A celebration of freedom at GB Road
Freedom doesn’t belong to just one segment of society. It is for all. We celebrate Independence Day watching the Prime Minister of the country unfurl the Indian flag at Red Fort, but barely five kilometres from there is an area called GB Road, which presents a sharp contrast to the word freedom. Infamous as the red-light area in the Capital, the women and children there are denied even basic rights. But it shouldn’t be this way, should it?
To make the day memorable for the sex workers and their children, Kat-Katha, an NGO in the Capital, organises their annual fest, Kat-Kalrav, at GB Road. “Through the event, we want to give the didis (referring to sex workers) and their children a chance to reflect and relish the joys and fantasies of childhood, as most of them have been denied this; they were forced into sex work while in their teens,” says Gitanjali Babbar, founder of the NGO.
However, the festival is not just for those living in the margins. “It takes a month to organise this festival. There will be a walk called Azad Parindey. The idea behind this is to invite people from all walks of life and become ‘azad’ (free), azad from their office, azad from their burdens, and azad from the fakeness which one is expected to carry these days. Be free and bring that innocent child back and walk with him. Not just our didis, but everyone. And our street of love popularly known as GB Road is a ground for the same. The road will offer a lot of games and dance and celebrations in between,” adds Babbar.
There are a lot of other activities in store for the day. Stephney, a staff member, says, “The motive behind this day is to bring happiness and joy in didis’ lives on a day when the country celebrates the same.We have prepared a lot of activities such as street play, dance, flash mob, food stall, mehendi (henna) art and the Azad Parindey walk in GB Road.”
How do the sex workers in the area feel about it? “I am happy and excited about it. Freedom is the opportunity to live the small moments of happiness with our children. An event like this gives us the opportunity to celebrate without boundaries and this year is special because both my child and I are participating. He is going to dance and I am really excited for that,” says a sex worker.
Another woman, also a sex worker, adds, “Azadi se rehna, khana, ghumna, apne bachon ke saath time beetana, ye event hume ye sab mauka deta hai (This event gives us the opportunity to freely move about, spend time and celebrate with our children). We want the government to pay attention to us and our condition. We also want to live with dignity and freedom.”