chennai Men say NO to violence against women' series. Mr. Sarathbabu draws our attention to the violence related to alcoholism - husbands who drink away their salaries, subjecting their wives to considerable economic, physical and sexual abuse. He urges every man to resolve to never exhibit violence against women, but also step in to help if he witnesses any violence. Society as a whole must condemn violence wholeheartedly and give women the space they need and deserve.

Sarathbabu Elumalai is Indian entrepreneur, social worker and politician. He is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and Birla Institute of Technology and Science (Pilani). He is the winner of several awards such as CNN-IBN Award for Young Indian Leader, 'Pepsi-MTV Youth Icon' and 'Example to Youth Award'. Mr Sarathbabu founded Food King in 2006 and Hunger Free India' foundation in 2010.

P.W.C.Davidar I.A.S. says NO to Violence against Women

P.W.C.Davidar, I.A.S joins the 'Chennai men say NO to violence against women' series! In this personal statement, Mr Davidar suggests that men who habitually abuse women or subject them to violence have a problem with their own sense of identity. He proposes that violent men both acknowledge this fundamental psychological issue and take steps to overcome this habit of violence.

Mr Davidar is currently Special Secretary, Higher Education Department, Government of Tamil Nadu.

RJ Dheena says NO to Violence against Women

In 2008, Natarajan Dheenadayalan, or RJ Dheena, as all of Chennai knows him, made headlines when he entered the Guinness Book of World Records for 168 continuous hours of radio broadcasting! Prajnya is proud that RJ Dheena has now added his voice to the growing chorus from men in Chennai, all saying a firm and emphatic NO to violence against women.

Natarajan Dheenadayalan is currently the Managing Director at Academy of Radio Studies, Chennai, where he shares his experience with aspiring radio jockeys through specially designed training modules.

Journalist Peer Mohamed says NO to Violence against Women

Peer Mohamed joins the Prajnya 'Men Say NO to Violence' series, and makes an impassioned appeal to men to never resort to violence against women. He implores men who have abused or harassed women in the past to reconsider their actions, to feel a sense of shame and genuine regret, and to resolve to never exhibit such violence in the future.

Peer Mohamed is a senior journalist, with twelve years of experience in news media. He is currently a special correspondent with Puthiya Thalaimurai. He writes on politics, films, culture and religion.

Venky Rajgopal says NO to Violence against Women

Prajnya's 'Men Say NO to Violence' series continues with Venky Rajgopal, who discusses the importance of talking about the issue of violence against women, so that the extent of the problem can be better understood. He also has an important message for all men: 'any act of violence... diminishes you as a man, diminishes your manhood and diminishes your role in society'.

Venkatesh 'Venky' Rajgopal has been the Chairman and Managing Director of Indian Terrain Fashions Limited since October 2010. He has also served as the Managing Director of Celebrity Fashions Limited. Before entering the world of business, he was a member of the Indian Police Service for ten years.

Nityanand Jayaraman Says NO to Violence against Women

Prajnya's 'Men Say NO to Violence' series continues with Nityanand Jayaraman, who raises the issue of 'structural violence', or violence that is embedded in the framework of our society, including on the streets and in public places. He says that women should 'be able to speak freely and move freely at all times of the day and night'. He also asks men to 'step up' and acknowledge the equality of the sexes.

Nityanand Jayaraman is a writer, researcher and social activist. He investigates and reports on environmental and human rights violations as a result of corporate abuse, and is part of an anti-corporate collective called Vettiver Koottamaippu (Collective).

Prof. M.S. Swaminathan says NO to Violence against Women

Professor M.S. Swaminathan, in this video for Prajnya's 16 Days Campaign against Gender Violence, speaks about the violence he has witnessed in India's rural areas. In particular, he addresses the different modes of economic violence that women face, and says that 'depriving a woman of her income and not sharing the income which a man earns... is a terrible tragedy'. He also makes an important connection between violence against women and the health of both women and children.

Professor M.S. Swaminathan is one of India's most eminent scientists, and is regarded as the leader of India's 'Green Revolution'. He is the founder and Chairman of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation. He has been named one of TIME magazine's twenty most influential Asians of the 20th century. He was also the recipient of the International Association of Women and Development's first international award for significant contributions to promoting the knowledge, skill, and technological empowerment of women in agriculture. Professor Swaminathan is currently serving as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha.

Anil Srinivasan says NO to Violence against Women

Anil Srinivasan, in this video for Prajnya's 'Men Say NO to Violence' series, laments the different kinds of abuse that women face on a daily basis, including in public spaces, saying, 'it is incredible that... we can't come to terms with what it means to be civilised'. He expresses his indignation at the frequency of rape in our society, and is particularly disturbed by politicians 'legitimising rape'.

