BLANK NOISE: November 2016

24.11.16

A Question

Poll For #ActionHeroes : #IFeelSafe When
— Blank Noise (@Blanknoise) November 24, 2016

Ask an obvious question.
Spell out an answer.
Take The Poll
#INeverAskForIt

" Don't Hold Back "

Jack And Jones Advert Endorsed by Ranveer Singh

Million ways in which #DontHoldBack can be affirmative message, BUT @jackjonesindia @RanveerOfficial chose Sexism. No Excuse. I Never Ask For It

Brand- Jack and Jones
Brand Design by : Marching Ants
Endorsed by : Ranveer Singh ( Bollywood Actor)

23.11.16

Walk Alone. Akeli Awaara Azaad ( Alone / Wanderer / Free ) : Register

Have you walked, not having to think twice about the width of your smile,the length of your blouse, skirt, tee neck, sleeve.

Have you clenched your fist so hard ,worn a frown, sharpened elbows out ?

Does your daily list of every place, person, garment you ‘avoid’/ deny reveal a larger something- that you decide where to go, how to go, what time to go, what clothes to go in, with whom to go based on your safety?

Have you too been warned, just like me, about places, our bodies, our clothes, our cities, our streets?

An environment that constantly reminds women and girls to be careful , is also messaging out “ you experienced violence because you were not being careful enough”. Warnings lead to blame, blame leads to silence and shame. Our environments need to be made safe and inclusive, rather than have women carry the weight of warnings and fear. #INeverAskForIt #WalkAlone Towards Freedom From Fear.

Blank Noise, in joined forces with Why Loiter, Take Back The Night Kolkata , Amnesty India

100 Action Heroes #WalkAlone

Friday, 2nd December

anytime between

9 pm - midnight

Women occupy streets at night.

Alone. Wandering. Walking.

Stop To Gaze At The Stars

Smell the night blooming flowers

We are many

We are visible

Action Heroes co create safe spaces

We Walk Alone, Together ;

Towards Freedom From Fear

Here’s how: identify site ( is it unfamiliar / unknown / desired? )

/ register / walk alone/ document / share

* Register here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfbt8nEzb28KlOLxq2K5CIgrT0NXpse-FWDLAjURrxe9TSUcQ/viewform

* Read event faqs here

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1t-XoQ24pOyq13isfnpbeXN-PrZ_Z0DMeBeBbCZNGxC4/edit

Action Heroes and allies have registered from cities across India and beyond

A complete list will be out on the 2nd December morning.

Walk Alone was initiated in 2015 and has been built by Action Heroes and organisational allies from across cities/ towns/ countries including Ranchi, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Philadelphia, Braunschweig, Toronto, Karachi, Melbourne, Koppa, Kohima, Shillong.

Yours truly,

Blank Noise Team

Contact : actionhero@blanknoise.org / 91.9886840612

English:

German

Event faqs https://docs.google.com/document/d/1t-XoQ24pOyq13isfnpbeXN-PrZ_Z0DMeBeBbCZNGxC4/edit

reach out actionhero@blanknoise.org

19.11.16

Action Heroes Will Walk Alone Once Again on December 2, 2016 !

Action Heroes Walk Alone on September 25

The right to live without warnings

Freedom From Fear

I Never Ask For It.

Walk Alone on December 2nd

Action Hero Lisa

Braunschweig, Germany

I walked through the complete inner city (which isn't large) in the early morning hours (1-3 a.m.) to conquer my fear of drunk party folks.

Action Hero Madhura

Bangalore

Action Hero Chryselle

Goa

Via twitter

Lucky to #WalkAlone in goa where generally people leave you alone even when you’re dressed in shorts at 10:30 pm # adifferentIndia

Tweet:

Many men about. The only women around are at the casinos- waiting to enter or leave. With male companions, of course. #WalkAlone

Tweet:

It’s rainy tonight and the streets are deserted. And perfectly lovely. #Walk Alone.

Action Hero Fiona

Melbourne

Action Hero Gayathri

Bangalore

I have never walked alone in India at 11:30pm, ever. That statement by itself sounds quite weird, since I tend to prefer walking and don't usually shy from it (during the daytime, at least). It’s not that I don’t go out at night; I do but it's always in the safety of my car or with friends and family who can “protect” me. So, this #walkalone was a first for me. At first, I admit that I had to force myself to not keep looking back every few steps or jump at every extra loud sound but by the end of the walk, it felt like freedom and victory. I felt encouraged and like solitary walks maybe one of the best way to connect with myself. Through this walk I learned to better trust my instincts, take courage to keep going and most importantly, put a little more faith in the goodness of humanity, I suppose.

Action Hero Jennifer Fatogun

Bangalore

Being able to walk into the night, in silence, savouring the air that is free off car exhaust fumes and the dust kicked up by endless wheels grinding on the ground, felt almost like heaven. No, it felt better, it felt like freedom.

