asking for it

Meet To Sleep. November 28

An ActionHero was raped in Bangalore's Cubbon Park this November. 
The home minister responded and hence we Report To Remember " 


We will Meet To Sleep for our will to be fearless.
We will Meet To Sleep for our right to be unwarned.
We will Meet To Sleep to build new memory with our very own public parks.



Bring along a mat, a cushion if you like, a blanket , water, snack.
Bring along a potential new Action Hero if you like.
It's on this Saturday, November 28th at 2 pm.
Location will be shared on confirmation only.
phone: 9886840612 ( 9 30 am - 5 30 pm )

There is no excuse for sexual violence. I Never Ask For It. 

This action will be simultaneously built in Pune, Bombay , Jaipur, Bangalore and in your city/ town/place if you sign up to organise.

Yours truly,
Blank Noise Team


BangaloResidency with Goethe Institute Bangalore


We are delighted to announce and welcome Sabine Felber, artist in residence with the 
I Never Ask For It campaign! 

This has been made possible with the generous support of the 
Goethe Institute BangaloREsidency

We also thank Srishti Institute of Art Design and Technology for their generosity and support towards hosting us as Blank Noise, and our fellow artist in resident, Sabine. 

Date : July until August 2015.



Widow. Desire. Conduct. Code. I Never Ask For It



Action Hero Sapna was widowed five years ago. Sapna is expected to wear white or dull colours and live a life of mourning. She contributes to the I Never Ask For It campaign with her desire to wear red. She was harassed and taunted for wanting to wear this garment. She says " It's my wish and my right. I will wear it . I Never Ask For It "

June 23rd marks International Widows Day.  

Build the I Never Ask For It campaign with your testimony . 
Garment is Witness. Evidence. Memory. 

#INeverAskForIt Network-Nominate an 'Action Hero'!

Know someone or a group that does some incredible work on tackling‪#‎sexualviolence‬? Admire an actor, dancer, teacher, gynaecologist, programmer, rapper, singer, filmmaker, poet, neighbour, best friend for their zero tolerance for victim blaming? It even could be you!
Nominate them- or yourself- for the global ‪#‎INeverAskForIt‬ campaign. We'll be getting in touch with all nominees to build actions through which we can all say, #INeverAskForIt.

* Form designed by Action Hero , Rishita Nandagiri

Action Heroes on board as Evidence Gatherers For the I Never Ask For It campaign


Satya Gummuluri 
Ulm Germany
Satya is an artist originally from Bombay. She works with music, writing and
photography, as well as doing freelance translation, editorial and research
work. She has performed and recorded with jazz, world and improvised music
and dance groups in the US, Portugal and India.

Lijya Perayil 
Pune, India
I am currently a student of development at the Azim Premji University in
Bangalore. Conversations and spaces through which gender traverse leave
me fascinated. I love to  recycle, philosophize and travel.

Dr. Preeti Chawla
Bombay, India
I am a doctor & lecturer by profession, with an inclination for women
empowerment , child welfare and motivating the general masses towards
living a fuller life.

Sukriti Suryavanshi
Jaipur / Bangalore, India
My name is Sukriti Suryavanshi, I study Fashion and Design. I read Kamala
Das when no body is looking.

Abhisikta Dasgupta
Hyderabad, India
Hi, I am Abhisikta. I am an Engineer by profession but a rebel, a nomad and
an action hero at heart. I love reading, travelling, painting, dancing and I
speak 4 languages - English, Hindi, Bengali and Tamil (broken).

Ameya Gutta
Goa, India
I'm Ameya - Action Hero, aspiring filmmaker with a passion for
literature, media and culture, in-the-process feminist, lately bitten by the travel
bug.

Neeha Mujeeb
Istanbul, Turkey
Digital analyst, writer, global nomad

Abhishek Chaudhury
New Delhi, India
I am Abhishek Chaudhary, a visual artist and writer.

