Justice to Bilkis Bano and other women subjected to violence

A 2002 Gujarat gangrape survivor Bilkis Bano who also lost 14 family members including a 3 years old daughter lives in the fear of 11 convicts who have been set free by the government with the consent of court. The rapists and murders were not only honoured but a BJP MLA, who was on the committee to decide remission of sentence, has described some of the convicts as sanskari Brahmins. While Bilkis Bano clearly became a fodder for communal politics, especially in Gujarat, recent murders of Ankita Bhandari in Uttarakhand and Shraddha Walkar in Delhi and complaints and protest against sexual harassment of women wrestlers against the president of Wrestling Federation of India, a powerful member of Parliament of BJP, shows that patriarchy has a virtual stranglehold over our society. Starting from 1848 school for girls by the Phule couple we have come a long way where women are formally not denied any position previously considered only male bastions but how long do we have to go before we can truly call ourselves a gender equal society inclusive of the now prominent and visible LGBTQIA+ community?

Date and day: 11 February, 2023, Saturday

Time: 11 am to 1 pm

Venue: Lamakaan, Off Road No. 1, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad