Delhi, taking cue from other cities in the world (the Slut Walk started in Toronto on April 3, 2011) also had it's own 'Besharmi Morcha' on July 31, 2011.
It was spearheaded by a few courageous young women who took the risk of defaming themselves and also, possibly, putting their own personal safety at risk. Ultimately, only about 50 odd girls turned up. From reports in the media, the media personnel nearly outnumbered the actual participants. I am glad to write that no untoward incident was reported and the walk passed off peacefully. The Delhi Police also provided adequate protection during the whole event.
The aggresive posture of the idea of slut walk was abandoned, and it was more a morcha of women raising their voice against the idea that girls who behave differently were to be labelled as sluts.
The event had a Facebook page (SLUT WALK DELHI 2011) that saw some very heated discussion during and also after the event.
In a society that is constantly re-evaluating it's concept of 'right' and 'wrong', 'moral' and 'immoral', the Slut Walk added a new voice.
What came out to be prominent was that most of the feminist voices chose to remain silent when they should have come out to show solidarity with these women.
Delhi still remains the center for rape, female feoticide, dowry deaths, domestic violence against women in India. The majority of women still feel unsafe going out on the streets alone fearing that they might be sexually assualted in one form or the other. Nothing has changed due to the Slut Walk. The overwhelming majority of women still cannot choose to wear the kind of clothes that they want to wear without feeling the need to scrutinise the reprecussions that might come with it. They still do not have the freedom to make the choice of clothing.
But, a few middle class college students have stood up. They have nothing to be ashamed of. They do not have to explain or apologise. They have exercised their right to freedom of expression. The world is a more beautiful place because of them.
