LET US TURN HISTORY INTO HERSTORY!

Hi

2009-07-31T12:52:21+02:00

Hi everybody...how are you

Release of the Autobiography of Bar Singer

2008-04-26T23:36:06+02:00

(Geeta Shetty, Varsha Kale, Mahesh Bhatt, Vaishali Haldankar, Avinash Pandit)
BOOK RELEASE CEREMONY OF 'BAR BALA', AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BAR SINGER. BOOK WAS INAUGURATED BY NOTED FILM DIRECTOR MAHESH BHATT)

At last long drawn process with Vaishali reached to its logical conclusion. Hope to get this book translated in other languages soon. I have already started translating it in Hindi. Quaries for translations are coming thick and fast.

Thanks for your support and wishes my blogfriends.

Comments

Publication of autobiography of Bar Singer

2008-04-03T22:30:12+02:00

This is cover page of autobiography of Vaishali Haldankar (bar singer) to be published on 11th April in Marathi language. Hopefully it will get translated and published in other languages in due course.

Shortly I will upload invite of the publication ceremony. The book will be launched by well known Film Director Mahesh Bhatt. I have written a preface of this book as I was involved in the painstaking process of her own inward journey. She happen to be first member of the Bargirls Union that I founded. Please wish all the success to this endeavour.

Comments

BARBALA autobiography of Bar Singer Coming

2008-03-09T23:43:28+01:00

Shortly autobiography of woman bar singer about which I have mentioned many times earlier is going to be published. Everything is ready. Watch out for details soon.

Comments

Bar girls are being evicted by Sena

2007-06-08T20:49:50+02:00

Bargirls are being forcefully evicted from Thane city of Maharashtra by Shiv Sena, a regional and communal outfit. It is systematic operation tacilty supported by police. All Marathi newspapers are appreciating, praising heroism of Shiv Sena cadre for attacking and beating two women members of Bargirls Union openly on the street. English newspapers and electronic media however have condemned the act. More than 700 bargirls and their families have so far become homeless and shelter less on the eve of monsoon. Shiv Sena has given ultimatum of 10 days to remaining 2500 bargirls to leave the area or else they will use even greater force. The government, police, civil society and human rights groups are all silent spectators.

Bar girls are being beaten openly on the street by women supported by Shiv Sena

Shiv Sena supported woman slap Rekha Chauhan (in black), a Bar Girls Union member, in Wagle Estate on Monday

READ the news reports

DNA

Indian Express

Stop vigilantism

Shiv Sainiks beat up bar girls? leaders in Thane

After storm uneasy calm

Bar girls: Women a target again?

Comments

BARGIRLS IN A NEW ROLE

2007-05-14T00:49:58+02:00

BARGIRLS IN NEW ROLE.

UNDP HAS SUPPORTED THIS INITIATIVE AND SO FAR WE HAVE FORMED "RIGHTS PROTECTION COMMITTEES" IN 69 BARS. THE COMMITTEES WILL PREVENT ENTRY OF MINORS IN THE BARS AS SINGERS OR WAITRESSES, MAKE WOMEN IN THE BARS AWARE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING ISSUES AND ALSO RAISE VOICE AGINST ANY HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION FROM STATE, POLICE OR CRIMINALS.

AFTER BAN SITUATION STUDY

FROM DANCE BARS TO MUZARA

Comments

Mumbai bar girls on UP poll stage

2007-03-25T14:23:52+02:00

Mumbai bar girls on UP poll stage (READ FULL STORY here)

Mumbai bar girls on UP poll stage (READ FULL STORY HERE)

Comments

Reeducating Bargirls

2006-10-10T05:12:35+02:00

Bar girls learn new ‘lessons’ in life

Bar dancers are now looking at education to secure their future instead of going back to a trade that currently stands on shaky ground

-by SANTOSH MISHRA

During their heyday, bar girls never thought of being lawyers, software programmers, social workers, secretaries or editors. Actresses maybe, but nothing beyond that.
The closure of dance bars has forced them to confront the possibility of going back to their former lives of poverty, abuse and abandonment or charting a new path for themselves. Mumbai Mirror met some who chose the latter.
They have not given up entirely on dance bars, but are no longer willing to risk their future. Prodded by their union and its president Varsha Kale, they are either completing their education or have enrolled for vocational courses.
They might not be able to get back to their heyday, but at least they can look forward to a better and secure future.