Anukriti Singh
Lucknow, India



Anubhav Pradhan
Delhi, India
Anubhav is a boring person who reads a lot of boring stuff, writes a lot of boring articles, and edits a lot of boring books. When not doing these boring things, he tries his best to walk, roam, and do his bit against the shrinking of public spaces, and sexism and misogyny.

Jesril Bastina,
Coimbotore,India,
I AM CURRENTLY DOING MY 10TH STD IN ST.FRANCIS SCHOOL . I'M GOOD IN WRITING POEMS AND I ALSO WANTED TO BE A BRAVE WOMAN AND IN FUTURE AS A FEMINIST AND I ALSO WANT TO EXHIBIT MY TALENT OF WRITING POEMS FOR A GOOD SOURCE LIKE MY RECENT POEMS ARE 'GIRLS ARE NOT FOR SALE' AND 'BEWARE OF DOGS' .

Nandini Nagarajan
Hyderabad, India 
Retired scientist living in Hyderabad. Traveled extensively  by train alone on work, also in teams by road. One develops an awareness of surroundings and reliance on judgment that never leaves you. Sadly, more hassles confront women in public today, rather than less. I believe that more women need to be aware, and prepared to move in and occupy the public space and I would like to contribute my tiny effort towards this.

Aru Bhartiya
Aru is involved in research(Economics). Her independent work has been on Menstruation,Society and Religion. She believes the key to finding solutions to a problem is knowledge, which one can gather from sharing and discussing experiences. She wants to be instrumental in creating spaces to facilitate these discussions.

Chirag Sharma 
I am Chirag, working in Pune as an IT Professional (Software Developer) at Infosys Limited.
In my quest to pursue my interest, I will be learning Spanish. In my me time, I like to cook, travel and meet people.  

I want to connect with blank noise because, I feel the urge to set things right, to give what is just for people affected by anykind of mishappening and misbehaving.

#DoingItRight Every Monday


'Mens Baby Change' When you see this sign You know Airport is

Affirmative Action Creates Ripples

Actor and celebrated 'Action Hero' Kangana Ranaut refused to endorse a fairness cream.  #DoingItRight
* Starting the week with some goodness. Look out for our #DoingItRight series every Monday, starting June 1st.

We're also calling for an 'Action Hero' who would be interested in curating ‪#‎DoingItRight‬ . This would mean tweeting 5 affirmative actions happening worldwide to build safe spaces. 
One year on from Safe City Pledge, we celebrate, who, what, where is doing it right, to eradicate gender based violence . Because we need to make the good visible. In saying " I Never Ask For It " here's what we're also asking for. Small steps. Big change. 

Requirement :
> minimum commitment - 1 month
> role- research towards #DoingItRight
> tweeting on Mondays

Rewards:> Action Hero-ism unbound
> Affirmative action could lead to happiness.
Apply. Email blurtblanknoise@gmail.com Starting June 1st !

Action Hero Team includes: Neeha Mujeeb, Sukriti Suryavanshi, Vira Mistry

#DoingItRight Digest ( in order of most recent )

*
26th October, 2015

The day Iceland's women went on strike - Oct 24 #DoingItRight #History
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34602822?ocid=socialflow_twitter

Remembering the Suffragettes // BBC Archives #DoingItRight #History
http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/suffragettes/

Tweet about release of film "Suffragette" and an opening up of debate on women and sexism in Hollywood.

Suffragette writer didn't get a job because she 'didn't flirt enough' #INAFI
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/34471673/suffragette-writer-didnt-get-a-job-because-she-didnt-flirt-enough

Tweet about upcoming Bond release.

