What if Men were to Apologise for their Violence?
That’s the question Eve Ensler asked herself as she pondered on her own history of child sexual abuse.
“Growing up I had this fantasy that one day my father will wake up and come to his senses and render an apology to me. But that never happened, she said. So she imagined her father who died 30 years ago apologising to her for a childhood of abuse. In imagining and writing this book, she transforms her tragedy into a healing process as well as holds men accountable for the violence they perpetuate on women. This healing process can also be a possible road for other survivors and can initiate a discussion on the issue of child sexual abuse. As she says, “The writing of the book set me free.”
Who is Eve Ensler?
Eve Ensler is an internationally bestselling author and an award-winning playwright whose works include The Vagina Monologues, The Good Body, Insecure at Last, and I Am an Emotional Creature, since adapted for the stage as Emotional Creature. She is the founder of V-Day, the global movement to end violence against women and girls, which has raised more than $90 million for local groups and activists, and inspired the global action One Billion Rising.
Eve Ensler ( Image Credits: Paula Allen )
Akshara Launches The Apology in Mumbai
Sharing Eve’s book “The Apology” with a larger audience is in line with Akshara’s vision of a gender equal world where men are responsible, vulnerable and accountable and women are free and equal. This extraordinary book and the important issue which it raises, so intrigued the interest of people, that some 475 converged in the auditorium of the Royal Opera House, Mumbai for its launch. The evening had a reading by actor Rahul Bose followed by a conversation between the author, Eve Ensler and journalist, Faye D’souza.
Actor Rahul Bose is well known for his art and mainstream films as well as for his directorial efforts. He was the first Indian Oxfam global ambassador in 2007 and is the founder of two NGOs: The Foundation, dedicated to the equalisation of opportunity through education of children and HEAL, devoted to the prevention of child sexual abuse. Rahul Bose kick started the launch by reading 6 excerpts from the book with such depth and feeling that there was pin drop silence in the auditorium.
Rahul Bose
Journalist Faye D’Souza is one of the most well known faces on Indian TV today. She has been called the journalist for the millennials – young, fresh and brutally honest. Some of her best shows have been on the Times Network’s Mirror Now. She asked Eve questions covering politics and issues of violence as well as provoked the audience into thinking and answering. Many engaging questions were asked and answered by Eve and Faye. What constitutes an apology? Why is it that men don’t apologise? How do we eradicate violence against women? How does patriarchy inform violence against women and what can we do to fight it?
The launch was a collaboration between Akshara Centre, One Billion Rising, The Royal Opera House and it was covered by 18 print and online newspapers and 3 videos and magazines.