V-SPEAKS: 'You are Blameworthy!'

Gautam Sharma *

One Billion Rising: Imphal - To stop violence against women (at Near BOC and City Convention Hall) on February 14 2013
Pix - Deepak Oinam

"AS a child I suffered sexual and emotional abuse for several years at the hand of a man my parents trusted implicitly. ... I suffered various forms of groping, touching, verbal abuses and other things that I didn't know how to deal with." This revelation came from Anoushka Shankar, daughter of the legendary sitarist Ravi Shankar, in an online video, on Wednesday, ahead of the V-Day.

Putting her weight behind the 'One Billion Rising' in an online campaign, she further bravely said: "As a woman I find I am frequently living in fear. Afraid to walk alone at night, afraid to answer a man who asks for the time... and enough is enough. I am Rising."

Such kind of experiences may be an identical one, for both said and unsaid, encountered by many a 'NUJA' (Woman) in every nook and cranny of this planet.

Sometime, it's very embarrassing to think that we are still adjusting to live in an environment that is not powerful enough in protecting the blustery weather of fears that are blowing around your mother, daughter, sister, and lady love or girl-friends.

And sometime, it's very scary to know that the temperaments of many individuals and society are haunting like an apparition to the feminine's world and their mental state, by making them 'only survive' deprived of living and enjoying life of 'safe and free'. And, by cutting the shit and talking in straight, the truth is really shocking. According to the United Nations, one in every three women on this planet will be physically or sexually abused in her lifetime.

So, it has become imperative for us to join hands with the international communities, across 200 countries, for those who love them to WALK OUT, DANCE, RISE UP, and DEMAND to end any and every kind of violence and threat against women. And, the movement is getting phenomenon, growing at a rapid pace throughout the world encroaching the territory from Europe to Asia, Africa and the Caribbean and all of North America reaching Manipur.

And, thanks to the campaigners who are out on a mission to mark the slow death of patriarchy and stop violence against women. And, Salute to Eve Ensler who initiated this movement and devoted her life envisioning a planet in which women and girls will be free to thrive, rather than merely survive. And, this Tony Award winning Playwright, Performer and activist and the author of 'The Vagina Monologues' that deals with aspect of feminine experiences, (touching on matters such as sex, love, rape, menstruation, female genital mutilation, masturbation, birth, or simply covering all the physical aspect of the body) has merely thrown light to the world to understand feminine world, and their needs and challenges.

This year, on V-day 15th Anniversary, 'Mr. Wit and Scurry' has not failed to internalize the new monologue that is added every year to highlight the current issues and challenges affecting women around the world. He knows V stands for Victory, Valentine and .... Today, he witnessed that the 'V-Monologue has now become a V-Dialogue' beyond giving messages, ready to call for actions to end the violence, injustice and gender inequality between genders.

Coming closer to hometown, my lady love Abey once said, "You are blameworthy coz' you always force me to understand you, your world and your beloved career, but never have you tried to understand me, my world, my career and the pain that I have during my menstruations and pregnancy period."

She further said, "My father is Blameworthy", as he scolded and insulted my mom with four - letter words in front of us for pretty petty matters, such as for a rare salty dish, for little minutes late for suppers or other household chores. Never did he understood and appreciated my mom's life time dedications for managing the domestic affairs by sweating her blood and tears to make our house a home". He never uttered appreciative words like 'Thank You', but instead blamed her for every unexpected episode that happens in our lives & reality.

'My School and the teachers are Blameworthy', they taught only subject of science and arts but not the substance. Confining within the syllabus and social etiquette, they failed to school the students on 'sex and sexuality' and gender issues. Curriculum for tossing out the old-taboos were totally left blank, which has made us grown within a society that has lots of gender-taboos.

'My college he-mates are Blameworthy' coz' they look at my boob rather looking at my shining shoes and my well furnished mind and heart". They just look at me and my friend's statistics by whispering amongst their circle, "wow! She wears a push-up one, 36-24-36, what an amazing shape! My men, this is sick and kind of a crap. They are blameworthy, as they don't know where to focus their eyes and mentality, as their parents and guardians do not lesson them 'all about girls and women' and how to respect them.

And, 'The brave and rich Romeo who proposed me during my youthful days is Blameworthy', "with his flirting ideas of Love, he tried hard to hypnotize me with an intention to date-rape with his seductive words and actions, taking advantages of my innocence and weakness." He was just a impulsive swine, obsessed with 'Love, Sex and Dhoka'. And his father was an irresponsible figure of a man, who ignored the concern of culpable behavior of his son.

'Our government and policy maker is blameworthy', they don't have a strong and comprehensive policy to address the issues of Sexual Health and Reproductive Rights. They don't implement well-built program to promote sexual health and reproductive rights, nor they initiate social marketing project that can made avail the need of satisfying services for the poor and the middle class girls, for instance they don't provide sanitary towel at free and reduce cost.

She said, "The doctors in the hospital is blameworthy coz' he ignored my screaming in pain inside the closed 'labor room' while my little champ (little Hunny) was ready to feel the world." They trifled with the sympathetic words but not empathic with my pain and worry.

'Enough is enough.' Of course! It is high time to 'RISE'. But, are we really 'Rising' above the level from where we used to be? It would be like a herculean task to RISE WITHOUT RISE (Resource, Information, Support and Empowerment).

So, give us the RISE (Resource, Information, Support and Empowerment) to RISE above the levels, Coz' we need the real 'V' that would show the Victory. This is 'our' campaign, and you know our spirit, our demand for the vision. We will work as long as it takes. We will not stop until the violence stops.

Newsperson: A non-profit making local fellowship program, christened as 'Nicotine Anonymous', was inaugurated today at a smoking zone. The members of the Nicotine Anonymous told the media person that the objective of the fellowship is to provide help and support to those tobacco users who are willing to stop using tobacco. They further said the idea to initiate such fellowship came after the sudden news to ban tobacco products in the state. They further said their member will assist any willing smokers and users to fight the withdrawal symptoms, and will support them to live a life of total abstinence from Tobacco products.

Taglines: 'Our destiny wouldn't change by scratching some new lines in our palms.'