Action Hero Sascha Hughes Caley

Philadelphia

Via Twitter

“Renegotiating public space in Kensington. The right to live unwarned”

Action Hero Satya Gummuluri

Location: 25th Wilson Garden, Bangalore

“A curious policeman stopped to inquire and warn me about chors in the area as i took the selfie”

Action Heroes/ Friends and Allies Jagori Jagori Suneeta Dhar , Yael Silliman, Madhu Khetan

Location: Ranchi

Action Heroes Lijya Perayil +

Pune

Being in the front I loved choosing which streets to take. Since nobody was in front of me for most of the time, I didn't have an eye on anyone, except when sudden gushes of worry would engulf my mind and I'd look back to check on the rest of you and be assured of your safety.

I didn't feel any sense of threat at all. Possibly because I knew the rest of you were behind me and mentally I was thus feeling reassured. Plus, while some streets in that area I was taking for the first time, largely I was familiar with most parts of it. While walking in Patrakar Nagar, I felt many curious looks coming my way, especially when I reached the dead end near the police colony and decided to sit on the corner bench amongst the groups of men hanging around on the benches. Telin was still a while away at that point and it looked like I was alone. I couldn't see her. Even at that point I didn't feel threat or scared. I felt onlookers around give me a look of concern and wonder.

It felt absolutely great to reconnect and meet you and Kahini (after such a long time!) and I'm glad this Blank Noise project introduced me to a gem of a person that is Sayali :) I enjoyed all of your company thoroughly and it felt good to get out and do this with the action hero spirit in each of you.

And Yes, may we be able to do many more indeed! Cheers (clink** clink**)

Sayali Patwardhan

Since I have a little one, and its been my husband and me that we take care of her - I was almost certain that I would participate in the walk for an hour or an hour and a half. However, after we began our event and started walking, time flew past; I was enjoying myself and was taking in the new experience, and didn't feel like leaving half way and going back...so I decided to stay...and I let my hubby know that I would return later.

The time of the night when we walked was not that late - people were carrying out their mundane, day to day things; and we were on a mission; at least that is how I felt it - I was out to experience and explore something new, completely novel, without any preconceived notions or expectations. This was in complete contrast to the busy life that was taking place all around us...that was a bit funny - in the sense that, I think because there was so much regular/routine stuff going on all over, we didn't get a real/fair chance to experience perhaps what we may have during quieter/later/wee hours. Do you agree with me?

Needless to say, doing the walk during later hours would be an altogether different experience!, including the fact that we would perhaps be a lot less comfortable, ready, willing, to participate. What do you all think?

Opposed to Lijya's placement in our ant-line walk, I was at the other end. I was the last one in the line. I was constantly trying to maintain a reasonably large distance between Kahini (second last in the line) and me. I was slowing down my pace (since usually walk quite briskly, that is my natural pace), starting later; trying out such stuff. At times this became a bit challenging. I had to remind myself of the distance - I thought that to an outsider we should not look like a group, so we had to be far apart and yet be able to see the person next in line...this is my interpretation.

On the whole, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I liked the bonding. I would definitely like to do more and more such things with you all in the coming days...

I also think that if everyone likes, we could also meet up now and then for talking, just hanging out, discussing things, and doing that which are not explicitly BN themes related. I think it would be nice to create and be a part of such a community. How do you all feel?

Shrishtee Bajpai

Pune

It was great meeting you folks last week. I had really good time walking not so akeli, not so awara and some bit aazad with you all. I say not so akeli because I did have a sense of security and conformity that I am not really alone. not so awara because I am still trying to completely be myself while I am on the roads.. and I did feel a bit Aazad because I did it, we all did it and we walked together doing our bit to reclaim spaces for women.

I think that is a really good start for me and I am glad that I could join you guys. Thank you Lijya for informing and ringing me up.

Let's do it again. more often..

Action Hero Sunayana Roy

Bangalore

(Via twitter)

Interesting how much security I derive from having my phone in my hand when I’m out late at night #WalkAlone

Sat own for a break on the kerb because I’ve been up since 5 am and my legs hurt

Behind me, the lights of Bangalore’s Outer Ring Road #WalkAlone

Ahead of me a dark road towards big office Buildings #WalkAlone

Behind me is a bus park. Wanted to walk through it but decided at 10:30 was not the time after all.

Action Hero Rukaiya

Location city/ place unknown.

The experience of walk alone was awesome.A girl should have enough mental power to walk alone in night. She should explore her desired places.

Action Hero Abhisikta Dasgupta

Bangalore

I walked in Koramangala area of Bangalore, India, on the main road, on the inner roads, on the roads with street lights (for the selfies), and on the roads without.

