The Vagina Monologues Eve-Teases the Dormant Mind (Daily News and Analysis)

By Sanaya Chavda

http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_the-vagina-monologues-eve-t...

For Eve Ensler, the last 15 years have been all about spreading awareness on violence against women, breaking taboos and changing mindsets across the globe through her play The Vagina Monologues.

However, the violence hasn’t come to an end, says Eve. So the playwright escalated the awareness drive through her global project — One Billion Rising. “Violence against women is prevalent everywhere, and it’s getting out of control. The idea is to to take global action -- to strike, to rise and dance against violence,” says Eve, who so far has received support from local communities in 179 countries for her project that will be held on February 14.

The concept is based on the statistics that one out of three women — a total of one billion women — will experience violence in her lifetime. So next month, one billion people around the world will walk out, rise and demand an end to violence.

“This couldn’t be more relevant in India given the horrific Delhi gang-rape. However, the outrage and discourse is what we hoped for; it’s amazing how people from all walks of life are demanding stricter laws and an end to the commodification of women,” she says adding, “It’s important to have a discourse on women’s rights, their sexuality and what it means to hold a woman against her will. In every country, women are degraded, sold, beaten and marginalised. People need to understand that by destroying women, you’re destroying life!”

This Sunday will be a special performance of Eve’s Vagina Monologues in Hindi – Kissa Yoni Ka – to mark its 10th year running, with guest appearances by Chitrangda Singh, Suchitra Pillai and Manasi Scott. The proceeds will go to Sneha shelter in Dharavi, which deals with abuse of women and children.

“Staging the play in a local language is always more powerful. I’m very proud of the production in India and feel director and producer Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal and Kaizaad Kotwal have nurtured the play well and continue to showcase it in the face of resistance. I’m also looking forward to interacting with college students in Mumbai. I love the energy and inspiration that comes from being around youngsters,” says Eve, who will also be holding a press conference and meeting NGOs to spread her message.

“It’s an amazing time to be in India, when men and women are coming together to protest against rape and take the issue forward,” she adds.