Daniel Craig calls out Hollywood's sexist aging double standard #DoingItRight
http://mic.com/articles/127215/daniel-craig-just-called-out-hollywoods-sexist-aging-double-standard

Jennifer Lawrence pens essay on Hollywood sexism
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-34516084

Actresses on the stubborn sexism in Hollywood
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/13/movies/female-stars-talk-candidly-about-sexism-in-hollywood.html?_r=0

Bollywood actresses are challenging sexist stereotypes by cheering on one of their own
http://qz.com/514293/bollywood-actresses-are-challenging-sexist-stereotypes-by-cheering-on-one-of-their-own/

The brutal, sexist harassment Bollywood actresses face on Twitter
http://qz.com/498555/the-brutal-sexist-harassment-bollywood-actresses-face-on-twitter/

Stop the Cyber-War On Women
https://www.facebook.com/cyberwaronwomen?fref=ts

Chvrches singer condemns sexist abuse from online trolls
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-34083834

Mia Matsumiya, a violinist based in Los Angeles, has taken a stand against sexual harassment and abuse online by posting screenshots of offensive messages she's received over the past decade. @mia_matsumiya
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34599600

Retweet:
https://twitter.com/mia_matsumiya/status/656519124470755328

This Woman Was Harassed Over Her Tinder Profile Pic and Now She's Fighting Back
http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/news/a45647/this-woman-was-harassed-over-her-tinder-profile-pic-and-now-shes-fighting-back/

Sexual Violence Won't Be Silenced is a Sydney based advocacy group that combats online sexual harassment @svwbs
https://www.facebook.com/SVWBS

Nice to see a mainstream magazine, Elle, talking about feminism
How to be a Feminist - Carey Mulligan, lead in Sufragette
http://www.elleuk.com/now-trending/how-to-be-a-feminist-by-carey-mulligan


 28th September, 2015

11 young women empowering their communities honoured by the White House https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/09/17/young-women-empowering-their-communities-championing-change  #USA #DoingItRight

Essay by @bonni07 about his girlfriend's experience with harassment. He says, Speak up!!https://medium.com/absurdist/we-need-to-talk-about-sexual-harassment-72a1c6a8e4ae #DoingItRight

A Scientist tackles online casual sexism. She says, Speak up!! -http://blogs.nature.com/naturejobs/2015/08/18/social-media-handling-casual-sexism #STEM #DoingItRight

Recruitment poster in SF sparks comments against woman's appearance & credibility as an Engineer. #STEM #INeverAskForIt

From not making “the right face” to unbelievable as to "what female engineers look like” https://medium.com/the-coffeelicious/you-may-have-seen-my-face-on-bart-8b9561003e0f #STEM #INeverAskForIt 

What does an Engineer look like? Tackling prejudice faced by female engineers and people working in STEM worldwide http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/commentisfree/2015/aug/13/ilooklikeanengineer-how-one-woman-turned-the-tables-on-sexism-in-her-industry #USA #DoingItRight

Licia Ronzulli, Italian Member of European Parliament brings her daughter to her workplace. #Italy #DoingItRight

"To remind people that there are women who do not have this opportunity [to bring their children to work], that we should do something to talk about this." http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/oct/24/high-five-licia-ronzulli-children-workplace 

Barrister names a senior partner at a London law firm who sent her a LinkedIn message praising her "stunning" profile picture. http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/barrister-names-senior-lawyer-who-sent-her-sexist-linkedin-message-a2943031.html #UK #INAFI #DoingItRight

Ending with tweets about Sheetal Sathe of Kabir Kala Manch and her work as an activist.

Sheetal sings of Mothers' hardships providing for their children https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7JRWE64CEw


 7th September, 2015

It's Monday again, ! Today's tweets brought to you by . Here we go...

To wrap up Monday, a poignant story from Flavia Carvalho's free tattoos for DV Survivors

Is this ? Scratching my head here: Designated Women's Parking spots in . Your thoughts?


German group is fighting against sexism in ’s most influential tabloid ‘Bild'.


So gets tough on harassment & sexist ads on public transport w/ laws, fines & more. French Govt

Paris to Bid Adieu to Sexual Harassment on Public Transport. Acts now punishable by law! is


10th August, 2015

This week's brought to you by . An affirmative start to a great week ahead!

Today's list includes the following:

first to grant equal rights to all women irrespective of sexual orientation

Londoner Completes Marathon Without Tampon. Would you have done the same?

Watch these slam artists discuss periods through poetry .

