Saturday, February 16, 2013

Madurai Rising

On the 14th, EKTA and Lady Doak College's Centre for Women's Studies, along with our collaborating organizers (People's Watch, Department of Communication MKU, TNSF, Deepam, Koodu, WWSS, Vasuki Seva Nilayam, and the TN Handicapped Association-South Zone), successfully executed Madurai Rising as part of the global One Billion Rising campaign. This event has been a priority for the past several months, and we were happy to celebrate with participants from across the city, including several universities. Speakers included Our own Thirumigu Bimla Chandrasekar, director of EKTA; Thirumigu Anshul Mishra, IAS (District Collector, Madurai); Thirumigu Jacinthu Martin, B.L. (Madurai Legal Services Authority); Thirumigu R. Thirunavukarasu, M.Sc., B.L. (Deputy Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, Madurai); and Thirumigu Dr. V. Chinnaiah, Co-ordinator, National Service Scheme, MKU, Madurai. We also enjoyed some wonderful cultural performances that definitely fulfilled the "dance" mandate of the One Billion Rising campaign! 

Finally, all participants joined together to release OBR balloons into the sky, followed by enthusiastic dancing, cheering, and singing. Through the event, we hope to have diffused knowledge, inspiration, and a sense of solidarity throughout the community, with a vision of a world free of violence against women. 









 

Monday, February 11, 2013

One Billion Rising short film

Here it is: our OBR short film, made by MKU students and EKTA! The video depicts some of the forms of violence that women often face in Tamil Nadu, but it also shows women standing up and joining a collective call for an end to violence against women. It's a powerful message. Watch below! 



With just two days until One Billion Rising, we are finalizing plans and gathering materials for a wonderful event at the Gandhi Museum on Thursday (from 3-6pm). Our plans include: distribution of handbills and stickers (featuring a pledge to stop violence against women and girls), a balloon release ceremony, the creation of a human chain, some cultural activities (put on by various colleges), and a candlelighting event. 

Friday, February 1, 2013

OBR short film release

Yesterday's event to launch the short film for One Billion Rising in Tamil Nadu was a great success. A diverse crowd which included journalists, students, academics, and activists attended and listened to impassioned speeches, watched the film for the first time, and honored the MKU students who wrote and produced the video. EKTA and OBR also received some great press -- you can read The Hindu's article here.