Indian women counter rape with martial arts training

[TaichiMantis]

Yay! Finally fighting back on a bus http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-30272990

[GeneChing]

...actually, I'm still not sure I understand it. IndianEnglish gets pretty clunky sometimes.

Mental kung-fu with black belt girl’s family
Soumittra S Bose, TNN | Dec 17, 2014, 03.50AM IST

NAGPUR: Martial artists often impress everyone by smashing bricks or wood planks with bare hands. This diarist, despite remaining zillion lights years away from any combat skill, had to crack the mental blocks of the Pullarwar family of Juni Shukrawari before they allowed their 17-year-old daughter Pournima, a black belt holder, to speak to TOI, narrating how she had disciplined three Road Romeos without trepidation.

The write-up, which shot the Std XII student to instant fame including a trophy from none other than Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis last week and another award end of this month, was achieved after a great deal of convincing and coaxing with generous mix of diplomatic persuasion as it risked the girl's reputation and family's social ostracism.

The story also had a legal risk as it revealed the identity of the minor girl who is also the complainant in a case of outraging of modesty registered at Sakkardara police station. Still, it was a conscious decision to go beyond the norms to highlight an aspect for a benefit bigger than the rule itself. It was far more important to project that the women in today's world need to fight back than to surrender.

Trauma was writ large on everyone's face in the family which had to strive quite a lot and convince police to register a genuine complaint only a day before this diarist wanted the Pullarwars, particularly Pournima, to recount the entire episode for print.

Grandfather Vijay and his wife Vimal were worried about Pournima's future, especially her marriage prospects which may get jeopardized after the 'badnaami' in the newspaper. The grandparents were hesitant despite this diarist's utmost attempts to mollify their fears. This diarist even evoked his background in legal education to convince the family. An overprotective cousin, who is in the police force, too felt that publicity in the wrong perspective would mar the girl's reputation and cripple the future.

But, two things that came to the notice of the diarist at the Pullarwar's residence, helped break open the defence of the family. One, Pournima's set of medals won in different championships of Karate-do and the other was a sepia-toned photograph of the girl's great grandparents — Vasudev and Radhabai — who were freedom fighters.

The Pullarwars slowly but surely got convinced regarding this diarist's intentions after they were promised that Pournima's bravery of thrashing the miscreants would be highlighted along with her achievements in sports and her proud lineage of freedom fighters.

Last but not the least, it was the almost god-sent nod from the cousin in police who agreed on the condition that a copy of content would be shown to him too.

The rest was, of course, history for the Pullarwars.

[GeneChing]

A two-fer for this thread today!

Meet The Kung Fu Indian Female Cab Drivers Keeping Women Safe
Barcroft Media
Posted: 12/12/2014 13:42 GMT Updated: 13/12/2014 03:59 GMT

After an alleged rape by an Uber cab driver in India, women in Mumbai are turning to a new taxi service – run by women trained in kung fu.



Viira Cabs is run strictly by women, for women and drivers are trained in deadly karate and armed with knives and pepper spray. 



Rape and treatment of women has become a huge issue in India since the gang rape and murder of medical student on a bus in 2012.



Driver Anita Manney, 35, said: "We feel safe. Before I used to feel insecure but Viira has taught us safety measures. 



"As well as karate, we keep pepper spray handy to avoid anything wrong."



The service was the brainchild of 35-year-old entrepreneur and social activist Preeti Sharma Menon, who wanted women to be able to travel safely around the clock.

She said: "I was looking for something new to do and I wanted to do something that would make a difference."

Preeti is dedicated to championing women’s equality, and many of the Viira drivers are the sole bread-winners in their family.

Cab driver Raju Chergat, 36, said: "Before, my salary was very low, but now my income has gone up - so it makes a difference.

"I am independent I am not under anyone’s dominance. I am master of my own will and I can take care of my household."

And the scheme is proving a big hit with Mumbai's women.

Photographer and regular Viira Cabs passenger Sajna Sivan said: "I am a photographer, so I have lot of late nights. So when that happens I don’t want to randomly take a car with all equipment. I’d rather get someone with whom I feel comfortable.

"I usually feel safe travelling but there are times when it gets darker and you have random people making remarks."





Barcroft Media

Uber, which is thought to be worth up to $50 billion, has been banned in India on the back of the alleged rape - with Thailand and Spain now following suit.

It comes as a 26-year-old woman had used the Uber smartphone app to book a taxi home on Friday night in New Delhi but said she was taken to a secluded area and raped.

Only C&Ped a few pix...there are more plus a vid if you follow the link.