Chandigarh marches for women’s rights to public spaces

Chandigarh: Exactly a week after 29-year-old Varnika Kundu’s car was chased by two drunken men in Chandigarh, women from across the city gathered to reclaim the streets.

The ‘Bekhauf Azaadi’ march started at 10 pm on the Geri route in Sector 10, passing through Sector 11. The demand was for freedom from patriarchial norms which restrict women under the pretext of safety. “Sadke bhi hamari, galiyan bhi hamari, raatein bhi hamari, aur raat ke chand sitare bhi hamare. (The streets are ours, so are the alleys. The night is ours and so are the moon and the stars),” they chanted.

“The Geri route is considered unsafe for women, so we decided to start from here at 10 pm the time when girls are not supposed to go out,” says 29-year-old Amarjot, one of the organisers. The route, where high incidences of sexual harassment and stalking are reported, passes through various colleges.

Men and women participated in the march and many performed street plays, recited poetry and delivered speeches.