These are not the best of times to be a woman. They are worse, for those who have to go beyond the so-called “Lakashman-rekha”- within which the self appointed guardians of society would like to have women confined, “safely”. Now think of those who have to keep odd hours, commute to and from their places of work, by choice or by design. Shudder, shudder.
Crimes against women are rising exponentially. The atrocities make the headlines, shock the Nation’s consciousness to numb disbelief, only to fade out – Nirbhaya, Kamduni, Suzette – names buried in the debris of our society’s chauvinistic apathy. That being the way the Cookie (read Barbie) crumbles, should women resign themselves to a fate that is clearly sexist and go back to being the weaker sex?
“No” says Tanuka Roy firmly, vehemently. A successful advertising professional, she has seen and felt the ignominy that most women are subjected to in what she calls the “big, bad world” in which they have to venture out to earn their victuals. “But it is easier said than done. How does a woman defend herself? No everyone is physically competent to take up the martial arts?”
The answer is The Combat Strategy – carefully orchestrated and proven body of knowledge that empowers women, literally, helping them take the fight to the assailants.
“We have already conducted several workshops in the city” says Tanuka, “and the response has been overwhelming. The reason I became a sworn convert is that it is nothing like the fight sequences one sees in the movies. On the contrary, it is a deglamorised, but effective way of combating the attackers with whatever comes in handy – a practical, no-nonsense way of guarding ones dignity and honour.”
“What we have achieved so far is not even a drop in the ocean” says Tanuka, who has started the ball rolling with her personal savings “and I am sure that the HR departments, at least of the large corporates employing many lady workers, will come forward and collaborate with us so that we can share the knowledge and help women put the power in the punch (no pun intended)! Schools and colleges too will be our happy hunting ground” adds Tanuka with a smile.
“It doesn’t cost a packet. The training itself is something that anybody can imbibe and on the flip side, the advantages are enormous” says Tanuka. “As a matter of fact, combat strategy can easily be embraced as a CSR programme and going by the kind of enthusiastic feedback that we have received so far, I am confident that many entities will come forward to join hands – not only because they are socially responsible corporate citizens but also because they accept the fact that Combat Strategy is an idea whose time has come. Why, we did a programme in Siliguri just the other month where the enthusiasm of the participants had to be seen to be believed.” In fact, it is much more than a physical manifestation of powers – its real efficacy is in the strengthening of the resolve – a mind game, if you may – where the participant is taught to identify a potentially adverse situation upfront and respond accordingly. “Don’t focus on counting the dead bodies” smiles Tanuka, “count instead the women who are today confident enough to venture out where earlier even angels feared to tread.”
Call it a deterrent or look at it as another fad self defense programme, the bottom line is simple – it does wonders to the confidence levels of those crashing through. Confidence, that often spells the difference between meek submission and spirited resistance. As Tanuka puts it, “even if CS is able to make a difference in one life, even if we are able to save one victim from falling prey, we will consider it mission accomplished. Something that will give us the strength to spread the word, touch more lives, empower.”
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