A 23-year-old trans woman rendered a song based on Hindustani classical music that enthralled an audience of students, teachers and religious leaders.
But before that, Aahiri Naskar, a postgraduate in physics, spoke about how society tried to stifle her voice and how discrimination had been part of her growing up.
She was performing at Loreto Convent Entally in the city’s central part on Tuesday evening where Kolkata Mary Ward Social Centre (KMWSC), a wing of the Loreto Congregation in South Asia, was celebrating One Billion Rising, a global campaign to end violence against women (cisgender, transgender, and those who hold fluid identities that are subject to gender-based violence).
KMWSC stands in support of and in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community, said the director of the centre, Sister Monica Suchiang. She promised to stand for the rights and dignity of the community in society.
“We pledge to you, the LGBTQ+ community, that we will leave no stone unturned in fighting for your place, your status, your rights and your dignity in society,” said Sister Suchiang.
“We pledge to conscientise our society, to embrace a new worldview, whose hallmark is the inclusion of all as one human community, devoid of any form of discrimination based on any criterion,” she said.
While the director of the centre set the tone for the evening, students of various schools put up dance dramas and plays to bring out the predicament of transgender persons and how society and their own families effectively creates barriers and limitations for them.
Their performances were based on this year’s theme — Rise for Freedom, Create the New Culture.
The “new culture” was acknowledged by Naskar on stage as she said: “I thank all of you for giving this space to me. Today, we are rising.”
Archbishop Thomas D’Souza described Tuesday’s programme as inspiring. “To see and experience, in a way, the joy and sorrow of so many who are being exploited... those who are going through the painful process with new hope...,” he said.
“All these experiences certainly make me silent within... At the same time pray to God for his grace to be with our suffering women, suffering LGBTQ+ community and show our solidarity with them and pray for greater freedom,” he said.
Prejudices, built up over many years because of lack of knowledge, openness, awareness and not having the courage to face reality, do not die easily.
“Once prejudices are broken there is freedom... Very often violence, injustice and the other forms of exploitation are carried out against women, against the LGBTQ community because we do not feel their pain. But when we start feeling the pain of the other, a new awareness, a new energy comes into us. Then we will start working for the emancipation, for the liberation and freedom of those who suffer,” said the archbishop.
“May the celebration of One Billion Rising 2023, especially concentrating on the dignity, on the rights and the rightful place of the LGBTQ community, give rise to greater freedom in society. May we all live as brothers and sisters experiencing the same love of God who had created us...” he said.
KMWSC has been celebrating One Billion Rising in the city since 2015 in schools, malls and in red-light areas.
“We come together to celebrate our humanity, our diversity, to celebrate who we are — women and men, cisgender, transgender, gender diverse people... Today, we rise for freedom. Freedom from patriarchy, freedom from violence, freedom from hatred, freedom from fear, freedom from poverty and inequality, freedom to live in peace,” said Sister Sabrina Edwards, Loreto Province leader, South Asia and president, KMWSC.
Consul general of the US Consulate in Kolkata, Melinda Pavek, who was the chief guest at the programme, said: “The statistics that One Billion Rising shared — that one in three women across the planet are beaten or raped in their lifetime makes me so angry. I hope it makes everyone else angry and ferocious. Because if we are ferocious and angry about this problem, we can find ways to make it change.”