Himmati Mai: Symbolic protest in response to widespread atrocities against women
Skip to main content
T
Friday, March 31, 2023
The Daily Star
E-paper Today's News বাংলা
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Culture
  • Life & Living
  • Youth
  • Tech & Startup
  • Feature
    • Lifestyle
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Showbiz
    • Star Health
    • Satireday
    • Shout
    • Toggle
    • Star Literature
    • In Focus
    • Star Youth
    • Shift
    • Daily Star Books
    • Roundtables
    • Star Holiday
    • weekend read
  • More
    • Environment
    • NRB
    • Supplements
    • Law & Our Rights
  • E-paper
  • বাংলা
Search Epaper T
  • Today's News
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Culture
  • Life & Living
  • Youth
  • Tech & Startup
  • Feature
    • Lifestyle
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Showbiz
    • Star Health
    • Satireday
    • Shout
    • Toggle
    • Star Literature
    • In Focus
    • Star Youth
    • Shift
    • Daily Star Books
    • Roundtables
    • Star Holiday
    • weekend read
  • More
    • Environment
    • NRB
    • Supplements
    • Law & Our Rights

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Apps
  • Comment Policy
  • RSS
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Conference Hall
  • Archives
Life & Living

Himmati Mai: Symbolic protest in response to widespread atrocities against women

Mehrin Mubdi Chowdhury
Sun May 29, 2022 02:37 PM Last update on: Sun May 29, 2022 02:54 PM
A performance art consisting of 70 women from all backgrounds took place at Shilpakala Academy to protest violence against women in Bangladesh and across the world.
70 women took to the streets for an hour to protest at Shilpakala Academy Grounds against the escalating abuse against women all over the world including Bangladesh. Photo: Jannatul Mawa

Saturday afternoon witnessed a unique performance art at the city's Shilpakala Academy Grounds, where 70 women across all generations and professions took to the streets for an hour to protest against the escalating abuse against women all over the world including Bangladesh. The protest, arranged by artist, Reetu Sattar included 'curated' participants, belonging to various progressive and proactive feminist organizations in the country, to jointly hit the ground with a bamboo stick whilst expressing a galvanising protest chant, as an expression of anger against all forms of violence. The event had been named Himmati Mai, which is the Bangla translation of the play 'Mother Courage and Her Children' by German dramatist and poet Bertolt Brecht.

The performers took to the streets for an entire hour, and not even for a second did the banging or the chants subside. The intensifying sounds of the banging emulsified with the drum rolls to almost mimic a war call.
"In certain indigenous communities, the warriors chant and perform drum rolls to identify that they were ready to fight, I wanted a similar application in this particular performance art to be able to effectively express our accumulated anger and notify the world that we were also ready to take on the challenge of change," said Sattar.

For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.

The sound of drums, sticks banging on the street and the "Hu's" combined formed an enchanting afternoon. Hair-raising and heartfelt, the audience was mesmerised and in solidarity with the protest. Through the symbolic exhibition, the participants tried to express their accumulated anger and frustrations. The peaceful but impactful protest helped them to raise voice against all the unfair and restrictive attitudes that the patriarchal society placed against women.

Artist Reetu Sattar said, " I have been planning to materialise the performance art for the last one year. The inspiration evolved, especially after the heinous rape crime at Begumganj, Noakhali. The brave victim of the incident, influenced me to raise my voice against oppression, with her harrowing proclamation. I am still in awe of the honoured lady who took to the stands at the courtroom and told the entire world that the atrocities did not happen because of any religion or caste issue, but only because of her being a woman — an emasculated gender in a widely patriarchal society."

The artist believes that Himmati Mai would be able to strike the chord of the nation, awakening the citizens about women's constitutional rights, equality and arduous request to safety, security and protection.

Related topic:
women abusewomenViolence against Bangladeshi womenviolenceShilpakala Academyprocessionperformance artprotest
Apple Google
Click to comment

Comments

Comments Policy

Related News

Bangladesh railway mismanagement corruption

Mismanagement in railway: DU student Roni calls off protest for now

'Women and Work in South Asia' explores feminism through a South Asian lens

Jeers for Brazil president dampen Olympic joy

Coatee: How will you wear it?

Coatee: How will you wear it?

Adivashi new year procession faces obstruction

মূল্যস্ফীতির লাগাম টানতে ব্যাংক থেকে কম ঋণ নেওয়ার পরামর্শ কেন্দ্রীয় ব্যাংকের
২০ মিনিট আগে|ব্যাংক

মূল্যস্ফীতির লাগাম টানতে ব্যাংক থেকে কম ঋণ নেওয়ার পরামর্শ কেন্দ্রীয় ব্যাংকের

সঞ্চয়পত্র বিক্রি কমে যাওয়ায় একই সময়ে ব্যাংক বহির্ভূত খাত থেকে সরকারের ঋণ বেড়েছে সামান্য

১ ঘণ্টা আগে|বাংলাদেশ-আয়ারল্যান্ড সিরিজ ২০২৩

শামীমের ব্যাটে বাংলাদেশের লড়াইয়ের পুঁজি

The Daily Star
Journalism without fear or favour
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Apps
  • Comment Policy
  • RSS
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Conference Hall
  • Archives
© 2023 thedailystar.net | Powered by: RSI LAB
Copyright: Any unauthorized use or reproduction of The Daily Star content for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited and constitutes copyright infringement liable to legal action.
X