tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267956994233839477.post8897754326298052107..comments2023-03-31T08:30:39.635-07:00Comments on Being Indian: Being Indian: IndependenceVahini Raohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08723607472951557888noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267956994233839477.post-78044894530639688202012-08-21T02:44:08.240-07:002012-08-21T02:44:08.240-07:00sorry i guess this blog post is by VAHINI RAO n no...sorry i guess this blog post is by VAHINI RAO n not by friend anu.. so vahini proud of u .. n anu - thanks for sharing this article on FB.. n Smita - hang in there girl.. ur stronger than u think..Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16658239878199680646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267956994233839477.post-80070110252205429742012-08-21T01:34:17.994-07:002012-08-21T01:34:17.994-07:00well.. anu im proud of u for having shared such pe...well.. anu im proud of u for having shared such personal and sensitive incidents in such a strongly worded n opinionated manner for the world to see.. i remember saying this to u when u came over to mumbai that u deserve a lot better, i meant that for everything.. <br /><br />i do agree that this 'societal habit' is wrong, that women should voice themselves.. but unfortunately that does not change much, a groper remains a groper even if he is insulted n punished publicly.. cuz unfortunately this shamelessness stems from a patriarchal, chauvinistic thinking that has objectified women for centuries, almost ingrained in the Y chromosome.. i have experienced episodes where i have raised a voice n also where i ve not bothered to run after him and ve seen him walk away into crowds.. n have come to the conclusion that for my own sake I avoid buses (mumbai) cuz they r the worst.. theres also a defending position that players adopt in football (right hand covering protectively ahead and left hand back) that has sort helped me keep some distance while in crowded places.. <br /><br />honestly as much as we progressive independent women seek freedom, respect and acceptance, it is important that we are wise enough to be safe, precautious and tactful.. <br /> <br />N to all women id say be brave and be smart!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16658239878199680646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267956994233839477.post-54842724954841166432012-08-19T15:57:29.933-07:002012-08-19T15:57:29.933-07:00Yes u might have to use pepper spray
Yes you might...Yes u might have to use pepper spray<br />Yes you might have to take up martial arts..<br />But ours is a nation where women are taught to give more than what they receive..and not get any credit for it.<br /><br />Yes we are Drama Queens...But we'd like our privates to be private for sure. <br />If demanding that is making a scene, so be it.<br /><br />I think my views will influence at least 10 of my male friends who will know better than to violate a woman. <br />If we are vocal and vehement about it - make some noise and spread the word.<br />If you are violated don't let it slide..<br /><br />the whole bullSh** of making things taboo when they aren't has created a bunch of sex starved maniacs who think women are objects.<br /><br />I think we have to collectively make NOISE. Don't take crap lying down people. <br /><br />Teach your daughters your mothers your sisters your friends...to be proud, smart and safe.<br />And teach your sons, brothers, husbands and friends that you have a mind and body of your own.Smitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06661193375739196469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267956994233839477.post-10079330700678222042012-08-19T15:46:35.589-07:002012-08-19T15:46:35.589-07:00Thanks for sharing. I had a similar incident on a ...Thanks for sharing. I had a similar incident on a bus. i had taken a ladies seat to warrant extra safety, was wearing a baggy-enough-to-fit-two sweatshirt and i hugged my bag as I slept warily. I had had multiple ogling episodes on night journey buses.<br />At 4am, i felt some one grope by reaching for across my bag!! i woke up and tried to grab his hand but he got away as it was pitch dark..i woke up the lady next to me and told her this...<br />'What can you do yaa...go back to sleep'. I was seething in anger, my body burnt as i knew i had been violated.<br />I could see other people wake up and just stare at me as if I was the guilty one. Men the age of my father did nothing.<br /><br />I sat ...wondering how i would forgive myself if I let this slide...No I could never do that..<br />So at 5:30 am as the dawn broke i barged upto the driver and reported the incident.<br />He pretended not to understand hindi (bus from hyderabad to bangalore!) ...then he said..clearly describe what happened, obviously to embarass me further.<br /><br />I explained...my voice shaking..no use..then i looked at the rest of the bus- a bunch of educated but BLANK faces...staring at me.<br />2 youths - helped me translate into telugu what happened...<br />Anyway to cut to the chase, i did identify the groper... and there were just 2 young men who decided to help me...<br /><br />the uncles and aunties of the bus just STARED. i dont know what broke my heart that day - the fact that it can be so easy to be violated in my country...or the fact that majority of my beloved country men and women would not bother to HELP. :(<br /><br />I salute the youths who did , and so i can say that...there is HOPE...our generation has some shred of humanity left in them.