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अकेली आवारा आज़ाद
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अकेली आवारा आज़ाद •
Akeli Awaara Azaad
On Her Own. Unapologetic. Free
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On Her Own. Unapologetic. Free •
What do the three words Akeli Awaara Azaad evoke for you?
In what ways are each of us negotiating the given (and shifting) environments of patriarchy?#AkeliAwaaraAzaad invites lived interpretations to the three words, and invites women, girls, all persons, to unite in our pluralities. Akeli Awaara Azaad takes the form of t shirts and interpretations.
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डर से आज़ाद जीना, हमारा अधिकार है
आप अनजान तो क्या, आप पर भी विषवास करने का भी अधिकार है.
जैसा आपको , मुझपर
रात को सितारों की चमक में घूमने का अधिकार है
राह चलती रात की रानी को सूंघने का अधिकार है
म्यूजियम ऑफ़ स्ट्रीट वेपन्स ऑफ़ डिफेन्स को दफना देना का अधिकार है
अकेली आवारा आज़ाद जीने का अधिकार है
खुद को इजाज़त देने का अधिकार हैI
हाँ ओर ना , दोनों का अधिकार है
शरीर में गर्व लिए, डर छोड़ने का अधिकार है I
मैं खुद अपने शरीर की हक़दार हूँ,
यह मानकर जीने का अधिकार है.
हम एक्शन शीरो निडरता से स्वप्न देखकर
एक नयी हकीकत बनाते हैं
इसमें आप भी शामिल हों
आपक सब का इंतज़ार है
Akeli: I matter because I am me, alone, not because I am somebody’s sister or daughter or (someday, maybe, idk, idc) wife or mother. Awaara: I can wander off the path prescribed to women, drift away from what is accepted and closer to what is authentic. Azaad: I can push myself, every day, to break out of the cages built by gender, in which we all live. Hopefully by living that process publicly, including all its pains and confusions (menstrual cups and leg hair and rap lyrics and more), I can help some of you break your cages too.
My journey in finding/protecting my FREE FEARLESS FUN self amidst all things 'acceptable'. To be fearless while being sensitive. Fierce but gentle. To question things around me and to question myself. And to see vulnerability as a strength not weakness.....to experience and not avoid.
Because sometimes it's not about the way I look ......#AkeliAwaaraAzaad
Being Akeli does not mean being lonely. It means having the freedom to be unaccompanied, yet safe. Being Awaara does not mean being wayward. It means having the freedom to do what I like without the fear of violence and attack. Being Azaad is having the freedom to study, freedom to work, to travel, to take political stances, to make my voice heard. Remember, we didn't have to fight for the freedoms that we enjoy today. We are merely beneficiaries of past struggles. Let's remember to expand these rights for our daughters and younger sisters.
Hum Sab Akele * Hum Sab Eksaath
Each one of us is on her own *We are united
What’s it to you? (For 'Akeli Awara Azaad')
I, just like me, will come and go, scattering hearts
In the scorching noon, not watch step, slip and fall
With blind fingers, on chunks on mud, smear a colour, drown them
Longing for the river, cross seven seas, lose the way
In the sworn letter, I will be words, I will be silence
While composing a song, blunder a slogan, cause a fissure
Suddenly recognize the walls, that stone house, gouge a hole
Finding alone somebody empty, make a carnival of shimmering moons
What one cannot see with eyes open, I will tempt, with eyes shut
What does not happen any more, that mishap, make it re-happen
While coming and going, spend a few nights, in other nights
On the left and right, stretch my hands, touch people, be friends
- Arundhati Ghosh
1500 Action Sheroes/Theyores across over 100 cities in India and beyond, unite in celebration of being on our own, unapologetic, free. #AkeliAwaaraAzaad
In phase 2 of Akeli Awaara Azaad, Blank Noise invites women to articulate Akeli Awaara Azaad in different languages.
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Thank you Akeli Awaara Azaads!
Connect at @blanknoiseactionheroes on instagram #AkeliAwaaraAzaad
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Action Sheroes/ Theyroes/ Heroes, 2018; those who signed up to volunteer and intern at Blank Noise are responsible for the outcome of this campaign. We are grateful to the 2018 team of volunteers/ interns who worked hard to make this happen. They are:
Abhaya Tatavarti
Aditi Mazumdar
Aishwarya Datt
Anadi Sharma
Anil G.C
Ashwati Kartha
Gowtham Kumar
Kavya Iyer
Lisa Keighery
Pratham Ajila
Rahael Wilson
Riddhi Sharma
Rubin Sagar