So, I left off last time with the start of the journey but where I
want to/need to start now is a few miles down that road. This part of my
life was the part that was defined by the 'arrogance of youth', my
youth.
Its the part that has been crying out to be said out loud to the extent where I feel that I am beginning to glimpse what Rilke referred to in his 'Letters to a Young Poet' and when Maya Angelo said 'There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you'. It is a burden, which if I do not let go off, then movement forward will not be true. That is not to say that I was ever silent, those of who know me, know that I speak my mind and don't hold back at times with unintended results!
That part of me comes from this phase in my life, it comes from never letting a voice go unheard. It comes from a place of a 20 year old girl struggling to find a place for herself in one of the strongest women's movements of her time in her country and a place for herself within the Criminal Justice System that still epitomized all the cliches you can think of. 'I have an opinion that will be heard', my age and my gender go against me but I will not let that be a hindrance to the path I have undertaken. Such self-righteousness and arrogance had to come to a head at some point!
So this is my truth and I reclaim the arrogant youth that I was, it was that youth that has led me to be where I am now. It is that part of the journey that allows to be unafraid of challenges/or being challenged- because only when you engage with criticism and challenge with an open mind do you grow.
This is what I needed to say as a preamble before talking about some of the amazing work I got be a part of from 2000-2008 and to help shape and influence some of the thinking and creativity with which the Rajasthan women's movement engaged on issues of violence against women. A movement that has been and remains to this day an inspiration, that made me want to be a part of it while I was still a student. The landmark judgements and legislation's that this state alone had to its name, meant I wanted to be there, I wanted to know what was so special about this group or people and organisations, how had they achieved so much that I got to read about their work in our Gender and law class.
Its my preamble to what helped me set up and run the first Mahila Salah evam Suraksha Kendra (MSSK- A holistic redressal centre for women facing violence) along with an amazing and inspiring group of women. The name MSSK was the only concession I made to the concept and vision I had in mind! A collaboration between 9 ( later 12) women's organisations and the State Police.
To be continued...
Its the part that has been crying out to be said out loud to the extent where I feel that I am beginning to glimpse what Rilke referred to in his 'Letters to a Young Poet' and when Maya Angelo said 'There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you'. It is a burden, which if I do not let go off, then movement forward will not be true. That is not to say that I was ever silent, those of who know me, know that I speak my mind and don't hold back at times with unintended results!
That part of me comes from this phase in my life, it comes from never letting a voice go unheard. It comes from a place of a 20 year old girl struggling to find a place for herself in one of the strongest women's movements of her time in her country and a place for herself within the Criminal Justice System that still epitomized all the cliches you can think of. 'I have an opinion that will be heard', my age and my gender go against me but I will not let that be a hindrance to the path I have undertaken. Such self-righteousness and arrogance had to come to a head at some point!
So this is my truth and I reclaim the arrogant youth that I was, it was that youth that has led me to be where I am now. It is that part of the journey that allows to be unafraid of challenges/or being challenged- because only when you engage with criticism and challenge with an open mind do you grow.
This is what I needed to say as a preamble before talking about some of the amazing work I got be a part of from 2000-2008 and to help shape and influence some of the thinking and creativity with which the Rajasthan women's movement engaged on issues of violence against women. A movement that has been and remains to this day an inspiration, that made me want to be a part of it while I was still a student. The landmark judgements and legislation's that this state alone had to its name, meant I wanted to be there, I wanted to know what was so special about this group or people and organisations, how had they achieved so much that I got to read about their work in our Gender and law class.
Its my preamble to what helped me set up and run the first Mahila Salah evam Suraksha Kendra (MSSK- A holistic redressal centre for women facing violence) along with an amazing and inspiring group of women. The name MSSK was the only concession I made to the concept and vision I had in mind! A collaboration between 9 ( later 12) women's organisations and the State Police.
To be continued...
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