Celebrating Manabi Bandopadhyay, the world's first transgender college principal

Women take to the sky! & first female pilots in their countries

breaking societal norms , rides solo across northern areas

US Navy with 18 months maternity leave. Now how about 18 months paternity leave?

- 98% of people believe homosexuality is morally unacceptable. supporting gay rights


3rd August, 2015


This Monday's #DoingItRight brought to you by @ViraMistry

Today's list includes the following:


The #AbortionPill is finally legalized in #Canada. #DoingItRight providing women with safe options.




27th July, 2015

This Monday's #DoingItRight brought to you by #ActionHero @ViraMistry


Today's list includes the following:

"I’m interested in women being shamed for just having functioning parts " @MsMapes #Artist #Activist #DoingItRight http://bit.ly/1KlHz2f 

Photographer @CareyLynne sets it right #DoingItRight with her American beauties project. We are many kinds beauty http://huff.to/1Ik8hWx 

Central Govt #India announces 3 month paid leave on reporting sexual harassment at work #DoingItRight? Your thoughts? http://bit.ly/1IkasJQ 

#JacksonIrungu #DoingItRight says she has set herself free by becoming a woman #transgender http://bit.ly/1JClcj8 

No one type of cover girl. Yes. We are proud, whole and diverse bodies .@WomensRunning #DoingItRight http://bit.ly/1KlI646  Erica Schenk





July 20th, 2015

Mondays here again! This Mondays affirmative actions brought to u by .

Today's list includes the following:
Is someone somewhere to end sexual gender based violence? Small step Big change. Identify. Add. Share http://goo.gl/forms/M93qZW6byv

"They’re getting bullied...beaten up.. murdered, ... committing suicide”

marries at 60. shifting social norms. Make a new cool.

demands sanitary pad for those in police custody
Calling it what it is. .


Identify a minister/ politician taking a step to end + sexual violence? recent times

responds to question on her weight. https://t.co/ZHZqqIXqRT



July 13th, 2015

#DoingItRight reports affirmative actions to end gender based and sexual violence from around the globe.
Today's list includes the following:

200 lawyers are #DoingItRight by defending two Moroccon women being tried for "indecent dressing" ‪#‎INeverAskForIt‬ http://goo.gl/BzBY9T


India's Supreme Court is #DoingItRight by granting guardianship to an unwed mother without the consent of the father http://goo.gl/3mH9e8

"A feminist? Why do you hate men?" @GynoStar #DoingItRight w/ illustrations on being a ‪#‎Feminist‬ in the modern world http://goo.gl/dkhdJa

Women artists ‪#‎Pakistan‬ #DoingItRight taking forward @Sabeen Mahmud's legacy @TheSecondFloor ‪#‎FreedomOfSpeech‬ http://goo.gl/Vj3OOn
If you smell good news this week, send it our way.
Contribute to #DoingItRight .

https://docs.google.com/…/1THU3IyntjwhNyOXXUNsk2q…/viewform…



June 29th, 2015.

top list #LoveWins @POTUS @usa #DoingItRight  by legalizing gay/lesbian marriage in all 50 states! 

affirmative news is good for you /us.  This monday  tell us who what where is #DoingITRight to eradicate #GBV #VAW @rishie_ 

When you have the courage to #DoingItRight . Many will follow. Affirmative Actions Ripple

.@iamjohnoliver discusses lack of legal consequences for online harrassment of women #DoingItRight #INeverAskForIthttps://youtu.be/PuNIwYsz7PI

Watch the top 7 #DoingItRight ad campaigns selected for the @sherylsandberg @Cannes_Lions Glass Lion award http://goo.gl/NjM1rP

Barnard Women's College will now accept those who identify themselves as women regardless of gender #DoingItRight #LGBTQwww.aol.it/1dQdWbn

NALSAR is #DoingItRight by granting India's first gender neutral graduation certificate. #LGBTQ http://goo.gl/gL0t0N