<br /><br />Smitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06661193375739196469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267956994233839477.post-23456604878505079452012-08-18T15:02:35.548-07:002012-08-18T15:02:35.548-07:00Getting groped, eve-teased or leered at has become...Getting groped, eve-teased or leered at has become so common now that we aren't even shocked at these everyday occurrences.<br /><br />Why should we be the ones forced to change our clothes, attitudes, our lifestyle to suit the needs of those criminals? And why, oh god why are we called drama queens for calling them out for their actions<br /><br />Thanks for writing this excellent article and giving all of us a platform to vent our outrage.Chaitalihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17753400449763347649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267956994233839477.post-32756902059293647842012-08-16T08:40:08.982-07:002012-08-16T08:40:08.982-07:00Very well written. You just gave a voice to what e...Very well written. You just gave a voice to what each one of us is feeling, Vahini.inquisitiveguurlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16314381145075517303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267956994233839477.post-72049449654999978222012-08-15T04:48:32.386-07:002012-08-15T04:48:32.386-07:00Thank you! i couldn't agree more! Every day im...Thank you! i couldn't agree more! Every day im called a feminist or femi-nazi for defending myself against "eve teasers".....No Independence day till women can go out at all times without worrying if her clothes are provocative!Anuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16197042847704676804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267956994233839477.post-91573373638044759712012-08-15T00:18:00.220-07:002012-08-15T00:18:00.220-07:00totally with you. i will celebrate the independenc...totally with you. i will celebrate the independence day when we deserve to be celebrating. till then, i pray for all the victims of various kinds of injustices in this land.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07127439397040893491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267956994233839477.post-39571561331826777632012-08-14T13:07:22.306-07:002012-08-14T13:07:22.306-07:00You're not alone in your anger.You're not alone in your anger.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11423854963419725893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267956994233839477.post-61641633836662642292012-08-14T10:23:53.817-07:002012-08-14T10:23:53.817-07:00Excellently written! :D
Loved the ending!Excellently written! :D<br />Loved the ending!Personahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11859245221695002440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267956994233839477.post-28584795214278626442012-08-14T09:53:59.193-07:002012-08-14T09:53:59.193-07:00Excellent Blog and really food for the thought.......Excellent Blog and really food for the thought....for all those crazy people who believe its Independence day...With things like this going around, i am a mother of 3 girls and I really feel that my kids need to be taken to a rather civilized world...I don’t care if I could raise them with Indian Culture...I don’t think that is of any benefit to them, however I am determined that I will raise them to be bold girls and teach them self protect...that's all they need in the world today !!!Mayuri Amudanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07293468747328657179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267956994233839477.post-75636366246868073732012-08-14T09:49:50.852-07:002012-08-14T09:49:50.852-07:00It's pointless to talk about Indian culture. N...It's pointless to talk about Indian culture. No one 'understands' it. It has just become a lame excuse for men to continue patriarchal society. The incidents which you have mentioned are just attempts towards that. Don't talk about Indian culture as people don't understand the logic behind our customs. Don't talk about Indian culture Vahini, their's nothing 'Indian' in it anymore; it's just culture, the one which I don't like. People have forgotten that happiness stays in home only if woman of the home is happy. 'Her' importance is being forgotten. Don't you think it's a paradox on the one hand we worship her while on the other hand we rape her. By the way, Happy Independence DayHimanshu Sanehihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849877169762494259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267956994233839477.post-71515779437169142102012-08-14T09:41:11.604-07:002012-08-14T09:41:11.604-07:00I relate so much to this. what 'freedom' a...I relate so much to this. what 'freedom' are we celebrating, really? One that excludes all Indian women, perhaps, because we can't go one day without being disrespected, harassed, groped, molested, raped, or killed before we are born. wet diamondhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02376397352250296235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267956994233839477.post-63470835181206584772012-08-14T09:38:49.208-07:002012-08-14T09:38:49.208-07:00Its like you've read the minds of every single...Its like you've read the minds of every single Indian woman.<br />Hurrah for democracy.And Happy Independence Day.Baba Vaniteshwarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16120968043750446814noreply@blogger.com