‘Bass Ab Bahut Ho Gaya’ becomes a college slogan
~ When Gender Violence Survivors Spoke at top Mumbai college panel by PFI , Farhan Akhtar’s MARD ~
Mumbai: Population Foundation of India, Farhan Akhtar’s MARD and noted director Feroz Abbas Khan organized a panel discussion against gender based violence in K.C. College, one of the Mumbai’s top colleges.
This panel included Meghna Pant, who is a well-known Indian fiction author and a former journalist, is also a survivor of gender violence who narrated her struggle. ‘Stop the silence, end the violence,’ is Meghana’s motto. The panel discussion also witnessed an insightful interaction with Insia Dariwala, a survivor as well and one of the five founders of SAHILO, an organization that aims to engage in dialogue with society and communities to fight female genital mutilation.
While describing her experience Meghana Pant said, “Even today when a woman speaks of an abusive relationship or marital rape people shame the woman instead of taking action.”
Insia Dariwala who has witnessed child abuse herself said, “While we speak of gender violence, we assume that this happens with a certain stratum of the society. However, that is a myth. Women across the country are battling this social evil since ages till today.”
The panel also had award winning journalist and co-founder of Studio Talk, Mahrukh Inayet known for calling a spade a spade. “I wish there were gender literacy workshops conducted for newsrooms so that journalists can handle stories of gender violence in a more sensitive manner. Right now most TV newsrooms lack that,” said Mahrukh Inayet.