NEELU SINGH
Std XI dropout Works at a bar in Vikhroli
She came to Mumbai about five years back with some money to try her luck in the film industry. Within no time, she ran out of money and began working in bars to sustain herself and her ambition of becoming an actress. Over the years, she gave up her ambition and became a full-fledged dancer in bars. She was shaken out of her stupor by the closure of dance bars.
She is sustaining herself now by singing but, after completing a basic computer course, has enrolled in a course in non-linear editing. Yes, she is once again looking forward to working in the film industry.

PINKY RAO
Std IX dropout Works at a bar in Fort
Pinky was a resident of Hyderabad. She wanted to earn money. One of her friends seemed to be doing quite well in Mumbai. They had met when the latter came for vacations. Pinky thought she too would try her luck in Mumbai. Without informing her family, she abandoned her studies and sneaked off to Mumbai with her friend’s address in her pocket. Her friend turned out to be a bar girl. This was about 7-8 years ago. Since then, Pinky has worked in several bars.
She also took to singing when dance bars closed, but is aware that she will have to look at alternatives soon.
“I am pursuing a secretarial course with computer applications from Mumbai University. Soon I will be one of the few computer literate bar dancers,” she laughs.

VAISHALI HALDANKAR
Std IX dropout Works at a bar in Andheri
Vaishali used to study in Chhabildas High School in Dadar (W). She learnt classical singing from her father. She gave up her education when she got married to a rickshaw driver. They had two sons. Vaishali began making bangles and packing tiklis to supplement their income.
Along the way, her husband became a drunkard and then stopped working. In 1989, he forced her to join a bar as a singer to pay for his addiction. Since then, she has worked in several bars across the city.
Her family problems continued. In 1991, her husband disappeared. She survived the closure of dance bars because of her singing, but realised the precarious nature of her profession. Unwilling to take chances, last year, she enrolled for a Bachelor’s Preparatory Programme (BPP) and cleared it this year. She has now secured admission in FYBA in Yeshwantrao Chavan University.
“I want to be a lawyer and fight the evil I faced in my life. My life has taken several twists and turns, but I won’t let other women suffer the same pain.”
Prodded by Varsha Kale, she is also writing a book on her life.

REKHA CHAUHAN
Std VII dropout Works at a bar in Mulund
R e k h a Chauhan hails from Punjab. She was a Std VII student in a convent school when she was lured to Mumbai by a woman. She was 13 at the time.
She got sucked into prostitution and was detained at a Mumbra brothel for three years before she managed to escape. After a chance encounter with a bar dancer, she too joined the profession.
“It is strange that even after undergoing all the tyranny, we can still dance,” she says. When the dance bars closed, she took to singing but admits she isn’t good at it.
At that point, she realised the importance of education.
“Varsha (Kale) inspired me to complete my education,” she says. “This year, I enrolled in the FYBA course of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). I usually study while travelling or taking rest in the make-up room in the bar. I want to be a social worker.”

BAR GIRLS’ UNION

It was very difficult for the union to motivate these girls to resume their education. After interacting with them on a one-to-one basis, they started to fill up application forms. Now, an increasing number of bar girls are keen to earn degrees. They are inspired by girls like Rekha, Vaishali and Sadhana
— Varsha Kale President, Bharatiya Bar Girls’ Union

(Article published yesterday in Mumbai Mirror (TOI publication) on the initiative of restarting education of bargirls. I am posting this to keep you inform about my activities. I will try and do it time to time)

Comments

Extreme responses

2006-10-08T23:49:21+02:00

Just for a fun.
A local Marathi (my mother tongue) newspaper published this small article. It refers me as new avatar (incarnation) of Durga (the famous martial goddess). It attributes to me all divine qualities of love, compassion, forgiveness as well as fighting spirit.
Wow.
But it also reminded me when sometime back some paper portrayed me as woman of devilish mind.

