Introduction – Tree of Resistance and Celebration, Cubbon Park

Gathering under the canopy of trees
the rain gods threatening a downpour
the tree on resistance opened with
the story of the Mothers of Manipur who, shedding their clothes,
dared the Indian army to rape them
connecting with the resistance of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo,
the Women in Black in another place at another moment
and weaving other stories of resistance
from myth, from folklore.

Poetry rendered in many languages,
wound itself through the branches whispering softly
celebrating the resistance and resilience of women
and at one moment the poem and the poet becoming inseparable

Inviting everyone in the circle
art called upon all to explore resistance in their mindscapes;
to draw a line, to paint a picture, to write a word
pieces of scrap strung together on a flimsy string flapping and fluttering
offering their fragile resistance to the wind
an installation that was an act of resistance

And as leaves trembled in the wind
Sufi, folk, songs of movements
mingled, celebrating the simple joy of being
resisting the chains of conformity, of legitimacy

A solo play offered a glimpse into the dailiness of women’s lives,
of the violence they endured, of survival and resistance

As dusk fell, candle flames danced
intertwining with the sound of clapping hands,
of feet upon wet earth,
of bursts of laughter
all ending in a sublime act of resistance and celebration
and with the promise of another such day

The storytellers, singers, artists and poets included

Pinty Rao, Corinne,
Gayathri, Farida, Ishrath, Lakshmi, Priyanka, Kalpana
Mamta Sagar and her Kaavya Sanje Balaga –
Kavya Pawar, Mohammed Musaid, Rudreshwar Swamy,
Vadde Hemalatha, Reshma Ramesh, Nagarathna,
Jaganath Singh, Geeta Mohan, Shakun
Banandur Kempaiah, Chitra Iyer, Sumati Murthy
Suresh Jayram, Jyothi
 

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