Look UP dear women, enough is enough: Giri
TANVI BAMBOLKAR, CUNCOLIM | 06 February 2016 21:35 IST
Devshala Giri inaugurating Chitrangi (Photo: Antara Bhide)
Woman should learn to look Up with an eye contact with others. That will make her more confident, her gesture would automatically change and also her language, feels Devshala Giri, a social activist from Mumbai.
Speaking at the inaugural function of the two-day ‘Chitrangi’ convention of Konkani Bhasha Mandal, Giri said the Indian woman needs to be build her confidence right from the basics.
“We are taught from the childhood to walk with our head bent. This is the first step of losing confidence. This should reverse to make the woman confident and courageous”, she said.
According to her, this would also help in studying the mentality of men around us and identify who are the perpetrators.
While crimes against women by men are on a rise in the country, we are still looking towards men to protect us from these crimes. Instead, why not ourselves become strong enough to counter these assaults, she asked.
Addressing a large gathering of students and youth, especially girls, at the CEC College of Cuncolim, Giri felt that woman becoming unable to protect herself from sexual or physical assaults is living like a disabled persons in spite of being physically fit.
Pointing out at practical issues in a day-to-day life, she said women ask questions when they already know the answers but they keep quite when they are supposed to ask questions.
“There is a tendency of blaming ourselves even for silly mistakes from less salt in food to bigger issues like rapes. This has to stop. Women need to stop explaining and justifying why they have done mistakes,” said Giri, who works actively in the fields of health and education.
It is true that 70 to 75% rapists or assaulters are known persons. But that should not lead to doubting every man, she advised the gathering.
Supporting this view, Prabhakar Timble, in his key note address, said it is high time men realise that even women need to have a choice to play a role they feel happy in playing.
“If girls remain weak in any sense, boys shall also remain weak. Both genders need to co-exist in harmony and thus they need to understand each other’s issues,” said the retired principal.
While speaking about the questions of new-age girls and boys who have already started doing multiple roles, he said they need to have freedom of choice about what they wear, what they sing, which religion they choose to follow.
“But, to assert these choices the youngsters need not be arrogant. You can assert your choices in a cool and calm manner, but with conviction”, said Timble.
Konkani Bhasha Mandal president Chetan Acharya, CES chairman Madhukar Desai, CES College Principal Dr Savita Nadkarni and Chitrangi coordinator Nityanand Naik were also present on the dais.
