In the last 3 days, we came across all sorts of people. People who denied the existence of DV, those who misunderstood it, those who were well informed, and those who experienced it, and no matter how well you are prepared to talk, and no matter how thorough your research is, when someone is standing in front of you saying they experience violence, it leaves you shocked.
When this campaign began, I felt very strongly about DV, but as we went on working, I distanced myself from the reality of the issue. It transformed from a brutal crime to mere statistics in my head. I went about talking to people, informing them, debating with them, almost mechanically, till I came across an actual ‘victim’.
When someone in front of you is talking about violence they experience, your whole perspective changes. Suddenly the whole campaign for me became about that one person. I wanted that one household to be in peace. I wanted the victims of the violence to voice out. Just than one Flat No.303…
Today as the on-ground activation is over, I will keep wondering, maybe for a long time to come, whether that person was ever able to voice out against the crime. I took the phone numbers and asked him/her to contact me if any help was required. I will always wait for that email, I will always wait for that call.
This is in fond memory of that one household that might be able to escape from violence because of the ‘Flat No.303’ Campaign. This is in fond memory of the violence of Flat No.303.
Disclaimer: Flat No.303 is a purely creative expression. It does not bear any resemblance to any actual household and/or location.
