Being 11

On a crowded public bus when the conductor repeatedly groped my left breast. That is really my first memory of having breasts, as my body had begun to change a few months / weeks before the incident.

Action Shero Aarti Laxman Rastogi

Place: Chennai

Being 10

I was 10, my father and i went to get colours and pichkari for holi to a market which wasnt very crowded, but in a locality which wasn't very secure. i was standing right beside my father and was wearing a frock when i felt someone groping my butt, and i was shocked and startled, i looked back and this uncle was standing there with a confident smile on his face. As i tugged my dad's hand to tell him someone was behind us, he went away.. I was really angry and couldn't fathom why or what had happened to me for a long time.

Action Shero Anonymous

Place: Noida

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 6

It was more or less 10.30 pm. After a well enjoyed family dinner at a restaurant my dad ,mom, brother and me were waiting at the bus stop. I was 6 or 7 years old. This drunk man started talking senseless stuff. Then Singing. Then approached mom and me. Dad Scolded him to go away. But he didn’t. He continued singing. He then put his right arm on mom and me. Dad rushed towards him within seconds and slapped him tight enough to have him turn around 360 degrees and collapse on the ground. Where he started abusing followed by some more singing. One of the other times which i will never forget, was around the same year. I was 6 or 7 and was boarding a very crowded bus with mom. Felt a grope behind. Turned and saw a old man, probably aged 50-55,looked at his hands and they were still around there. He gazed forward as if he is innocent. I did nothing, didn't even tell mom or anyone. I was young- and scared and probably embarrassed too. I will never forget these 2 incidents ever, its embedded in my memory. Probably because of being targeted at such a young age. Not only women, but also young girls face street sexual violence.

Action Shero Rachel

Place: Mumbai