Good or bad, many times I generally ignore what media think of me and the issues I raise.
However...
Hate or praise, I wonder, why I get such exaggerated responses?

Comments

THANKS friends...

2006-09-27T10:47:05+02:00

Thanks everyone for the love, support and solace. You all helped me with your messages to recover and reengage.
It is the friends one has to rely upon in the time of distress.
I feel lucky to have friends who understand and care about me.

At presently the bargirl's case is in Supreme Court and hearing is not yet started. Girls are loosing hope and morale. Trying hard to keep it intact.

I have also taken to translation of one classic work into Marathi, which will be published soon. Will tell more about that later on.

Now more bar girls are coming out to write their life stories. Many cry while recollecting horrors of past, but then we get opportunity to revisit and reinterprete past events to draw strength out of it.

Many girls have responded to my call for restarting education and last week I submitted admission forms of five girls for different courses to two different open universities.

THANKS FRIENDS. LOVE YOU ALL. TAKE CARE.

Comments

Came back humiliated...

2006-09-15T22:06:40+02:00

Just came back from National Conference of 'autonomous' women groups.

Some twenty years ago when I entered into activism, many women from these groups were source of my inspiration.

Though coming from non-brahmin origin and have different view of womens issues, I have lot of respect for many of these elite and English speaking groups. I respect them because they initiated 'women's liberation movement' in India.

But today I came back, feeling frustrated, humiliated and ostricised.
It hurts deeply when you see people for whom you have high regards for years, stooped to petty mediocre, unprincipled ways.

I am feeling hurt, sad...

Will post deatails later.
WPI

Comments

9/11 and Gandhiji

2006-09-12T01:18:35+02:00

Very few people know that 9/11 is also marked for the introduction of non violent weapon of political resistance called 'satyagraha' (insistance for truth) by Gandhiji.
What a sharp contrast.
Exactly hundread years ago first 'satyagraha' was performed. Though the term 'satyagraha' was coined later on.
Gandhiji always insisted that means are equally important to ends. Ends cannot justify means. Violence or state repression cannot justify violence.
Violence breeds violence.
Can war against 'terror' or 'terrorism in the name of jihad' justified?

WPI

Comments

Protest against female foeticide

2006-08-24T04:18:55+02:00

"Expressing concern over growing female foeticide incidents in the state, a large number of NGOs on Wednesday took to the streets of Jaipur (Rajstan)demanding stringent action against guilty doctors, nursing homes and diagnositic centres.
Holding placards and banners, about 500 activists of over 40 NGOs walked through the city roads shouting slogans to stop female foeticide." (TOI)

Hope the Government wake up!
WPI

Comments

SORRY...please bear with me

2006-08-22T10:19:25+02:00

I am unable to respond all of you promptly in last few days due to work constraints. SORRY...please bear with me. Love you all. WPI

Comments

NOW Deities drink milk???

2006-08-21T08:43:57+02:00

WPI

Comments

Illegitimate children? and property rights

2006-08-20T23:16:05+02:00

There is confusion about whether children born outside marriage could claim inheritance of the property of their biological parents. Though law in India theoretically give such children status of 'legitimate' children, they are not entitled to claim right on the property inherited by their parents from ancestors.

Can there be legitimate and illegitimate children?
Should there be difference between those born out of legal marriage and those born without marriage?

WPI

Comments

Happy Independence Day...

2006-08-14T19:57:15+02:00

Let there be FREEDOM within and outside, far and wide, to those in front and behind... Happy Independence Day India... WPI

Comments

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

2006-08-13T10:44:11+02:00

Happy Birthday Ankush (My hubby) and Fidel Castro. You born in a year Che died and you lament for that, but you share birthday with Fidel. Hope he get well soon. Happy Birthday... WPI

Comments

CARNAGE goes on and on...

2006-08-12T22:10:56+02:00

Over 15 foetuses were found earlier from a well at the nursing home in Punjab (India), where sex determination tests and subsequent abortions were allegedly carried out. Nine hours of relentless digging helped police and medical authorities unearth at least 25 more foetuses from another well. (TOI)

The carnage goes on and on...
WPI

Comments

Living as woman...

