Media Reports
Marmara in the news
Bangalore: Apr 24, 2014
This movement’s a tree-for-all
Diljith George
A barely-four-week old movement, Marmara is inviting the underprivileged, voiceless communities to share their stories, and they are doing it out in the open, under the trees
When the wind meets the leaves, a beautiful music is created. And for Corrine Kumar, this music provided inspiration to start a unique social and political movement called Marmara, which in Kannada translates to the rustling of leaves. What sets this initiative apart from others is its vision, namely, to provide a platform for affected communities to engage with the general public and discuss their problems, and it is all done in an informal setting — under the trees, which according to Kumar, is perfect.
“Trees are powerful symbols in all cultures, they connect us with others, and sitting round a tree to talk to people is a natural choice, because it is a non-hierarchical space, a non-patriarchal space, a nurturing space, a nourishing space,” says Kumar about the concept. Not surprisingly, these chat sessions are referred to by the members as ‘trees’. “Marmara is not a campaign, it is an ideology, of people coming together and starting a healing process not only among themselves but for a larger good,” says Parthan, one of the programme organisers.
To give wings to her concept, Kumar first sent open invitations to various social organizations and individuals who are active participants in political movements. And thusly, Marmara organised it’s first ‘tree’ on violence against women and alcoholism, on April 13 at Jeevanbhimanagar, with the help of Vimochana, an organisation working for the welfare of women. Kumar knew she had hit upon a good idea when the event saw even regular housewives turning up for it to discuss their stories. While initially, the movement focussed on different facets of violence against women including trafficking, with different organisations like Jan Sahyog and Sangama joining hands, the concept has grown to include other issues.
Previous ‘trees’ have tackled subjects such as ‘child abuse and children from the devadasi community’. A ‘tree’ on eviction made a great impact with victims of the Ejipura slum eviction coming forward to take part in it. Another ‘tree’ on development had people strongly opposing Modi’s high-energy developmental model. “Marmara is a very decentralised movement and that makes it more closer to people,” states Kalpana, a social activist from Vimochana”.
Impressively, for a movement that is merely 4-weeks-old, Marmara sure seems to be on a war footing. So, after chalking up 38 ‘trees’ so far, the 39th one is slated for April 27, at Anekal. The subject for the day will be Water, and among topics to be discussed will be water meters and water mafia. With no mood to let up anytime soon, further ‘trees’ have been planned to discuss subjects as diverse as youth rights, nuclear issues, problems faced by North-Eastern migrants etc, in Bangalore and other parts of Karnataka.
Mangalore, March 19, 2014
‘Political discourse should include violence on women’
Special Correspondent
Corinne Kumar, founder-member of Vimochana and International Coordinator of World Courts of Women , speaking at Balmatta Ground in Mangalore on Tuesday.— PHOTO: H.S. MANJUNATH
Women have been “invisible-ised” and the truth about violence against women must be brought into the public said Corinne Kumar, founder-member of Vimochana, Bangalore, and International Coordinator of World Courts of Women.
“We have been invisible-ised. The truth must be brought into the public and into the political discourse,” she said at “Marmara” (literally, “murmuring sound of leaves” in Kannada, used here to represent women’s murmurs on violence against them), a discussion organised by the Forum against Atrocities on Women, in the city on Tuesday.
Ms. Kumar said women should continue to voice their concerns which would give it “wings and feet” and make it part of the agenda of political parties, which are involved only in “power-mongering”. Speaking and connecting to other people working on their concerns was especially important for “subalterns”- groups left out of the mainstream who go unheard.
When two students from the Northeast studying in Mangalore colleges spoke on how they had to face only “small” problems in Mangalore, she said violence was so widespread that women had come to accept it.
Discrimination
Joy Mercia, a student from the Northeast studying here, said, “We are much safer in Mangalore unlike other cities with a lot of discrimination.” She said they face “small issues” such as being addressed in derogatory terms, being manhandled and subjected to discrimination because they look different.Marygold, also a student from the North East, said, “We are facing discrimination in colleges. Our dress at home is different and when we wear our dress, people pass remarks.”
Ms. Kumar said, “These are not small things. They are seemingly invisible and very violent forms (of violence) against women. What you are doing is accepting the violence.”
Merlin Martis, a participant, said migrant workers are a section who struggle without basic facilities. Legal aid is “dead” and the police is highly communalised with politicians supporting them. She said, “This is affecting the place and women’s lives here severely.”
Parineeta, a participant, said the State should look beyond “a regimented model” of women and recognise alternative gender models which must get their space too.
Shahnaz, another participant, said, “I want to know which political party is talking about issues concerned with women.”
Vidya Dinker of the Forum said discussions would be held all over Karnataka; in Mangalore, it would be before the elections, on “Development and displacement”, and after elections on problems of North East people here and one more in Belthangady on issues there.