Page 35 - English Tehelka Issue 5 - March 15, 2018

q&a interview

Shehla raShid Shora become a face of the youth of dissenters and, thereby, creating India to the US — are organising to
Political activist India. Can the voice of a female an environment where violence demand educational and political
activist help change prejudiced and harassment is okay. They are rights. Right-wing governments
‘Women must stake claim to leadership roles mindsets? creating a new normal. We have to across the world are trying to
crackdown on students because we
Yes, but there won’t be a tangible
organise and make the point that
ask intelligent questions.
harassment is not okay. I do not
improvement in women’s condition
and public life to improve their condition’ until and unless enough women have hopes from the government, wing government does is cut down
The first thing that any right-
as government is benefiting from
are in leadership roles and public
the funding on education. Educated
the activities of abusive trolls. But
life. Till the time there is only a
handful of us who are outspoken, we must organise to put pressure people who are equipped to ask
we will keep echoing men’s views. on political leaders, government questions are bad news for any
Shehla raShid Shora, Political Activist, On the occasion of International roles is that there will be a decline We have to be one another’s functionaries and social media government which wants to engage
former Vice-President JNU Students’ Women’s Day, what message would in sexual violence. We have to support system, and develop an platforms. in corrupt practices, subversion
Union and Ph.D. Scholar at JNU, is one you like to give to the women of pave way for women of the next independent voice on issues. This The Prime Minister should stop of Constitutional values and/or
of the few young women leaders in our country? generation. We must understand will take a lot of structural changes. following abusive, hate-speech communal violence. Our humble
the country today. Unafraid to speak Women have to start staking their that we are just beneficiaries of the Women’s education and economic peddling Twitter users. As a political role, as student activists, is to remind
her mind, she is often in the midst of claim in positions of power and struggles by women in the past. We empowerment is an urgent and activist, I routinely discourage people of their rights, remind people
controversies and at the receiving end decision making, and we must not have not had to fight for the rights crucial area that requires a lot my supporters from hurling that they deserve better.
of online trolls. In an interview with be ashamed to do so. It is okay for and freedoms that we have. So, we of work. I believe that increased
pari saikia, the feisty youth icon says men to be ambitious and prioritise must not squander our freedoms, but participation of women can also What’s your take on women’s
that the struggle is worth it as it will their career and their ambitions expand them further for the sake of pave way for a more progressive Women will be participation in politics of India,
encourage more females to come out and of leadership. We, women, need to younger women. politics, as women have first-hand especially Muslim women?
claim their legitimate share in leadership stop being ashamed of prioritising experience of oppression and safe from violence The representation of women in
roles that have been denied to them. our goals. One tangible result of Time and again, you have been can, hopefully, relate better with legislatures is several times less
women’s participation in public life vocal against various harassments, oppressed people. only when their than their population percentage.
edited excerPts from an interview • and representation in leadership be it online or on roads, and have representation I’ve been quite vocal about my views
You are trolled incessantly for on the subject, so I’ll put it in very
being anti-Modi; being a woman in Parliament, on simple terms. If men want their
and also a Muslim worsens the the streets, and in daughters and sisters to be safe
right-wing attacks on you. Do you from sexual violence, then they need
think women are at the receiving institutions will be to support women and help them
end of such criticism because of equal to that of men get into positions of leadership.
their gender and that it isn’t so in They need to encourage women in
the case of men? their families to go out and claim
The sexualised, graphic and violent their share — nothing short of half
nature of comments made by abuses at BJP supporters. I often the earth and half the sky. It is only
online trolls has convinced me that disown violent words and tell my when the representation of women
these are mostly men who are so supporters not to use sexist abuses in the Parliament, on the streets,
misogynistic that they haven’t had for opponents. I feel that all political and in institutions is equal to that of
female friends, or the chance to leaders, especially women from all men that women will be safe from
converse with women as equals. parties, need to do this. Twitter and violence.
I often wonder how they interact Facebook have a virtual monopoly A lot of communal politics is
with women in their family. They on social media and, therefore, played around tropes related to
must be very abusive or dominating they need to act more proactively Muslim women. The same party
at home too. These people have a and suspend accounts of people whose leaders advocate rape
phobia of independent women, and who engage in such organised of Muslim women talks about
they are the ones who end up having harassment. ‘liberation’ of Muslim women. I really
fascist beliefs and ultra right-wing think it is time for more Muslim
ideologies. Is student politics gaining women to come into public life and
significance in India at a time leadership and speak for themselves.
What is the best way in which when polarized politics is being Muslim men will have to play a huge
you believe that trolls can be played? What role do you see role in this. They have to support
dealt with? yourself playing here? Muslim women get into these roles.
The ruling party is engaging in Students across the world - from
organised harassment by targeting Chile to Germany to South Africa to letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 15 march 2018 35 www.Tehelka.com

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