Rising for the Power of Love and Justice....vignettes from events during 12-14 December 2013

RISING FOR THE POWER OF LOVE AND JUSTICE TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

-music, dance and voices

12-14 December 2013, New Delhi

In solidarity with the many survivors of violence, in and outside our families, homes, streets, workplaces and institutions. In the build up to One Billion Rising for Justice 2014, co-organised by Delhi based Women's Groups, Civil Society Organisations and Students

December 2013 saw over one thousand people rising for the power of love and justice to end violence against women across four venues (see programme for details) in the city of Delhi. From women activists to students, academics to performing artists, young children to women taxi drivers and chauffeurs, senior police officials to men and women police constables, members of the community and the public…Delhi came together with Eve Ensler of V-Day (accompanied by Monique Wilson, Tony  and the One Billion Rising campaign to sing, dance, rise and raise voices for equality, justice and peace.

We at the Kriti team were happy to help coordinate and participate in these risings along with many other friends and partners....

Performances: Jee Lene Do Mujhe Har Lamhaa..zindagi kuch kahe rahi hai, kehe lene do… rendered by Shubha Mudgal  and Maa Ne Meri Mei Nai Darna….by Swaang, songs that say it all about the desire to live without fear, with freedom and equality…songs of justice.

Azad Parinde, with members of Azad Foundation and Sakha women drivers brought the audience to a collective song and dance in solidarity with the women’s movement, as they voiced Tu Zinda Hai…and Beti Hu mei teri Beti Banungi.

Namrata Panmani shared her expressions of bodily freedom and the desire to fight oppression with a contemporary dance performance.

Eve Ensler’s performance based on her old and new writings ‘’In the Body of Justice’’ resonated with members of the audiences across all venues as she connected with marginalized women from different  sectors to demand justice with her powerful voice…I am Rising. Katie Gray, an international singer shared her commitment to the issue with music penned around the Rising.

Young people associated with Cequin and Srijanatmak Manushi Sanstha (SMS) performed to the OBR song Break the Chain and had everyone in the audience at Jamia Millia Islamia dancing and rising.

Justin McCarthy added to the power of love with his amazing classical dance performance. Manzil Mystics sang of resisting patriarchy and saving the girl child, along with students of Jamia singing along. A play, Museum...of species in danger, by Being Association, directed by Rasika Agashe,  was also performed at YWCA of Delhi in collaboration with the Jurrat campaign.

Exhibits: An exhibition of posters, paintings and handbills on domestic violence, sexual harassment at the workplace, dowry, sexuality, masculinity, patriarchy and feminism presented a visual imagery of the issues that need attention in this struggle for justice, along with images of OBR 2013 events across the country.  The exhibition at India Habitat Centre collated by Kriti team was represented by posters of several partnering organizations, and Fine Arts students at Jamia Millia Islamia and WDC students at Miranda House.  

Photos and Videos captured these events so that we can continue to enhance participation towards One Billion Rising for Justice on 14 February 2014.

Discussions: Eve Ensler and Kamla Bhasin along with many other speakers at Jamia Millia Islamia, and the panel discussions at Miranda House on Zero Tolerance to Sexual Harassment and Violence against women and at India Habitat Centre on a Feminist Dialogue for Envisioning Justice, shared their vision of a violence free world for women and girls. A press conference was also organised prior to these events.

Participation and Rising: We heard men pledging to counter violence against women and girls and lend their support wherever possible, as also police men and women, community women from bastis of Delhi and NCR.  

New and old friends were made as many in the audience networked with activists and artists to continue to join this rising. Posters, Parchis and ribbons were shared in solidarity so that the thought and actions against violence on women are strengthened further.  The events saw extensive press coverage across national and regional dailies as well as the internet and social media.

