Tabla.Inc in association with Arts Illuminates Mankind (AIM) celebrated Women's Day at Deshaj on March 6 with a panel discussion on Digital Trap and Women. Panelists included consultant in the ministry of culture Gouri Basu, authors Yashodhara Ray Chaudhuri and Sangeeta Bandhopadhyay, theatre actor Sohini Sengupta, cultural entrepreneur Nandita Palchoudhuri, corporate professional Prrarthana Palchoudhuri, Tabla.Inc director Bonnya Bose and co-founder of Deshaj and AIM Sonali Chakraborty.
Sonali opened the session with the tragic story of a promising young woman footballer who was driven to suicide from shame and humiliation after her objectionable pictures were leaked on the Internet. Similar stories of trolling and misbehaviour that had disastrous consequences for women victims, were shared by Yashodhara and Sangeeta. The positive aspects of digital platforms were also adequately highlighted as part of the discussion. Nandita spoke on how digital tools helped us go about our daily lives during the lockdown. Individuals and groups learnt new digital applications that enabled them to continue their education, sustain their businesses or procure goods and services without leaving the safety of their homes. Gouri enumerated how online workshops and seminars helped indigenous performers earn a living during the pandemic years. Sohini emphasised the importance of digital platforms in providing home entertainment such as watching movies from around the world or reading books. Prrarthana explained how entire organisations spread across continents could function seamlessly with the help of digital tools and applications during the pandemic and how women entrepreneurs can expand their businesses with the help of digital platforms. The session concluded with an enlightening segment on artificial intelligence by Bonnya Bose, who spoke on its impact in all spheres of human life in the years to come.
After the panel discussion, the participants celebrated Women’s Day by applying abir teekas, symbolising woman power, on one another’s foreheads.
The panel discussion ended with the collective thought that women must use digital media intelligently and be mindful of its many hazards. They should be well-informed about digital platforms and their rules and usages before they make their virtual presence accessible to others. Effective use of digital tools and applications can make women achieve greater visibility and growth in their chosen areas of work. Digital tools have the power to greatly improve the quality of life for women, provided they take reasonable safeguards to prevent the information they let out into the virtual domain from being used for the wrong reasons.