Open Mikes

Apne Aap hosts open mike sessions with women and girls from red light districts and marginalized communities. These story-sharing sessions provide a space for women to openly communicate their pain, hope, dreams, challenges, courage, and triumph. We have found that storytelling is a uniquely effective medium to help our members overcome the suffering they’ve been subjected to and to inspire each other with strength and motivation, breaking the sense of isolation and providing hope that their situations can change. The act of sharing affirms the speaker’s confidence, teaching her that she has a perspective and a voice worth sharing.

Over time, we use these intimate sessions to build each girl and women’s confidence in their ability to speak out politically – to law enforcement and policy makers – to demand her rights and stand up against oppression.

Some of the key themes that have come out of these sessions are examples of women boldly standing up for her rights, consequences of not standing up for her rights, and frequently of women resisting in quiet and persistent ways that, over time, bring about positive change.

Open Mike Sessions are places where the voices and experience of women and girls are heard and respected. They develop leadership and empower women to speak up to larger and more critical audiences. It is our hope that these sessions continue to have a transformative effect for not only the women involved, but also for their communities at large.

The sessions were inspired and launched with the help of Bobbi Abusubel and Rivka Solomon, authors of That Takes Ovaries.

Below are some excerpts of stories that have been shared:

Fatima Nat Dhuniya, Rampur, Bihar.

My name is Fatima. I was born in a village called Rani in Jogabani. I was married at the age of nine to a man from Rampurpanchayat in Forbesganj. I was married into the Nutt community because my father belonged to the same community in Jogabani. My mothr hails from the Dhuniya community of weavers. I was married to a segment of the Nutt community where they prostitute their own daughters and daughters-in-law, but we were unaware of that at the time of my marriage. I was married at an age when I didn’t even have the slightest idea of what marriage really means.

When I went to stay with my in-laws, I was abused regularly. When I started resisting, the torture increased. When my in-laws would beat me, I would run away back to my parents’ home. But my mother-in-law always brought me back. My parents told me I had to live with my husband’s family and live in their community.

I resolved in my heart that even if I returned, I would never stop raising my voice against the malpractices of the community. I started living with my in-laws when I was ten years old. Now I have four daughters and a son. I divided that I will provide the best possible education to my children and will protect them from the abuses I myself went thorough. After many years of struggle, I began to believe I could change the heart of my husband – an alcoholic and gambler who visited the red light areas. I gradually molded him and brought him to the right path.

When I came to know Apne Aap and its mission, I could not help associated with them. That was not an easy task. When I was employed by Apne Aap, I had to face abuses – physical and verbal – because of the association. But I stuck with my decision because I knew that for the rest of my life I will fight against the violence against the women from the Nutt community.

Zeenat Khatun, Kamatipura, Mumbai.

One Day I had a fight with my stepmother and decided to leave. I was only thirteen. I know this temper of mine is not good. I took a train to Bombay without a ticket and reached VT station. I sat on a bench for a whole day crying when an old man approached me and said he could help me get a job. He brought me to Kamatipura. It was a very large house with very small rooms and I saw women wearing shiny clothes and putting on makeup.

I got a strange feeling, but it was too late. I did not cooperate for a long time and for months I was beaten as they tried to sell me from one brothel owner to another. After more than ten years in the red light district, I was desperate to quit. I could never get used to it.

Then the woman who ran the brothel grew old and decided to quit and return to her native village. I was told “you are on your own.” Suddenly I realized I could be free. Now I am no longer in the profession and I cannot tell you how good I feel about it.