Clitoris + Glitter = Klittra - Sweden is #DoingItRight by crowd-sourcing word for female masturbation http://huff.to/1H9LtKw

*

June 22nd 2015.
"If you are not yourself, then who are you?" Kids react to Caitlyn Jenner via @SheKnows #DoingItRight #LGBTQ https://youtu.be/eWCZIZwiCkY

2 women and 14 men are #DoingItRight by choosing vulnerability over aggression #Conscription #Lithuania http://goo.gl/2qTIMl 

Vrindavan widows are #DoingItRight with color, play, holi and celebration via @AJENews http://aje.io/gcmj

@MenCareGlobal and fathers from around the world are #DoingItRight in this heartwarming video #FathersDay https://youtu.be/uAFIc4Z_wrQ

@Google is #DoingItRight by tackling #RevengePorn #INeverAskForIt http://gu.com/p/4axmp/stw

June 15 , 2015
‪#‎DoingItRight‬ is brought to you by ‪#‎ActionHeroes‬@SukritiSuryavanshi @ViraMistry @NeehaMujeeb !
‪#‎Iran‬ s step towards ‪#‎DoingItRight‬. Minister ‪#‎AbdolhamidAhmadi‬ approves a govt proposal-allow women watch games http://t.co/hwQQe9hUVR

We celebrate Irani ‪#‎ActionHero‬ @Masih_Alinejad for ‪#‎DoingItRight‬. Build Desire. A wish. https://t.co/8S4oQ0Cjrr http://t.co/U2fFoYVUNj


I NEVER ASK FOR IT : CALL FOR ACTION HEROES AS 'EVIDENCE GATHERERS'

Action Hero Soni, I Never Ask For It.

No excuse for sexual violence I Never Ask For It
Global Call For 'Evidence Gatherers' : Action Heroes Report To Duty. Sleeve roll. Reach Out. 
Round 3 of Evidence Gathering begins on June 5th.
Sign up to build, shape, co create the campaign with testimonies addressing victim blame. ineveraskforit@gmail.com


Evidence Gathering - Team 3 
Farya Lokhanwala
Preeti
Ameya Gutta
Lijya Perayil

Call For Evidence Gatherers

Dear Action Heroes,

We have been working behind the scene this past month and are now reaching out to those of you who would like to be part of our testimonial building/ evidence gathering team for the I Never Ask For It campaign.

If you're interested in volunteering time towards this specifically, please do get in touch at the earliest. 
e: ineveraskforit@gmail.com subject titled Building Evidence 

This is process is divided in three phases. Phase 1 deadline April 20.
We will be sharing further details after your initial email.

Evidence building team includes:
Abhisikta - Hyderabad
Ila - Hyderabad
Teressa - Toronto 
Denisse - Toronto 
Naksha - Pune
Maria - Barcelona
Satya - Ulm
Shalini - Bangalore
Monica-  Bangalore
Priyanka - Bangalore
Anjora - Goa
Farya - Mumbai
Inti - Bueno Aries 
Lijya - Bangalore / Pune
You ?


My Wish. My Right. I Will Wear It


Action Hero Sapna

"I am a widow. My husband always told me to wear my nose pin even if he died. I wear this nose pin and people taunt me for it. According to my religion, women are not supposed to wear gold or any jewellery or the colour red when they become widows.  Widows don’t wear a nose pin. I am thinking of my husbands words and wearing it. What is wrong with that? I’m not wearing sindoor, or anything red.  If I wear a nose pin, what’s wrong with it? Is it a problem? "
I Never Ask For It.

I really wish to wear a pair of jeans and a sleeveless shirt. 
I want to take a photo wearing it on the Puri beach. 
Asking For It.

