S he would do anything for her father. He was her inspiration. And provided for her every need. Except for one: protection. It exposed her to child sexual abuse (CSA) that left a residue that continued into adulthood. This could be the story of anybody. Someone out there reading this might say, 'That happened to me too.' And yet, this is the story of a woman, who, like four others, chose to tell their stories of CSA on stage through play, dance and even light-heartedness. They are survivors. Not victims. The incidence of child sexual abuse (CSA) is abysmally high -- 53 per cent children have been abused, 80 per cent by someone they knew, confusing an innocent child between abuse and love.
Even as reports of CSA are frequent, with some horrifying cases receiving media glare, there is no political or judicial will to punish the perpetrators. But then who can punish them when almost all abusers are an uncle, a cousin, a close relative? Who can punish them when families and parents themselves do not believe their child and prefer to look the other way? It is this that Positively Shameless explores in their second performance in early February. The first performance of Positively Shameless held last year stunned the audience into contemplation and soul searching. The five women who come from different walks of life, each playing a leading role in their respective fields -- though not actors -- portrayed the many dimensions of abuse and their emotional impact.
A young girl who loved to dance stopped because of the shame her mother accused her of bringing onto herself. Another beat her caregiver with a stick unable to take it any longer. These performances, though intensely powerful, yet depicted with remarkable restraint, opened our eyes to the reality of CSA.
Positively Shameless emerged from a 12-week Drama Therapy Process that was a therapeutic intervention for adult survivors of CSA. Maitri Gopalakrishna and Shabari Rao collaborated for the performance.
Maitri says: "I am a drama therapist. I am pursuing my PhD in Tata Institute of Social Sciences on drama therapy as an intervention for healing from sexual trauma. Residues of sexual abuse are not about abuse itself. How is it revealed? How does one feel about sex? These issues are largely socio-political -- the man holds a certain status in the family and the woman another, which was complicated by the CSA."
The team of five decided to do a play thus removing the silence and shame around CSA. "Keeping it within closed spaces wasn't helping. It made sense to do something in public because it is a socio-political issue," says Maitri, who initially also tried to direct the play. "It was a difficult dual role to play the therapist and the director. It seemed we needed another person," And that is when Shabari, dance maker and researcher, joined . "It was the first time either of us engaged in something like this," adds Shabari, "We wanted to make the two things happen together. If the social justice angle is stressed, the play is really weak. And if you want to make it art, you need to choose professional actors."
The second performance of Positively Shameless , says Shabari, will have "the therapeutic process take a backseat and the societal complicity in focus."
The audience reaction for the first performance had people say this was “my story” or people writing appreciative emails.
"We even had someone asking how can I protect my granddaughter?" The performance changed not just the participants, but the facilitators too. "It changed my role as a parent. It made me mindful and conscious of what I am making 'normal' for my child. For example, is coercing normal, is body shaming normal? It also changed the relationship with my body," says Maitri. Shabari adds: "I now don’t belittle what what I do. I own my ideas and talents."
Coming back to CSA, the duo stress there should be zero tolerance towards it. "Just as you know that entering a temple with your shoes on is not allowed, likewise we should be absolutely not allow CSA to happen," says Maitri. Shabari says it is very important, "To call it out and say don't do that!"
Positively Shameless will be staged on February 3 at 7 p.m. and February 4 at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. at Rangasthala, M.G. Road. Tickets on www.bookmyshow.com.
