Sanjana, Agnimitra, Koneenica and Abhinanda at the Shaktiroopena chat in Cafe Coffee Day, Sarat Bose Road. Picture: Rashbehari Das

Pepper spray to punishment, the she-gang comprising fashion designer Agnimitra Paul, actress Koneenica Banerjee and students Sanjana Ray from Presidency University and Abhinanda Dutta from Jadavpur University, had it all worked out at a t2 chat for Shaktiroopena, a campaign by Ambuja Cement, in association with Anandabazar Patrika and The Telegraph.

Stepping up

Agnimitra: So, what do you feel about this Shaktiroopena initiative?

Abhinanda: I think it’s a great step forward.

Koneenica: You both are the new generation. How are you moulding yourself to stand up with courage?

Agnimitra: Any incident that prompted you to fight back?

Abhinanda: We’re trying to. In college, two boys were following me around for three months. At first I thought they were from my college but then I figured they weren’t. Some classmates got together with me and confronted them. We threatened to complain to the harassment cell. Ganging up against them seemed to scare them away. Support from friends helps take a bolder stand.

Koneenica: What about when you’re alone, without friends. How do you stay safe?

Sanjana: I’ve been carrying pepper spray for the last few months and if I hear someone making strange comments, I turn back and protest. Also, my college has started self-defence programmes.

Koneenica: I’ve learnt kick-boxing but I don’t know how much I can use that in real life.... This is something I had wanted to proactively work on at one time but couldn’t due to lack of funds or support. I wanted the Calcutta police to have a number where one could call and get an instant reaction and help.

Sanjana: I remember being harassed by a taxi driver once. There was a foreigner friend with us and they tried charging us extra. When we refused, they tried pushing us around and abused us. We tried calling 100 but there was no answer or any police at the nearby police booth.

Koneenica: That is why one of the telecom companies should come forward and develop a mobile helpline or app for women in distress.

Look, he’s a lech

Sanjana: My family has never had a problem with what I wear or where I go but because of the recent incidents, my mother told me a few days ago as I was stepping out in a sleeveless top to put on a shrug, not because she had a problem with what I was wearing but because of what was happening all around.

Abhinanda: It’s true. On Park Street at 9pm or even in college at times, the looks I get just for wearing sleeveless! People start clicking you on their cell phone cameras. A friend at a coffee shop decided to confront the boy and he walked away.

Koneenica: It is important for men to change their mindset about a woman’s body.

Agnimitra: We still have a long way to go to see this change in men, irrespective of class or community.

Abhinanda: I make it a point to go up to a person and ask why he said or did what he did. If I have to slap somebody on the road, I’ll do that as well because I need to feel safe too.

Agnimitra: I’ve never carried pepper spray in my bag but I’ve recently been contemplating.

Abhinanda: When out partying, we don’t accept drinks from strangers and stick to our group.

Koneenica: So do you prefer to have some boys in your group when partying?

Abhinanda: I don’t think that makes a difference. Under these circumstances, I’ve seen guys as helpless as girls.

Koneenica: I make sure I travel in my group. My car waits outside and it’s very important to know how you’ll get back home afterwards.

Need of the hour

Agnimitra: I think the most important solution right now is hard- core punishment. People need to feel scared.

Koneenica: As a child you learn in school that when you make a mistake, you will be punished and that fear stops you from doing wrong.

Agnimitra: Take the Delhi case for example, the judgment was hurried up but what about all the incidents that happened after that?

Sanjana: We need helplines and apps that would guarantee some support to get you out of a situation.

Abhinanda: Awareness, sex education and information dissemination within the family....

Koneenica: I think the system of education here is really to blame.

Agnimitra: My son has been asking a lot of questions lately. It is difficult for me but I try to explain. When you don’t, they get curious and their facts get muddled up. It is important to educate boys from a young age too, so they learn to respect girls.

Shaktiroopena means...

Sanjana: Be bold enough to protest, scream, do whatever to get people to come to your help. Share useful information and guidelines that you find on the Internet with your friends.

Abhinanda: Do things within your group that might encourage others to take a stand on a larger scale.

Koneenica: Raise your voice. Literally. If you do that, the girl watching you will get the courage to do the same. We also need to inspire girls who aren’t so educated or urban.

Agnimitra: The need for punishment for every small act. A lesson for life. Very importantly, stay alert, don’t get carried away into taking risks, and trust no one.