Let me ruffle some feathers – Allow me to do so “Be A Light”

I wonder what the ‘motto’ of our school means for the one’s who finished school at St. Pauls before me, with me and after me – and I wonder what it means for my friends studying there.

Let me introduce myself, and with no pomp and trumpets to blow here – My name is Rohan A H Noronha, and I am an ex-student of St. Pauls Boarding and Day School, Kolkata – Batch 1996.

So here goes my rant;

I often, but silently visit the page on facebook (thank you admins for allowing me an entree) – and I managed to attend one reunion over the years gone by – sighh, was a corporate slave for many years and now am a freelance blogger, writer and a social activist.

My teachers would know me as the ‘boy who was different and always with a foot-in-the-mouth’; they may laugh off the days gone by, but those were the days (thankfully) when my ‘activism’ spirit was born.

I was once told by an eminent and well-known senior (indirectly though) that this page was meant to be a forum where we could share ideas, concepts and innovations, not for ‘personal hobbies’ to be showcased (I stopped and ended sharing my tarot posts thereafter; salute and respect).

Now back to where I am coming from and why I write this post!

It was back when I may have been in Class 5, there were headlines in a leading daily ‘Minor raped’. I was too young to understand what was going on – but I remember how the boys from other schools, travelling in the same public bus that took me home every evening would call my school girls a ‘bunch of whores’.

Misogyny – i didn’t understand back then as a term, but I do now. So now you see where the idea of being a ‘social activist’ was born. I remember looking at my mother and asking her the meaning of ‘whore’ – she didn’t reply. Can’t blame her, can I, I was just a child – too young to be told anything not deemed fit for my age.

This is me today- my question to you all

Ever since i started social activism in my own small ways, and have met many ‘girls’ from our school especially ( i wonder what stops the boys and men) involved in feminist movements, Slutwalk Kolkata chapters, LGBTQIA pride walks and more; I feel proud being one with them, if not one of them.

Gender injustice, rapes, misogyny and more; I dare each man (ex student) reading this to answer my questions.

• ·         Where were you when the city marched recently against the atrocities of what happened to the students of JADAVPUR UNIVERSITY?
• ·         Most of us are educated, some even gone ahead to own their own international degrees – of what use is it if you do not prove to BE THE LIGHT you were guided to be?
• ·         I just read a post on GAZA by a friend. My question is, when the author put out a daring question and request at the same time; how come none of the MEN (especially) poured out a debate?

Why am i targeting the men?

I am not; but my eyes show me what I can see and what I can read. I see the ‘men’ not commenting anything fruitful; opinions can be honoured and respected, a healthy debate is possible – you aren’t going to be condemned and killed – no one’s a ‘terrorist’ towards your ideas and thoughts. But, brothers where art thou!

I was recently questioned by one of my own classmates “What difference are you making walking the march protests and rallies” ?

Good question bro – i do not know what difference i can make or it makes, but what I know for sure is I stood for the ‘rights that were robbed’.

We all have heard about the Park Street Rape Case that happened – do not *facepalm* me yet! The media reported something, and the CM, being a woman herself said it was a ‘concocted show’ to bring down the reputation of the ruling party – I do not wish to get into the political soup, and I am NOT AFFILIATED to any political party.

I decided to meet the ‘survivor’ – the lady who was ‘gangraped’ – and for the first time at the SlutWalk March, March 21^st 2014 I met Suzette Jordon and her family in flesh and blood – her family’s love and hospitality moved me to bits.

That very evening, as i dropped her back home, i was asked by one of the PAULITES (men); “
So bro, isn’t she a prostitute” – I smiled back, i knew it was ignorance or misogyny, and somewhat hoped it wasn’t the latter.

Once again, i come back to the motto – ‘BE A LIGHT’

No we cannot be the LIGHT, if we are to slut-shame someone

No we cannot be the LIGHT, if we are to be closeted hypocrites in a civil society

No we cannot be the LIGHT, if we allow misogyny and patriarchy to rule over equality for all

No we cannot be the LIGHT, if we do not respect people who have different sexual orientations

No we cannot be the LIGHT, if we do not have the guts or the courage or the time or to have the spirit in fighting against victimisation in any form, and finally,

No we can never be the LIGHT; because in order to be POPULAR with racist, misogynistic and victimised jokes; we have forgotten to be human.

I know i have spoken my heart out, and this was only the tip of the iceberg. I wonder how many would read and share this post; but it doesn’t matter – I have always and will continue to be ‘different’ – living by NO RULES – i cannot fake a shallow HELLO and HI – i cannot and will not!

Regards

Rohan A H Noronha

A human first, your friend later!