Anil Srinivasan is an acclaimed classical pianist, who combines his training in Western music with his Carnatic aesthetic. He is particularly well-known for his collaborative efforts with other celebrated musicians, including Sikkil Gurucharan, with whom he has released several music albums. He has taken his unique style of music to venues across the world.

Sadhagopan Ramesh says NO to Violence against Women

In this video, part of the Prajnya 'Men Say NO to Violence' series, Sadhagopan Ramesh speaks about the importance of enforcing existing gender violence laws. He also reflects more generally on the talents and capabilities of women, and says that life without them would be 'purposeless'.

Sadhagopan Ramesh is a former cricketer, who has represented India in international test and one-day matches. As an opening batsmen, he was lauded for his aggressive and fearless style of batting. More recently, he has gained fame as an actor, and has appeared in Kollywood films.

Arasu Dennis says NO to Violence against Women

Prajnya's 'Men Say NO to Violence' series continues with Arasu Dennis, who says that violence against women dehumanizes them, and that women must be allowed to lead their lives without having to face the risk of violence. He emphasizes that change starts at an individual level, when each person accepts that women are equal to men.

Arasu Dennis is a prominent restobar manager in Chennai. He was the manager of the iconic tapas bar 'Zara' for several years. He will soon be launching a new restaurant and club named 'Illuzion'.

Karthik Kumar says NO to Violence against Women

As Prajnya's 'Men Say NO to Violence' video series continues, Karthik Kumar speaks about the basic and fundamental idea of 'respect', saying that the only way for men to respect the values of our society, and to respect themselves, is to be respectful towards women. In this regard, he says that violence towards women shows 'utter disrespect for everything that is valued and treated as precious'.

Karthik Kumar, also known as 'Evam Karthik', is a popular theatre, TV and film actor. Co-founder of the well-known Chennai-based theatre group and arts management company, 'Evam', he has acted in several Bollywood and Kollywood films, and currently stars in the Tamil TV serial 'Dharmayutham'.

Theatre personality P.C. Ramakrishna says NO to Violence against Women

Prajnya's 'Men Say NO to Violence' video series continues with P.C. Ramakrishna speaking passionately against female foeticide, and the violence that women are subjected to when they do not give birth to male children. He also bemoans the commodification of women in Tamil cinema, and the example this sets for young men - 'reducing a woman to an object is the first step towards violence'.

P.C. Ramakrishna is a renowned theatre actor. He has been a member of the Madras Players theatre group since 1969. He is particularly well-known for his distinctive and powerful voice, which he has lent to numerous advertisements, corporate shows and documentaries.

Social media consultant Kiruba Shankar says NO to Violence against Women

In the second video of our 'Men Say NO to Violence' series, Kiruba Shankar speaks about how violence against women affects the psyche of children who witness it. Children learn from their parents and a sign of a great society is where men and women are treated equal, he says.

Kiruba Shankar is a entrepreneur and social media consultant. He is the CEO of BusinessBlogging, a social media consultant firm. He also heads Vaksana Farms, a farming venture and Verdure Books, a publishing house. He has authored 4 books and is working on the next. He is the TEDx ambassador for India.

Carnatic musician T.M. Krishna says NO to Violence against Women

In the first video of our 'Men Say NO to Violence' series, T. M. Krishna speaks about how violence against women is more than just a physical act, but is a way of imposing one's power and control over women. He calls for men to change the perception that they are the 'more powerful of the two sexes'.

T.M. Krishna is one of India's finest Carnatic music vocalists. He has received numerous awards in recognition of his talent, and has also co-authored books on Carnatic music. He is the co-founder of several organisations devoted to the preservation of the arts. 

'Chennai Men say NO!' -- video project

As part of this year's campaign, we are thrilled to share with you, our 'Chennai Men say NO!' video series. 16 well-known Chennai men, over the 16 days of the campaign, will share their personal views on violence against women, and declare categorically that they say 'NO!' to such violence. We will 'release' one video a day on our YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/gritprajnya?feature=watch)

Why is this so important for us? We believe very strongly that men have a vital role to play if we are to prevent gender violence. For many years, we've wanted to get men more actively involved in our campaign to make two important points–

 

• Violence against women is not just a women’s issue, it affects all of us at different stages of our lives. Many of us know friends, family members, neighbours who have experienced violence, in some form or the other.
• This is not about men v/s women – we want to make the point that there are men who do not endorse or support violence of any form against women.

We believe that these men, by saying loud and clear, that it is wrong to abuse women, to beat your wife, to assault a young girl traveling on a bus, will encourage and motivate people (particularly young boys and men) to follow their lead.

Watch, listen, share and join them in saying 'NO!' to violence against women.