Being 12

When I was harassed for the first time in yehlanka, I felt no better than a punching bag.two boys on the bike were taking round outside my house. They exactly knew where I lived and how far I travelled. They would often pass sleazy comments at me to draw attention. On one of my trips to the market, when I was walking alone on the road, they came behind me and try to grab my back. Thankfully I turned and jumped in the bushes. They missed the prey. I felt quite victorious but threat and imposing seance of danger still lingered. On my way back from the market, the same men on the very same bike fisted and punched me hard on my hip. It was pretty obvious from the way they hit me that they were angry. They were angry because they missed their target or were they angry because I teased them unintentionally by being able to protect myself from them the first time. After closed retrospection, I came to a dilemma. I had a choice to make. Either to get felt up and sexually harmed or to be violently hit and abused. Should I just surrendered or put up a fight knowing that I will loose.

Action Shero Anonymous

Place: Gujarat

Being 11

I was around eleven years old, shopping on Park Street, Calcutta with my mother. I was wearing light blue jeans and a over sized T shirt, when I felt a huge wave of crowd from the back. I felt trapped with people everywhere, there was no breathing space when I felt someone's hand very harshly pushed up against my lower back. I was alarmed I tried pushing myself away, It was a collective attack, I realized that there was more than one man involved so I pushed myself out and ran to my mother.

Action Shero Anonymous

Place: Calcutta

Being 6

When i was younger, I never fully understood the concept of religion or god. But i did like going to the vast temples in my hometown. There was always place to run around and always place to sit and play. I had a favorite temple - because it was quite, small and hardly anyone ever came there. I never imagined that, that would be a bad thing. On one of these occasions, i ran to the temple and there was a man there who I had never seen before. The priest wasn't there.He was sitting at the back side of the temple and when i got there he pulled me over and sat me on his lap. The smell of alcohol on his breath was obvious. He had his arms wrapped around me, and wouldn't let go even when I asked him to. He made me sit there for about 5 minutes. He touched my hair and stroked my back and spoke to me in a slurred voice. Almost as if he was being 'affectionate'. He didn't let me go. He almost kissed me when he heard the priest coming back, and then he let me go. I ran home and I never went to a temple willingly again. Even though, many other things have happened since then, I'll never forget this for the rest of my life.I never asked for it.

Action Shero Anonymous

Being 15

This was in 1996. I was walking down Wood Street in Kolkata with a friend. We were heading towards my house which was just about 4 mins by walk. The time was about 7:30PM. We were busy talking while we walked. Suddenly I looked towards my right and my friend was not there. Then I looked around and walked back to find her. I saw a man with his back towards me. I walked upfront and realized that he was forcefully trying to kiss her and she was struggling. Instantly I pulled her towards we with all my strength. The stranger pulled out a knife from his pocket and said "chilayegi to chod dunga". I was too shocked to believe what was going on. At that moment I could not think of doing anything else but run for our lives. I grabbed my friends hand and we started to run as fast as possible. We were both trembling with fear. We reached my house and informed both our parents immediately. My friend kept crying and brushing her teeth. Her parents came to pick her up. She did not come to school for a week. I can imagine the trauma she went through. My hands and legs were trembling for a long time and I could not sleep properly. The face of that molester kept coming in my head. He was a short stout, bald middle aged man with blood-shot red eyes. I can still remember his face after so many years. If I would ever see him again I would want him behind bars.

Action Shero Anonymous

Place: Kolkata

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 12

I was in a public bus going to school and I remember those eyes staring at me. I was in my uniform. It was a white colour physical training (PT) uniform. I remember being stared at almost the entire journey. It almost felt as if I was not wearing any clothes. I remember being so uncomfortable with my body.

There are two more such memories all between the age range of 12-15. One was where I was groped in the bus and I was too young to do any thing about it but I was so angry with myself and felt like cutting off that part of me.

The earliest experience of being violated was at such a young age that its much later in life that I realized what that man was doing. He was a half bald man, the uncle types, a man in his mid 40's and he would often come in the public bus I would travel back home in. He would give a smile, help me find a seat and then come near me and and rub his penis on my hand. I would be holding on to my school bag and my hand would be in such a position that he could easily do it. It only years later that I remembered that warm sensation on my hand and I don't know how I figured out what was actually happening.

Its not that I was unaware of things at that age. My mother has always been very particular about discussing harassment on the road and what safety measures my sister and I should take if such an event is to occur but it did not even strike me!

Action Shero Parmeet

Place: Kolkata

Being 15

Was when I was in Goa. That was like one of those worst ones compared to the other incidents.

I was in mapsa market and not one but 3-4 men literally spanked me, one guy of them even tried putting his hand in my buttcrack. It was a disgusted feeling & wanted to run off from there that very moment.

A few hours later, I was at the beach where I saw a man standing behind the tree and as we were walking straight towards the beach, he started exbhitionism!

A disgusting day indeed.

Action Shero Anonymous

Place: Goa, 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