My first ever Besharmi Morcha

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Watch out for the media!

No really! Standing at Jantar Mantar on the hot July Sunday, you had to watch out for every step you took to save your head from a camera and not trip over wires.

The Delhi chapter of the SlutWalk that originated from Toronto, finally hit the streets, ok, correction- street; on Sunday morning. The morning papers announced to potential participants that a 'walk' would not be allowed. The police were apparently worried about the safety of participants marching across the busy Sunday morning traffic.

So the march that was supposed to start from Parliament Street and end in Jantar Mantar, was reduced to a stroll around the block. AND you had to keep to the footpaths.

In the blazing hot sun and terrible humidity, the first sights were the OB vans, the cameras and then the people. At 10:30, a group of participants, volunteers, media and security had gathered at Jantar Mantar. I could not even start to count as to how many security personnel were there. Possibly, a cop or two for every participant and every volunteer- include the media as well, and then for every two there could be one cop!

Sweating, avoiding being photographed over and over again, declining to comment by saying politely - "I can't give you a byte - I am also from the media!", we waited for something to happen. Something at least.

The organiser for the India chapter- Umang Shabarwal, finally got on to a make shift podium to announce that we would now begin the walk. Also that we could not substance abuse, or drink or smoke, or destroy public property during the walk.

"Damn!" I muttered to my colleague who looked totally harried - running around with her camera - trying to take the best shots. "I was SO looking forward to destroying public property today!"

A rather quiet, civilized walk started, the media went wild clicking. A volunteer asked me sweetly - "Do you want to carry a poster?" since I was looking around helplessly trying to figure out whether I should try getting to the front of the group or loiter at the back. "I can't," I told her, "If I do - I can't live-blog then!" I said, holding up my colleague's Blackberry - which incidentally - I did not know how to use! She gave me a smile and passed the poster to another girl. Any coverage is good coverage I say!

I tried walking with the group and bumped into people, I tried walking backwards and bumped in to even more people. The police were following at a safe distance - just in case! My colleague busy clicking photos was having conversations like these with the people -

"Can you walk slower?"

"Could you hold up that poster?"

"Wait! Wait there!"

"Can you pose please?"

One gentleman asked her -"Which channel are you from?"

She answers. "Will my photo be on it?"

-"Yes!"

-"Pakka?"

-"Yes!"

-"Then ok..."

Sigh!

Every where we looked we had to strain our eyes to read the bright neon posters -

"Ladki tere baap ki jagiir nahin"

"Mujhe bus mein safar karna hai, english wala suffer nahin"

"Besharam kaun? Teri aakhein, Teri soch!"

On one hand we had statements that conveyed the agenda - stop sexual harassment. "What ever I wear, What ever I do - Don't touch me! How dare you!" and "Gentlemen are not provoked - Sex Offenders don't need provocation" stated clearly- that Delhi, being one of the most unsafe cities for women - was not willing to suffer silently.

There were in fact more men present then women and I could not help but wonder why! Though they stoically carried posters - were they here hoping for a different kind of a show?

And too bad for them then - for the India chapter, renamed -Besharmi Morcha - had decided to make the walk about the agenda and not the clothes. So all those who turned up hoping to see skimpy clothes and skin show - would have to go home and try Fashion TV. Sorry! The wildest it got was an exposed midriff.

A male participant proudly carried a poster that declared - "Believe it or not - My short skirt has nothing to do with you!"

"Really?" - I wanted to go up to him and ask. The poster even had a skirt drawn on it. Another poster read - "Boys just eat grape- Stop girl rape" - Oh well! Collateral damage.

Finally the slogans started. It was now a morcha...well...almost.

As we came back to point A after the little stroll - the Delhi Drum Circle started performing. They were cheered on by the crowd and made the way for Asmita Theatre group for their street play. Only if you were more than 6 feet tall or willing to stand amidst a massive group of media and participants, jostling for space to stand - you could get a glimpse of the action. Otherwise you had the option of standing around and sulking.

That is what we did.

Nafisa Ali made a brief appearance and was mobbed - not by participants. You guessed it - by the media.

The march was almost over now as crowds started dispersing. People walked passed a hunger strike in progress at the same spot - which had got no attention what so ever. Ironically.

We were exhausted. Of the weather, of bumping into others and of cameras.

The Besharmi Morcha, lets use the name we have chosen to give it, lacked the fire. It could have been a show of a life time, it could have been an announcement to the rest of the country - that women were not willing to be harassed and violated. But it barely helped.

I use the word 'announcement' with full awareness of the fact that many consider demonstrations like these - pointless. It is not pointless - awareness has to start somewhere. In that aspect - well - SlutWalk was not a complete failure.

Delhi! It worked - but we have SO much more to do!

And next time - can we please have more participants than media?