Being 17.

My first awareness of sexual violence and harassment came during the first year of my undergraduate studies in Delhi University. Our college had organised a seminar, in which Annie Zaidi was a speaker for a session. She discussed the words of abuse with which women are referred to on streets, in the course of what in those years was called eve-teasing. I was 17 years old at that time, and had lived a sheltered life in a very comfortable bubble. Talk seminar made me interrogate my privilege and position in society, and acted as my first initiation into feminist activism.

Action Shero Anubhav Pradhan

Place: Delhi

Being 19

I was in class X , travelling in DTC bus with my elder brother to school.I sat on the left side, in the Ladies only section , on the window seat and my brother went at the back in the men's section. The bus was nearly empty with not more than 8 to 10 people in it, so quite a lot of seats were empty. A man, must be in his 40's , entered and sat besides me. I felt a bit uneasy as firstly, it was a ladies seat, and secondly there were so many seats entirely empty, then why sit with me. I had my school bag on my lap, and my school uniform was salwar kameez. After few minutes , I felt something on my lap, and I looked downwards and I felt my private part being pressed. I was horrified and lifted the bag from my lap to find that man's hand there. I pushed him aside, bursted into tears, shouted on my brother to come sit next to me, and that man ran and got out of bus. Everybody must have understood something had happened, but nobody did anything, my brother , just one year elder to me, asked me what happened, and I could'nt reply but cry. That was the first shocking event of my life when I became aware that such disgusting people exist in this world and since then, travelling in public transport has been a nightmare for me.

Action Shero Anonymous

Place: Janakpuri, New Delhi India

Being 4

I have a most vivid memory of that first experience...of harassment in public spaces.. I was traveling in a bus with my parents... The bus was crowded and to avoid the push i was made to sit in uncle's lap. For those who travel in city buses must have seen this.. I personally offer seat to kids all the time and especially girl child. This lecherous male put his hand in side my shorts and play with my vagina for more than 5 mins...the was so crowded that no one could see it and my mother was standing at some distance.... I must have been 3 or 4 years old. This is one thing ill never forget.. This is one thing I have never shared with any one…

Action Shero Anonymous

Place: Delhi

Being 10

I was pinched on my breasts and my hips.

Action Shero Anonymous

Place: Delhi, India

Being 20

 I was walking down a road in Civil Lines when a man on a scooter came up behind me, put his hand between my legs and dragged me for a few feet further. Then he looked back and laughed.

Action Shero Anonymous

Place: Civil Lines, Delhi, India