போராட்டத்தில் ஒரு இந்து சகோதரியும் கலந்து கொண்டார்.

பெங்களுருவில் லட்சக்கணக்கானோர் பங்கு பெற்ற போராட்டத்தில் ஒரு இந்து சகோதரியும் கலந்து கொண்டார். அந்த அனுபவத்தை அழகாக விவரிக்கிறார்.

'சகோதரி.... அந்த பக்கம் போக வேண்டாம். அங்கு அதிகம் பெண்கள் இல்லை. உங்களுக்கு பாதுகாப்பாக இருக்காது. பெண்கள் பக்கம் செல்லுங்கள்' என்று இளைஞர்கள் இந்த பெண்ணை பாதுகாப்பாக அரணாக நின்று காத்துள்ளார்கள். இஸ்லாம் அந்த அளவு இளைஞர்களை பக்குவப்படுத்தியுள்ளது. 

December 23rd 2019, Bangalore. Important Notes.

Venue: Khudddus Saheb Eidgah

I had no idea the scale of the protest I was about to enter. The following notes cover the 2 hours of what happened today. It has restored my faith in humanity.

I met Ranjini Murali and her friend (Garima? please correct me) at Trinity Circle, who then drove us till they barred entry on the roads. Lots of people, at 11am, were already there, over 90% were Muslims fighting for their rights, obviously the community that is being marginalised the most was there, it was bittersweet. Indian flags were all over the place. We met Nisha Abdulla and a girl she had met at the venue. We were 8 women. As we walked with our signs, a huge crowd of men protesters were behind us, they started to come forward and we all walked.

As we walked, there were already men who were aware of us and shouted 'give the ladies space', " Ladies hain, hat jao". We walked for about one km, the crowd was getting bigger and it was harder to keep track of my friends even though we were walking together at the same pace - that's how many people were there. On the way, there were volunteers standing on top of a van, who were throwing water bottles to us. After a point, there were a couple of older gentlemen who ushered us to the side.

"please stand here with the other women, don't go more inside there is no space and it will not be safe"

We stood to the side with other other women there and watched the march go ahead, that is when we realised the scale of people there, and the word 'lakhs' was being thrown around, and yes it's no exaggeration.

We protested there for about 30 min, (Hindustan Zindabad) our group decided we needed to get back, we had to go back to work and we all had taken the morning off to do this. But we realised it was going to take us at least 30 min to walk back out of the protest that was now swarming with people, mostly men. Thousands and thousands of them. So we grouped together and started to walk back, we were at least one km away from reaching roads that were clear of people.

A man took notice, and led us, he screamed at the top of his lungs "make way for the ladies" over and over again, and walked us, everyone made way, not one of us felt unsafe. Imagine being in the middle of thousands of Indian men and not being shoved, touched, or violated in any way? Any Indian woman can attest to this. I have NEVER been surrounded by so many people in my life.

But at some point, I realised I had lost my group. The number of people were so many that I could not see even one of my friends. At that point, an older man said 'come with me'. I offered my hand. For half a km he held my hand and pulled me gently through the massive crowds, screaming "lady hain, hat jao, space do, lady hain, hat jao". As I stumbled behind him, tears were streaming down my face, out of shame and joy. The narrative this country is using makes protesters, especially muslim protesters, seem like anti-national terrorists for speaking up- and here I was in a sea of men protesters, who were giving me space, as I was guided by an old man screaming his lungs out for me.

Finally the older man found a small group of students, 3 guys and one young girl (around 20 years old) who had the flag in her hand and was chanting. She stopped to look at me being led by the man, she took me to the side and said "stay with us". Her name is Asma and I think she is a final year BBM student (Hi Asma, and thank you if you are reading this!) She didn't let go of me till she brought me to a small section towards the start of the protest, that had been reserved for women. I stood with some older women protesting for another 15 min. There was a chain of men around us who were holding hands to protect the women. Then, after a bit, I felt like I was close enough to brave it alone, and walked back through the lighter but still quite dense crowds. Everyone gave me my space, a few asked to take pictures of my sign (I am a child of two religions. #secularIndia)

I walked for a few km out on the roads as Police had barricaded the roads leading to the protest. I stopped for a break finally at a coffee day and drank my Iced Americano as I took a breather. The irony of everyday life being cool and chill just a km away from such strong protests was not lost on me.

I now have reports saying there were at least 2 lakh people there, it doesn't surprise me. In the beginning I met a Muslim woman who chatted with me, she said " My Hindu friends don't understand what we are going through" and then we exchanged numbers. She said " If you or your people ever have a problem, call me, we will be there"

I know such humanity exists, and I know this post can even come off as patronising to Muslims, because why the hell would they not be this kind, this amazing, and this outspoken? But it's the mainstream narrative that makes people protesting seem like we are the trouble makers. We're not. You have the best of India in these throngs. The kindness we're all looking for. Before I lost Ranjini Murali, I remember her looking to me and saying "look how many people are here, I think India is going to be alright"

Yes, we are.