Action Heroes Build Evidence - Share your testimony




REPORTING TO REMEMBER : I NEVER ASK FOR IT


Building evidence : Public memory



“Mobile phone culture, bad influence of western culture and indecent dressing sense among women as reasons behind rape” 
Uttar Pradesh Police, 
Source: IBN

“Mandatory for girl students to wear overcoats to prevent sexual crimes” .
Minister for Education , forests, electiricity, Puducherry, T Thiagarajan’s decision after the kidnapping and rape of a grade 12 student and an engineering student.
Source: Hindustan Times

“Why would a mother go to a nightclub?”
Transport Minister of WB (TMC), Madan Mitra’s response to Suzzette Jordan’s gangrape in Kolkata.
Source: The Hindu

“Women who cross their limits will pay the price.”
Member of Parliament and BJP leader , Kailash Vijayvargia
Source: India Today

“Rapes take place also because of a woman's clothes, her behavior and her presence at inappropriate places”
National Congress Party Leader, Asha Mirje
Source: Reuters

“Being gay is a mental disorder.”Bharatiya Janata Party member, Dr. Subramanian Swamy
Source: Deccan Chronicle



Reporting To Remember is a pledge to not forget incidents of sexual violence, that have been justified by individuals in power and authority. It takes the form collaborative, participatory, and open research project that archives incidents of gender based violence that have been excused, and therefore permitted. 

We are Reporting to Remember : incidents of sexual violence that have been justified and live in public collective memory. The Reporting To Remember project locates, collects and shares the number of incidents and cases of sexual violence that have been excused, hence allowed, across geographies and contexts.

To contribute to Reporting To Remember is to be part of a collective process of generating evidence. This could be in the form of statements, news reports, articles, blogposts and other public documents.

The Reporting To Remember project values inclusivity in its reports and urges you to share statements from various spaces and locations, and relating to multiple genders, orientations, identities, and intersections. This archive is a collaborative effort and will be publicly shared and sourced. 

*Reporting to Remember*  is a collaborative open archive project as part of the "I Never Ask For It" campaign. It is being facilitated by Blank Noise along with project partners and allies, i.e., you.

Do fill in this form, linking to documents, articles, or posts that you have come across in your contexts, communities and collective memories, that justify sexual violence. 

#ReportingToRemember. 
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/blank_noise
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/BLANK-NOISE/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/blanknoise/
e: blurtblanknoise@gmail.com

Meet To Sleep. Feb 28. Bangalore


Action Hero Lijya





Action Heroes Bhawana Udhani , Satya Gummuluri , Shruti Chandrashekharan, Yamini Deen
Monica Nanjunda, Maria Emille Burger, Lijya Perayil, Rishita Nandagiri




Action Hero Evetta Cardosa with her friends




Satya Gummuluri

"i sleep when i feel like it.
i sleep where i like. i'm just a person who's sleepy, So i sleep. i make myself comfortable - i ignore the unwanted, i let the breeze whisper. i sleep. So what."
"Meet to Sleep was a wake up call - having spent years abroad in places where one moves about with hardly any social scrutiny, I had forgotten what it means to have people question one for something as insignificant as sleeping outdoors while being female. Repressed memories from a time long ago bubbled back up.


Monica Nanjunda:

I slept well in a public park for the first time in my life, when I joined in with the Blank Noise 'Meet To Sleep'. I felt safe only because there were plenty of other people from the group around, who where also sleeping nearby. I wouldn't have the courage to do it alone

It made me so aware of how I am actually not at all comfortable to doze off in any public space. Like for example, public transports. In a bus or a taxi or an auto. I am always scared to go into deep sleep. The realisation makes me angry/frustrated and every once in while, I need this anger to be addressed through activities like meet to sleep. So that I constantly remember this unfairness and not unconsciously accept the way things are.


Lijya Perayil:
I still remember the first time that I tried to put myself to sleep in a park at the first Meet to Sleep event. I consciously spoke to my head and mind to relax, trust the environment and be at peace. I reminded myself of all the strangers in my life who've been good to me or whom I've had good experiences with. It brought a smile to my face and helped me loosen my otherwise ever present guard for the outside. I think I'm getting more and more comfortable indulging in the activity now. Am normalising the act of sleeping in a park in my own head. It's a liberating feeling to be able to do it--Actually sleep in a park. The nap was refreshing and makes me want to do it more often. The feeling after having slept in the park is just incredible .. sort of makes me wonder why I didn't do it before and makes me a little sad of what I've been missing out on for so long!

