AN OPEN LETTER TO THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, MUMBAI, from my Niece Trisha Dhar Malik : (I think we need to start a SAFE INDIA campaign from WOMEN and Children YESTERDAY ) Dear Sir, I'm Trisha Dhar Malik and I live in Poonam Nagar, Andheri (E), Mumbai. In a supposedly upper middle class locality. I'm 13 years of age and would like to discuss with you some problems I've been having while doing simple things like walking to a friend's house or buying stationery, all of which happen to involve only a few minutes walk from my house. What must I do to be one hundred percent safe? What must I do to be fully comfortable? What must I do to not be stared at? Initially, I wore whatever I wanted to, but soon discovered that I was not feeling very comfortable about it. So I started wearing jeans with t-shirts or shorts which came down to my knees. But things didn't get better at all. Vehicles slow down, people turn around and stare before regaining speed. Bikers turn to look. And there's always a gaze following me. Why? I'm a 13 year old, who hasn't done anything wrong, and you're no one to me, you're not allowed to stare at me. Why must I feel unsafe in my own neighbourhood? Why can a guy my age wear whatever he wants and no one bats an eye? Why are we the ones who have to deal with this? Aren't both the sexes equal? I am not an object. I'm equal to a friend of mine who is a guy. If he can travel in rickshaws safely, why can't i? If he can walk down his neighbourhood wearing what he wants, then why can't I? In the end, we're all humans with a different body structure. So why let the other just pass by, and why follow me till I'm not visible anymore? Regards, Trisha @rohiniyer @iam_juhi @sanjaysuri @aamir