Slutwalk (Besharmi Morcha)-Kolkata: Vulgar or Congruous

 “Slutwalk” – It is a worldwide protest against the harassment that women face on the street on a daily-basis. It is the outcry against damaging stereotype and sexual violence against women. It all began with a statement of police officer in Toronto, Canada, April 2011, saying “women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized”. The angry women and men too come out to the street to protest against men’s filthy mentality. Thus began Slutwalk, the movement jumped borders and oceans, with similar marches being held in the US, UK, Australia and Africa. And now “global India” is joining hand as well!

After Delhites and bhopalies, it’s high time for Kolkatans to come out for “slutwalk” on 24^th may.   Although, my ordinary mind couldn’t understand the purpose and relevance of slutwalk in India but women safety and rights in India is always a ponderable question for me.  

Is skimpy clothes of gals or women articulate the message to rape her? If yes, then how will we justify the rape of 3 month’s infant? If some psycho says that provoking cloths stimulate him to rape or molest a girl then how will we react if someone says,” Her perfume was incredibly provoking that’s why I raped her “! The message is whatever cloths women wear, however slutty it is, it shouldn’t be thought as an invitation to rape her.

I have a facile doubt, is it relevant in context of India where we have cities which are demographically very diverse, in our cities we have people from villages and small towns probably who have never seen women in short-skirt.  But in the era of capitalism, elite Indians never care these people.

These slutwalk is a felicitous example of women empowerment in India. In last 10 year, Indian women have empowered not only economically but socially and politically as well. I still remember last decade mindset when Arundhati Roy has been trailed by Supreme Court since one year for her controversial writing about women sexual independence. After winning the Booker award, she was called as “Hooker won Booker”. And since then women have empowered herself to organize slutwalk.

It’s my humble request to all join Slutwalk-kolkata on 24^th of May.