City Nightmare: Eve Teasing

It can be office & anywhere else: There is a motley group of people at a bus stop. Two boys on a motorbike pull up and start needling a couple of girls. Sleazy remarks are passed and one of the boys even grabs a girl’s hands. The enraged girls start fighting back, a few bystanders get involved and the boys are taken to task. The situation slowly cools down, the boys are let off the hook with a few threats and the girls board their bus, vindicated.

The dressing has lot to do with eve-teasing : With intrusion of western culture, the dessing of delhi woman has changed drastically in last decade or so, it might not be the sole reason but yes it does attrcts eve teasers. This scene could be an everyday occurrence in Delhi. Except for one detail—the harassers, the harassed and a couple of the bystanders are actors who have just enacted a skit that their ‘audience’ is unaware of, as a part of something known as ‘Invisible Theatre’.In invisible theatre, a previously rehearsed skit addressing a social theme is performed in a public space without the people’s knowing that it is a play.

Defend youself: Girls are motivated to learn at leats basic defensing tactics, and knowing few martial arts kicks and punches can help them. Often, the actors will not just consist of the oppressors and the oppressed, but also those pretending to be passers-by who voice strong opinions, as a means of encouraging the ‘real’ passers-by to do the same. The concept is part of the Theatre of the Oppressed, developed by Brazilian director Augusto Boal in the 1970s. “This was during the time of the military junta, when there was heavy censorship.

Kick them down: In Delhi, invisible theatre is being used as a means to provoke discussion. Like the series of skits done in March 2007 by Jamghat, a Delhibased NGO that rehabilitates street children. The group has done 40 performances in buses on the theme of sexual harassment.

Beware of strangers: “The idea is that the impact will be more. If people see something unfolding in front of them they will react and take action,” says Amit Sinha, director of Jamghat. Iyer clarifies: “Invisible theatre is not about making someone a ‘bakra’, it’s not condescending. It’s about responsibility, humility and learning.”For most actors, this is a new genre and there are some things to keep in mind. “The group needs to come together and understand why they are doing this. They have to trust each other and know when to stop,” says Iyer. “The actors have to follow certain guidelines. They have to know how to involve people and control the situation, making sure it doesn’t get violent,” adds Sinha.The theme and response depends on the location. In rural areas, Iyer has had teams cover issues of panchayat voting and women’s reservation. In Delhi, the issues have been smoking and harassment.“People were far more responsive in outer Delhi compared to those in the city. Apathy is an urban phenomenon. It’s different in rural areas, there’s more involvement,” she says. But it’s not easy to get a reaction. Sinha talks with frustration of the indifference his team encountered on the buses. “People in Delhi are not bothered. Sometimes, other women in the bus even told our girls to not make a big deal,” he says. Iyer is more charitable: “A few of the boys who were part of the bus performances understood by the end of the project how harassment affects girls.That was the high point. There is so much possible. The ultimate aim is to get people to change.”

Offenses against Women in India
Acid Attacks on women
Molestation in empty train compartments
Outraging of Modesty in Offices
Sexual Harassment
Eve Teasing in Buses, etc
Sexual Assaults in Discotheques, Pubs, Public places
Humiliation of Women
Jayabala Asher was pushed out of the running train by Drug addicts in Mumbai.
Stalking & Following
Alcoholic Offenses