Why you ask? Well, just because I wanted to.

This wasn't the first time I walked alone after dark, but it was the first time I roamed around on the streets without a purpose.

I wasn't scared, but I wasn't cautious as well this time around. I didn't keep my eyes and ears open to be ready for some unknown danger.

I had my headset on, blasting music into my ears, and I roamed around singing, dancing, walking, jumping, doing a spin once in awhile.

I passed a few late night chai shops on my way, mainly crowded by men with a few girls around, who had come out with their male companions. Most of them looked at me with an inquisitive curiosity, I guess they were trying to decipher in their head, what I was upto and it made me laugh, which I guess made them even more curious.

I felt no fear. I felt happy, I felt sad (Arijit Singh's songs always make me cry) and I felt liberated.

Action Hero Paramita Majumder

Bangalore

I walked on the street , not very far from my house, around 8.15 PM.. Since it was a Sunday the streets wore a deserted look . Most shops, however were open . I walked the entire stretch of the street. I did not face any curious glances in my direction.. However, I did notice that hardly any unaccompanied women were on the street. There were people making last minute purchases from the the vegetable and grocery shops. Many young men were standing near the tea stalls smoking or drinking tea and chatting . No big groups anywhere....just two or three men standing .

Rutuja Chitra-Tarak

Bangalore

I was excited to do the #WalkAlone at the Majestic area, for it seemed quite challenging and interesting of a public space at night than the residential area I live in. I had a friend from Egypt to join me in the walk, who had gone through an extreme case of sexual harassment last year in India, so we had to take calculated risks as well. Ultimately we ended up four women walking together, but since even that is not common, it was still something that needed to become the norm. Being together gave us enough fearlessness to explore those lanes and spaces that I wouldn’t have tried walking alone right in the beginning of this adventure.

We began walking from Majestic bus stand and then into the small lanes that led us into closely packed residential area, with at times 6 feet wide lanes. Lanes were lit with yellow lights, but at 11 in the night, only men were to be seen onto the lanes. One of the friends mentioned how only 3 women were found during the wholewalk—one was filling water outside her house and others were accompanied by men. The number of men had decreased as we moved from bus stand into the small lanes. It also became steadily quiet and with time. Groups of men were found to be chatting casually in the. To me we got relatively few stares than I was expecting and only one significant comment from a group of 15 men. But that’s all.

We were pretty relaxed actually, casually roaming about, stopping by to check out film posters, trees, almost 6 feet wide small lanes at times... it was quite fun actually. Those lanes with double storied chawls/houses looked quite something to observe. The area is not that pretty I felt—especially in the night, the cement concretish material of the footpath, when dirty and broken gets into you. And to see homeless people sleeping right onto the foothpaths. Great time to inspect the city nevertheless.

At the end of the walk wished to walk again, somewhere else, alone.

The following Action Heroes also Walked Alone on September 25

Action Hero Atreyee ,Toronto

Action Hero Seema Seth

Action Hero Eman Soliman

Action Hero Vasundhara

Hahaha Sangha Saturdays initiated by Yelahanka Action Heroes !

HaHaHa Sangha led by The Yelahanka Action Heroes was re initiated, today, November 19th, 2016 after a three year break! We are thrilled to re convene. Hahaha Sangha will meet every Saturday at 9 am. (Link to view the first Hahahah Sangha cycle)

Action Hero Yashodra ( President of the Sangha)

Action Hero Sampige ( Hahaha Sangha Mantri/ Minister)
Action Hero Chandramma
Action Hero Padma
Action Hero Vira
Action Hero Renuka
Action Hero Frauke
Action Hero Vishal
Action Hero Victoria
Action Hero Usha
Action Hero Radha
Action Hero Amrita
Action Hero Ratnamma
Action Hero Jasmeen

Laugh

Roar

Giggle

Witch like

Cackle

Scream

Howl

Gurgle

Chuckle

Snort

Occupy.

I know you.

I see you .

I love you.

I thank you.

Action Heroes Co Create Safe Spaces.

Initiate a Hahahah Sangha where you live.

Be a Neighbourhood Action Hero.

Connect. Mobilise. Occupy. Laugh.

reach out actionhero@blanknoise.org

Yours truly,

Blank Noise Team

Hahaha Sangha Saturdays initiated by Yelahanka Action Heroes !

Laugh

Roar

Giggle

Witch like

Cackle

Scream

Howl

Gurgle

Chuckle

Snort

Occupy.

I know you.

I see you .

I love you.

I thank you.

Action Heroes Co Create Safe Spaces.

Be a Neighbourhood Action Hero.

Initiate a Hahahah Sangha where you live.

Connect. Mobilise. Occupy. Laugh.
Reach out actionhero@blanknoise.org

Yours truly,

Blank Noise Team