Blank Noise is a community project which is committed to tackle gender-based violence and building safe spaces for citizens. It is a volunteer-led initiative and was founded in 2003 by Jasmeen Patheja. The project started in Bangalore but over years, volunteers from all over India joined to raise their voice and spread awareness through a variety of interventions.
Being a collective project, the goals keep changing based on the inputs of the volunteers and public is encouraged to become an active participant. Speaking up, sharing thoughts, involving others and adding to the ideas is the way to function. While most of the work is on street harassment, the team also initiated a #SafeCityPledge after the horrific gang rape of Jyoti Singh in Delhi.
Volunteers identify themselves as action heroes and try to build conversations by engaging public. They tackle the attitude toward sexual violence and one of their programs – I Never Ask For It on Facebook invites people to arrest the idea of victim blaming. The program builds testimonials in the form of clothes that were worn when sexually abused and the intent is to place clothes on a world map to build facts and collectively say that there is excuse to sexual violence. You can look at the testimonials here.
More initiatives by the group include meet to sleep – a way to reclaim public spaces without any fear. Imagine sleeping in a park without any worry of someone attacking you. It’s a liberating feeling to reach a stage where I can choose to sleep, walk around at any time of the day alone and still stay safe.
I will reach out to the group and see if I can do something. You can also contribute and change the way your city is. Remember, you don’t need to be from India to challenge street harassment or stop victim-blaming and shaming.
I am blogging from A to Z during April and the theme I have chosen is set on women. I am also a minion on co-host Pam’s Unconventional Alliance along with Claire, Shalini and Rajlakshmi. Visit us, show us some love and don’t leave without sharing your thoughts.
happiness and food 
This sounds like a great initiative. It’s a shame that gender-based violence still happens but it’s good to have people stand up against it.
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Wow! These are all really important ideas, and great initiatives. As a woman who is constantly worried about walking alone, I appreciate it when people help each other overcome this climate of gendered fear…
Happy A to Z! 🙂
@TarkabarkaHolgy from
The Multicolored Diary
MopDog
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Well done to these people for standing up against violent crimes. I hate victim blaming – no one is to blame except the person who committed the act!
Debbie
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It’s a powerful initiative to be the change in society. I get very angry when I see people saying, India mein kuch nahin hogaa when such initiatives try their best to raise awareness despite limited means.
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Totally agree. There are so many ideas and so many people who are trying to change things around.
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We need such powerful initiatives and more proactive involvement from the public to make these work. Thats the only way forward in the present times. Also women need to speak up more often because ultimately its their lives at stake. The sooner they realise this the better.
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I have heard about their programs but didn’t know about Blank Noise as such. Brilliant name of the project. We need more such effective groups.
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Yes, we need such groups to challenge things around. I was also very impressed with the sleep campaign they have got.
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What a brilliant idea. It is only when the citizens actively do something can a community and neighbourhood become truly safe. We can’t always depend on the police/government or “others” to do something.
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You are right. Before we start complaining we need to take things into out hands.
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That is some research you’re doing Parul and it is totally brilliant.. Such organizations are truly a ray of hope for the society and we can do our best to contribute and share..
Good job 🙂
Cheers
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Thank you so much Geetika! Yes, these initiatives are so wonderful. I couldn’t stop writing 🙂
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What an inspiring initiative Parul! I wish at least our daughters get to live in an age free of fears, free to follow their dreams. Thanks for sharing this 🙂
@KalaRavi16 from
Relax-N-Rave
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I wish the same Kala! Thank you for stopping by!
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That’s a brilliant initiative and to fight for this cause is truly amazing! You are doing a fab job bringing out these initiatives into open! Thank you.
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What a great idea! It would indeed be liberating to feel safe out on the streets no matter what time of day or night it is.
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They are indeed doing great work. Something as basic as feeling safe napping in a park has become something to fight for.
Shubhangi @ The Little Princess
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Brilliant initiative!
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Sleeping in a park without worrying about anyone attacking me? Sign me up for it!
Brilliant post, as usual 🙂
Have a great weekend!
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Sleeping in a park?? Awesome!! There are so many initiatives around us, which we are so unaware of… Great post! Good to know about them.
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Sleep in a park at night… that would be a dream come true! I wonder if I’ll live to see that day.
– Chicky @ http://www.mysteriouskaddu.com
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Woah this one is a great initiative! Street harassment is one of the most basic cause of various crime people have to face these days.
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Wow this si good work.. Kudos!!
http://meotherwise.com/2016/04/02/beaches-and-taste-buds-atozchallenge/
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What a fantastic concept and initiative. I liked the thought of sleeping without fear! To sleep peacefully while one is traveling is something that I really want. My antennas are always up and I prefer a woman sitting next to me in a volvo bus. Imagine, what would be one’s state of mind in a local bus!
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Lady, how do you know about all these projects? Do you have any idea how proud I am of you right now for bringing such things to light?
Sleeping in the park does sound interesting. Maybe some day 🙂
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Let’s do it together – someday 🙂 Thanks much!
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What a positive theme! This should be an inspiring month of posts for us! Thanks for that. I am visiting from A-Z, and I appreciate that you visited my blog.
Sharon Arthur Moore @good2tweat
Parsley, Sage, and Rosemary Time
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This is truly an inspiring goal. Thank you for sharing all your important information. You truly have a big heart and I can tell by your eyes you are a sincere person. Your eyes are the windows to your pure soul. Thank you for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend.
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This is a great project. No one should feel afraid to walk in the street. I wish them the best.
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Thanks a ton for sharing so much information. Proud to know youParul:) Please do let me know more about volunteering for this project. I will be very glad to be involved.
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Wow! Thanks for the info
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I have heard of Blank Noise and applaud what the are doing. As we’ve discussed before there’s so much more we can all do to make the world a safer place for women!
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I have read about ‘reclaiming the parks for women’ initiative which is operational in Delhi and Bangalore. I have seen the parks closely in Delhi and never do I plan to visit them any longer. In Bangalore, though I would like to visit Cubbon Park. God knows how many issues are there in this world that need attention. Hey, your research work behind your posts is so much worthwhile 🙂
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That is a great initiative. But how much will discussions and talks help the actual issue? I thought the volunteers take up a few places and make them safer and in turn involve locals to keep them Safe henceforth.
That is my take.
Good post and research. All the best for the challenge.
My entry for #AtoZ Challenge 2016: Letter B for Bappa Sita Ram temple
http://nav-justanyrandomtopic.blogspot.in/2016/04/atoz-challenge-2016-letter-b-for-bappa.html
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What a great initiative. And your theme, I love it.
Bhavya
Visiting From Ishithaa
#AtoZChallenge2016
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Fills me with hope Parul to see the common public take up necessary action coz everything can be changed one step at a time. Love the idea of meet and sleep 🙂
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A very veryyyyyyyy good initiative. . We need such ..
If we all get together all it will be such a lovely safe place for everyone..
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Would like to know more about them and see if there is something i could do. Creating fear is the world of cowards and more often than not if you look them in the eye they are annihilated.
Good theme – covering women’s issues. Looking forward to reading the entire spectrum from A to Z.
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How true,all such initiatives will collectively make India a safe haven for women.
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That’s Great Information.
My take with B
http://facetsofadienglish.blogspot.in/2016/04/b-for-beauty-surreal.html
http://facetsofadishortstories.blogspot.in/2016/04/b-for-buddha-purnima-basant-panchmi.html
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Initiatives like this go a long way in bringing a change to the society however small they may be.
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