Women's Rights and Gandhi
A brutal gang rape of a nun in Kandhamal, a suicide of a ninth standard student in the face of constant harassment in Jalgaon, a journalist shot dead in her car on her way home in Delhi…Incidents of violence faced by countless women daily. In these relentless times, peace and non-violence become quaint words of a man long gone. Political gain overrides peace; intolerance and fear go hand-in-hand. Geeta Mahajan, an activist who has worked on women's human rights for the past few decades speaks about these very threats to women's rights, communalism, violence, peace and Gandhi to Sajana Jayaraj.
“Whatever you do is insignificant; what is important is that you do it.” -- Mahatma Gandhi
Geeta Mahajan is currently the Secretary of Bhartiya Mahila Federation (BMF), Thane Chapter. BMF works actively on issues of violence against women and girls, and also runs a Legal Aid and Counselling Centre for women in Thane, Maharashtra.
JF: What made you join the movement and work with women?
GM: I was doing my PhD in Organic Chemistry from IIT Bombay. The Emergency had just concluded, and all around me, students had come together, discussing the Emergency, the condition of the people, workers and women. Luckily, I also got in touch with old freedom fighters, some of whom were part of the trade movement. I was eager to know their activities, and began attending meetings and visiting workers colonies. Slowly I began to understand the situation. I plunged myself into the movement.
JF: How did your family react to your decision?
GM: (smiles) My parents were displeased. Meanwhile, I had also done the other rebellious thing of getting married to someone from a different caste. Both our respective parents were aghast, but they came around in the end.
My PhD Guide told me that there were many work opportunities for me, but I had made my decision. I could not have done both, and done justice to this work. But I don't feel for a moment that I have not done right. I feel I am right in touch with reality. Otherwise I would be just producing more MSc and PhD holders. If they did something good, it would be nice, but that’s not happening. Corporatisation is so much that knowledge is not used for the good of the people. So I think whatever little I am doing is worthwhile.
JF: You have been working with women for so many years now. How did the shift from trade unionism to working with women happen?
GM: Earlier I was not interested. I never thought I would work with women. I was always with my brothers, being tomboyish. But once, I went to the CPI office in New Delhi. I met a man called Shekhar Reddy who was part of the education department. He asked me, “Geeta, if people like you don't work with women, who will? There are many who are ready to work with trade unions, but what about women?” That changed my mind.
The National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) was founded in 1954, by women freedom fighters, and has offices in all states in India. I was around 27, working with these 60-year old women. Tara Reddy, Renu Chakravarty, Vimla Farooqui, Sarla Sharma, Vimla Dang... I realised that these women were very revolutionary, they were quite rational. I learnt consistency from them. That is how I am still in this work. Otherwise now people work in a place for a few years, and hop away. But unless you are consistent, you will not be able to make a dent.
JF: Some of the women you mention have worked with or have seen Gandhiji during the freedom movement. What has been his influence?
GM: Gandhiji's most important contribution that is relevant today is that he spoke of action that is to be taken. Manju Gandhi, freedom fighter, is 89 years old now. She was a school student in 1930s. One day she got some water from Matunga sea, and told her mother, “I am going to make salt of this, and I won't eat it.” That was the influence of that man. Most of the women from that generation whom I have met have said that they have done the salt satyagraha. He made it so simple. It was a symbolic gesture, everybody took it up, and it challenged British Imperialism.
In today’s context whenever we talk to middle class women about our work, they agree that “something” must be done. But what? They do not know what is to be done exactly; the important thing is to do it. If you bring out one child from an exploitative situation, people say, “What’s the big deal? There are so many like them around.” If you keep saying that, nothing will be done at all.
Right now, we need to evolve creative ideas to bring people along and engage them in current thoughts whether it is communal harmony, against casteism, or women's human rights. We have to make these concepts very lucid and simple.
JF: We are seeing an escalation of violence, of fundamentalism, its endorsement from many quarters, and its huge impact on women today. Do you think Gandhiji's thoughts and ideas are relevant today?
GM: My reason for liking Gandhi is because he took up women's issues. Kamala Devi Chattopadhyaya says that the rate of literacy at that time was 2%. But women were knowledgeable and they came forward in large numbers. He could bring out their latent aspirations. He said “So long as a daughters' birth is not welcomed in India as sons, India will be a paralysed country.” When I work now with people, I think these ideas are very important
Nowadays hardly anyone talks about alcoholism as an issue. Why? And in our Wardha unit, women are struggling everyday with it. There is prohibition there, but women continue to face problems. Recently at a meeting for domestic workers, I asked, “Kiska pati sharab nahi pita hai?” (Whose husband does not drink?) There were hardly 10% women who raised their hands. The rest are all victims who would love to stop alcoholism. I have love for Gandhi for this one reason – he taught our women to picket! Our women picket alcohol shops now.
JF: Do you think today's youth can make a difference? How can we reach out to them?
GM: Why only youth? Any person. Conviction is everything. So I am not worried that young people are not coming forward. Most of our processes are being taken ahead by retired teachers and officers. So how does age matter? Yes, young adolescent boys need to be talked to; they are the ones to whom we can pass on some ideas about human rights of women.
I see a dearth of workers everywhere. Where there is no funding, the unions are coming down. BMF is a fully voluntary organisation and I think that unless volunteerism is developed, we cannot move ahead. It’s true we require money, but volunteerism is the main thing. That could be a Gandhian trend – when you feel associated with a movement, you leave everything and come along.
POWERFUL MEDIUM: Street play on sex selection performed at various ganesh pandals in Thane PHOTO: SAJANA JAYARAJ
As for reaching out to people, I think theatre is very powerful, which we have been using as a tool for many years. Years ago, we had just performed 'Mulgi Zhali Ho' (a girl has been born), and after the performance a man from the audience invited us home. “Please come and meet my sister. She is having the same issues you have spoken about. Can you help her?” I really think theatre can make a difference. Its accessible, it’s democratic, and it liberates you.