2006-08-12T11:57:14+02:00

A 24-year-old housewife jumped to death from a multi-storey building in a posh south Delhi area, an incident police suspect was the fallout of a bitter dispute and harassment over dowry.
-Hindustan Times

How even after so many deaths, so much awareness, so many laws, people can still demand dowry, harrass woman to death?
Posh area or otherwise living as woman is difficult. Do you agree?
WPI

Comments

Can anyone tell me...

2006-08-12T00:32:10+02:00

Is it just a coincidence that a man commits nine of 10 cases of death caused by domestic violence in the developed world
WPI

Comments

Rapist weds Rape victim

2006-08-11T17:53:33+02:00

Recently many rape offenders are offering rape victims marriage. Some victims have accepted such proposals and some marriages have already taken place in India. Theoretically there should not be any debate about marriage of two adults.

How the rape victim accepts person who has committed rape on her as husband?
Do you think it is desirable?
WPI

Comments

Is Pregnancy wonderful?

2006-08-11T14:09:43+02:00

Many of you have gone through it.
Many of you want to go through it.
Many of you have seen your loved ones going through it.
Is Pregnancy wonderful?

WPI

Comments

Terror plot or Plot of Terror?

2006-08-10T20:58:42+02:00

I am bit confused about the news of foiling terror plot in UK. We here in India are so accustomed to news of foiling terrorist plans that it is difficult to take them seriously. Every day you open paper and you see one such news from any State. That’s why even our state government did not pay attention when there was warning from central intelligence about possible attack on transport system before Mumbai blast.

Foiling of such attacks help to build good image of the government. It is effective political strategy here. It makes me wonder whether it was terror plot or plot of terror.
I may be wrong but just suspicious.

What about you?

Comments

25 million bachelor MEN

2006-08-10T17:28:25+02:00

Stretch your imaginations...

If current birth ratios were to continue, between 2015 and 2030, there will be 25 million men in China with no hope of finding a mate, according to one study. If you add Indian men to it, it will be huge figure.

What do you think?
What effect it will have on society, morality (?), polity, gender etc.
Any stretch of imaginations welcome
Read the full story here
WPI

Comments

Men shirk duties

2006-08-09T20:22:23+02:00

A recent study says that men still shirk from their household duties. They tend to avoid domestic work.
Do you agree?
Do you have similar experience?
Is it necessary to share household work between man and woman fairly?

WPI

Comments

Brother and sister DAY

2006-08-09T13:39:32+02:00

Today we have Raksha Bandhan, the day on which every sister tie a thread or band called rakhi (meaning protection) on the hand of brother to take a commitment from him for protecting her. We have cherished this festival right from our childhood. It reminds brother of their role to protect honour, dignity of his sister and thus reinforces his role as protector. Off late some feminists have criticised this festival on this account but it is widely celebrated festival in India. What do you think about it? WPI

Comments

Targetting Muslims for Terror

2006-08-08T22:40:42+02:00

"A large cross-section of Muslims in the city claim that the investigating agencies probing the 11/7 blasts are “unfairly targeting” members of their community on charges of complicity.

While some Muslim intellectuals and activists complain of a “collective bias” of the police force and the government, others voice concerns about Muslims being “branded culprits” once again."
(Read story from source:DNA)

What do you think about this? Is it worldwide trend? Don't you think it should be equally condemned ?
WPI

Comments

Human debugging method

2006-08-08T13:51:42+02:00

Poverty and rising cost of pesticides have evolved a novel method of debugging. Hotel owners along the highways in Bengal (India) have found a novel way to keep bedbugs away from their regular customers. Owners here recruit poor people who lie on each bed of hotel completely nude for half an hour; to let the bedbugs feed on their blood. Once the bugs are satiated, they do not bite the customers who use these beds to relax during the day. Once a bed is thus ‘debugged’, the human debugger shifts to another bed. He is paid two rupees (Rs. 45=1 dollar) for every bed he debugs that way.

What do you feel about it???
WPI

Comments

HAPPY FRIENDSHIP DAY

2006-08-06T22:51:23+02:00

Comments