Several Delhi based women’s organizations and NGOs, students and media persons coordinated these events, including PFI, Action Aid, Oxfam India, Save the Children, Sangat, Jagori, Sarojini Naidu Centre for Women’s Studies and Outreach Programme, JMI, Delhi University, Miranda House, YWCA of Delhi, Kriti team, CFAR, The Hunger Project, Aadhar, ArthAastha, Blank Noise, CHSJ, CEQUIN, SMS, Change.org, Azad Foundation, Sakha Consulting Wings, WDC-LSR, CPA, Anhad and many others.

More Pics on https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.683705164994258.1073741828.195759603788819&type=1

PROGRAMME SCHEDULE

12th December 2013, 7-9.30 pm

Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, Lodi Road, New Delhi

 The Power of Love and Justice to end Violence against Women: An evening of Music, Dance and Voices

·         

       Welcome by Kamla Bhasin, Feminist Activist

Performances by:

·         Shubha Mudgal (classical music),

·         Azad-Sakha Mahila Chalak (with Azad Parinde),

·         Eve Ensler (performing ‘In the Body of Justice’),

·         Swaang (protest songs),

·         Namrata Panmani (with Yogi Motor), and

·         Katie Grey (International Singer)

·         OBR 2014 Videos and Pledges by Students, Community representatives and Supporters.

On the sidelines: Exhibition of posters and materials on the theme

Co-organised by Delhi based Women's Groups, Civil Society Organisations and Students in collaboration with India Habitat Centre.

13th December 2013, 2.30 to 4.30 pm

Ansari Auditorium, JMI

To join and strengthen One Billion Rising to end Violence against Women: An Evening of Music, Dances & Voices

·         Inauguration by Prof S. M. Sajid, the Vice Chancellor, JMI

Performances by:

·         Eve Ensler- “In the Body of Justice”

·         Manzil Mystics – Music Band

·         Justin Mcarthy – Bharatnatyam

·         Katie Gray- Vocal

·         Dance on Man ki Manjeere by Srijanatmak Manushi Sanstha

·         Collective Dance on OBR song, Break the Chain On the sidelines: Exhibition of posters, art works, sculpture on the theme of violence against women by students Organised by Sarojini Naidu Centre for Women’s Studies & The Outreach Programme, Jamia Millia Islamia University along with Delhi based organizations

14th December 2013, 11 am to 1 pm

Auditorium, Miranda House, Delhi University

COMMITMENT TO GENDER JUSTICE: ZERO TOLERANCE TO SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Interactive session with:

·         Professor Vidhu Verma: Chairperson, Centre for Political Science, SSS, JNU.

·         Dr. Ashok Acharya: Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Delhi University.

·         Kamla Bhasin: Renowned feminist activist.

·         Eve Ensler: American playwright, performer, feminist, activist and founder of V–DAY USA.

Eve Ensler will be performing ‘In the Body of Justice’ and Katie Grey will present music for love and justice.

Organised by Miranda House Women Development Cell (W.D.C.), College Complaints Committee (C.C.C), Developing Countries Research Centre (D.C.R.C) along with Delhi based organizations

14th December 2013, 1 to 3 pm
YWCA of Delhi
 In solidarity with the Jurrat Campaign and as part of One Billion Rising, the YWCA of Delhi along with Kriti team organised the performance of the play 'Museum...Being Association, directed by Rasika Agashe,  was also performed at YWCA of Delhi in collaboration with the Jurrat campaign - organised by Majma and Swaang to mark one year since the Delhi gang rape. Manzil Mystics also performed at this event attended by over 250 young women studying at YWCA of Delhi, women and children from bastis that YWCA of Delhi works in and several other students and members of the public.

14th December 2013, 4 to 6 pm

Silver Oak I, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. 

A Feminist Dialogue on Envisioning Justice - The panelists include Eve Ensler, Kamla Bhasin, Kumkum Sangari,Vimal Thorat, Vrinda Grover and Shabnam Hashmi and would be moderated by Seema Mustafa.

Organised by Centre for Policy Analysis, Jagori and Sangat along with Delhi based organizations

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Photos by Tape That and Soumen Dutta