Somnath Chand, Uttkal University, Bhubaneswar, Orissa

Till a year ago Somnath Chand was one among many students pursuing his post graduation studies in sociology at the Uttkal University in Bhubaneswar, Orissa. He was like the other boys in his college who believed that it was ‘normal’ for women to be abused in homes and that it was ‘acceptable’ for boys and men to make unbecoming remarks against girls.

His attitudes changed dramatically when he joined Udaan as part of the National Service Scheme and was copted into the ‘We Can’ campaign in Orissa. The campaign sensitised him to the issue of discrimination and violence against women. He heard girls talk of how degraded they felt when men remarked lewdly on their outward appearances and physically harassed them. This, he says, changed his outlook completely.

Somnath remarks that for the first time in his life he was exposed to a completely different worldview and began to feel ashamed of his own behaviour towards women. It compelled him to read up on the issue of violence against women and join up a theatre group that campaigned against it. He also became part of the ‘We Can’ Rath Yatra that travelled to 30 districts in Orissa in 10 days to raise awareness on the issue.

Somnath narrates an incident at Bhogorati in Balasore block in coastal Orissa. After the ‘We Can’ team finished staging their plays, an old woman came up to them and alerted them to the fact that girls in the village were being trafficked. The team raised an alarm in the village and in the neighbouring Thontomani village and people joined in the protest.

Somnath says the campaign has truly changed him as a person as well. When he came home, he began to help his sister with her chores and work. He even opposed his father when he assaulted his mother. His father was initially furious and stopped talking to him. But he has come around and now sees his point of view.

Life at college has also changed for Somnath. He no longer accosts girls with vulgar comments. He has tried to persuade his friends to also desist from such practices. But his success here has been small. His friends ridicule him harshly and some have even thrashed him mercilessly for attempting to interfere in their activities. But this has not deterred Somnath. I have managed to make a few friends see the truth of my actions, I am sure others will follow, he says with conviction. He is firm in his belief that attitudes can surely be changed. It may take time but change is possible, he argues.

He is currently fighting to strengthen vigilance committees in colleges and ensure that these have a police officer to look into the complaints registered by women. Somnath is keen to marry a girl who is his equal in every way. I will share in her dreams and respect her opinions, he underlines.