Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
Here's an account of sleeping in the open in Delhi, which was an initiative by Black Noise to reclaim public spaces.
Here’s an account of sleeping in the open in Delhi, which was an initiative by Black Noise to reclaim public spaces.
Blank Noise is a community that wants to put an end to the sexual harassment cycle in India. It has come up with a new initiative, which is called ‘Meet to Sleep.’ It asks citizens across the country to come to public spaces, like parks or other free spaces and sleep. The idea is to reclaim public spaces, without fear.
Last Saturday, they held their ‘Meet to Sleep’ meet in Delhi. I saw it on facebook and joined in. I like many others have never slept in the open. Delhi is ofcourse is not a city where public spaces are kind to women.
I reached Deer Park, where it was organized at 2:30 pm, with a shawl, a pillow and a bedsheet. The idea is to join the group and sleep. That’s a way to claim the public spaces. As, I reached there were already 5 to 6 girls lying around.
To be honest it was not a very easy experience because you don’t see women easily lazing around in parks or other spaces. Honestly my eyes were on the onlookers who kept staring. However, I too spread my bedsheet and put my head on the pillow. I also had a book with me.
Slowly I forgot about the eyes that stared us, I looked up to the sky and the winter Sun. It’s strange that how, I have never experienced the beautiful winter Sun, lying in the open ever. Nature was created for all, but how we started giving up spaces for one reason or the other. I am born in a free country. But I have never slept in the open, watching the sky. I started reading. For the first time, I experienced what life was meant to be and what we made it to be.
Another girl arrived and shared my bedsheet. And we started talking. We both realized how beautiful female bonding can be. You just don’t need to bother about anything, but just bond in a level, you cannot bond with someone else. That afternoon at Deer Park, Delhi, turned up to be one of the most beautiful afternoons I ever spent. Lying under the Summer Sun, with 8-10 girls, two boys included, reading and talking not to forget the snacks, I kept grabbing , I realized like everyone, that we need freedom of movement. In a city like Delhi, which is not considered a safe haven for women, not many would dare to sleep under the Sky, or seen in public spaces late at night. But, the world belongs to both men and women. The more women come out, the more will follow; because when I saw five women around me sleeping after sometime, I stopped thinking about anyone else and blissfully turned to sleep.
That’s the power of claiming what belongs to us too. Let’s start doing it, once and forever!
All images via Facebook
Proud Indian. Senior Writer at Women's Web. Columnist. Book Reviewer. Street Theatre - Aatish. Dreamer. Workaholic. read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
UP Boards Topper Prachi Nigam was trolled on social media for her facial hair; our obsession with appearance is harsh on young minds.
Prachi Nigam’s photo has been doing the rounds on social media for the right reasons. Well, scratch that- I wish the above statement were true. This 15-year-old girl should ideally be revelling in her spectacular achievement of scoring a whopping 98.05% and topping her tenth-grade boards. But oddly enough, along with her marks, it’s something else that garners more attention – her facial hair.
While the trolls are driving themselves giddy by mocking this girl who hasn’t even completed her school yet, the ones who are taking her side are going one step ahead – they are sharing her photoshopped pictures, sans the facial hair, looking nothing less than a celebrity with captions saying – “Prachi Nigam, ten years later”.
Doctors have already diagnosed her with PCOD in their comments, based on photographic evidence. While we have names for people shamed for their weight – body shaming, for their skin colour- racism, for their age- age shaming, for being a female- sexism, this category of shaming where one faces criticism for their appearance has no name. With that, it also has zero shame attached to it.
Please enter your email address