<p>Not only the dress code, but the very title of the protest was also changed to soften the conservative elements who had announced their opposition to the campaign. The rally was named ‘Slut walk arthaat Besharmi Morcha’ (Slut walk that is Shamelessness Rally).<br />“Instead of giving importance to dress-code or the title of the campaign, we wanted to highlight the cause,” said an organiser.<br /><br />Women gathered at Jantar Mantar at 10:30 am and took a walk on the adjoining streets. Unlike their western counterpart who wore scanty clothes to protest the idea that women should avoid dressing like sluts in order to escape victimisation, these protesters were wearing loose trousers.<br /><br /> The concept of a Slut Walk started in Toronto, Canada in April this year after women there staged a protest against a police officer’s remark that “women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimised.”<br /><br />Delhi Slut Walk has a local dimension too in that women have become increasingly unsafe, and the police and administration have been advising women to avoid coming out during night hours.<br /><br />Protesters in Delhi designed the campaign to address gender inequality, gender stereotypes and blaming the victim.<br /><br />As a part of public wakening campaign against rape, a street play was also performed which called upon the people not to become mute spectators to the incidents of women-victimisation.<br /><br />“Ladki tere baap ki jagiir nahin”; “Believe it or not, my short skirt has nothing to do with you!”; “Mujhe bus mein safar karna hai, english wala suffer nahin”- these were the posters young students were holding in their hands.<br /><br />Social activist and actor Nafisa Ali, was the only celebrity present at the march. She said that every day was a struggle for the woman and this had to stop, and thus she supported the movement strongly.<br /></p>
<p>Not only the dress code, but the very title of the protest was also changed to soften the conservative elements who had announced their opposition to the campaign. The rally was named ‘Slut walk arthaat Besharmi Morcha’ (Slut walk that is Shamelessness Rally).<br />“Instead of giving importance to dress-code or the title of the campaign, we wanted to highlight the cause,” said an organiser.<br /><br />Women gathered at Jantar Mantar at 10:30 am and took a walk on the adjoining streets. Unlike their western counterpart who wore scanty clothes to protest the idea that women should avoid dressing like sluts in order to escape victimisation, these protesters were wearing loose trousers.<br /><br /> The concept of a Slut Walk started in Toronto, Canada in April this year after women there staged a protest against a police officer’s remark that “women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimised.”<br /><br />Delhi Slut Walk has a local dimension too in that women have become increasingly unsafe, and the police and administration have been advising women to avoid coming out during night hours.<br /><br />Protesters in Delhi designed the campaign to address gender inequality, gender stereotypes and blaming the victim.<br /><br />As a part of public wakening campaign against rape, a street play was also performed which called upon the people not to become mute spectators to the incidents of women-victimisation.<br /><br />“Ladki tere baap ki jagiir nahin”; “Believe it or not, my short skirt has nothing to do with you!”; “Mujhe bus mein safar karna hai, english wala suffer nahin”- these were the posters young students were holding in their hands.<br /><br />Social activist and actor Nafisa Ali, was the only celebrity present at the march. She said that every day was a struggle for the woman and this had to stop, and thus she supported the movement strongly.<br /></p>
