One Billion Rising for Justice 2014 in Madurai

One Billion Rising for Justice was a tremendous success in Madurai! EKTA hosted the OBR event at Madurai's famous Gandhi Museum -- a perfect location for sharing the message of inclusion and non-violence. The event includeed multifaceted performances by local artists, college & university students and young girls from EKTA's Nambikkai girls' shelter, which allowed the performers and participants to take part in a thought-provoking and moving expression of the violence, inequality and discrimination that women face in Tamil Nadu and across the world. Following the performances were speeches and calls to action by officials and activists including Secretary/Sub-judge Thirumigu Jacintha Martin, B.L., Assistant Commission of Police Anti-Dowry Cell Ms. K. Rajamani, State Nodal Officer Psychiatrist Dr C Ramasubramanian and Principal of Lady Doak College Dr. Mrs A. Mery Pushpalatha. Displayed around the event grounds were motivational and inspirational posters as well as the results of EKTA's anti-violence signature campaign (collected during our 16 Days mobile van campaign). All participants then joined in closing the event with a symbolic release of balloons and dancing to "Break the Chain," the OBR anthem.

Throughout the event, EKTA's goal was to spread awareness on violence against women and the forms of physical, emotional, economic, political, social, cultural, ecological, and legal injustice that women face. We invited our over 200 participants to RISE, RELEASE, DANCE, and demand JUSTICE, and we did just that! Please enjoy some photos from the 2014 OBR event in Madurai: 

Updates for OBR Madurai

EKTA is very busy finalising plans and spreading the word about One Billion Rising. We have decided that One Billion Rising: Madurai will take place at Madurai's famous Gandhi Museum -- a perfect location for sharing the message of inclusion and non-violence. The event will include multifaceted performances by local artists, college & university students and young girls from EKTA's Nambikkai Centre (a girls' shelter), which will allow the performers and participants to take part in a thought-provoking and moving expression of the violence, inequality and discrimination that women face both in Tamil Nadu and across the world. Following the performances will be speeches and calls to action by local officials, academics and activists. All participants will join in closing the event with a symbolic release of balloons and dancing to "Break the Chain."

 We have been very busy the past few weeks visiting local colleges, NSS camps and the offices of influential officials to share the message and goal of OBR and to encourage people to participate in the movement. We are focusing in particular on college students and young women, to both educate and engage them in the OBR campaign. Many have enthusiastically volunteered to participate in One Billion Rising Madurai, and are now preparing dances, songs and short plays to artistically showcase the pain caused by violence against women as well as the wonderful strength and solidarity that arises from such a global campaign that brings all participants together to "break the chain." 

Updates for EKTA's One Billion Rising event can be found here.