Shruti Chandrasekaran:
Meeting to sleep reinforced for me the bliss of being oblivious in using public spaces. Being in a group helped me let my guard down and enjoy that beautiful afternoon without worrying about the integrity of my personal space, and the absence of that fear helped me see how it's up to me to place my trust in the environment and use it without constraint- most of my apprehensions stemmed from being brought up thinking being very cautious will help prevent some supposedly inevitable injury. I have subsequently napped by myself in the park and it was great!

Sleep :













We're in the midst of an interim semester with students of Srishti School of Art Design and Technology. New Action Heroes include Diya Pinto, Akash, Manpreet,  Ayush, Swati Khaitan, Rashi, Radhika and Rajalakshmi.

Location: Cubbon Park
Assignment  : Take a nap

Diya Pinto : I have slept out in the open before, and am actually pretty comfortable sleeping out in the open, but as a woman in India, I would never dream about taking a nap in a public park. It is sad, but my memories of Cubbon park have all got to do with some sort of sexual harassment; like the time my friend and I thought we would go to Cubbon Park and meditate but opened our eyes to a group of men who had surrounded us. Or the time I went cycling to Cubbon Park and there was a man jerking off behind a tree, or when we went tree climbing and men decided to sit right beneath our tree, even though there were about a thousand other options. 
The main reason, in all honesty, I fell asleep, was because I trusted the group. I knew someone had their eyes open and would stop anything happening. Knowing that helped me let go and I was asleep in about seven minutes. It was a very restless sleep. the kind an afternoon nap gives me, full of dreams…but upon awakening, it was weirdly empowering to know that I had slept in Cubbon Park, free of men surrounding me when I opened my eyes. 

Rajalakshmi: The idea of falling asleep in a public space with people around and maybe staring at you and walking by, though scary, turned out to be quite relaxing. 

Akash Nandi: Slowly my body went to sleep but not my mind. For some reason I was asleep yet
wide awake and was aware of what was happening. In such a liberal space, I came about my own 
solitude. It was different in a way that all my thoughts passed without judgment, which rarely happens.

Rashi: I sat on my mat. I saw my fellow mates lie down and then I did too. For the first few minutes, I 
looked around to see if they were all comfortable. And then I looked up at the sky, which was on the 
other side of the canopy made by the trees that had grown so tall. I loved looking at the patterns 
they made, the way the leaves swayed. Some leaves fell and it felt like a movie shot. I was slowing 
drifting into my zone and I was relaxed. I closed my eyes and let the play of colours begin. That is 
one thing I relate to my childhood, where I would just sit in the sun with my eyes closed and watch 
one colour turn into another. I don’t remember how and when did I fall asleep. However, I’m sure I 
wasn’t thinking about anything. I was in a happy place. All of this while lying straight, with my face 
looking up and my body relaxed.  I think the initial comfort was because of my friends also 
performing the same activity. If I were alone in the park, I would have not done this. I might not have 
even spent so much time alone in the park. I was comfortable doing this as a part of a group. So 
comfortable that I was able to isolate my presence and feel the space around me as my own.

It was a good experience.

Manpreet:I think i failed at the sleeping exercise. Even though I tried my level best i couldnt fall asleep primarily because i need absolute darkness to fall asleep.However i did manage to relax quite a bit. And i remember that there was a point of time when i reached close to almost drifting away to sleep, but a constant distant scream for help brought me to consciousness. After that i just couldn't sleep...



I Never Ask For It

No woman of any age colour character ever deserves to be sexually violated or what some might lightly call 'eve-teased'. There is no such thing as ' asking for it'.

Send one garment you wore when you experienced street harassment.

Your garment is a witness to the experience.

Your garment is a testimonial.

Together lets say out loud

 I NEVER ASK FOR IT. 

coming up- faqs campaign I Never Ask For It

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