World AIDS Day: Motorcycle Diaries

In a bid to tackle HIV/AIDS and violence against women, teams of women bikers arrived in Mumbai on December 1 after riding across Maharashtra for a week.

Nearly 50 bikes, each with two riders had set out from the districts of Pune, Ahmednagar, Usmanabad, Parbani and Solapur amidst cheers from hundreds of well wishers. The rally ended in Mumbai on World AIDS Day where they were greeted by people living with HIV/AIDS. Networks of HIV+ people along with the bikers gathered at the Vanmalli Hall in Dadar to narrate their struggles and successes.

“Both women campaigners and people living with HIV gained strength through the experience,” says Kamini, an ActionAid activist.

The women bikers – some of whom are college students – are all aged between 18 and 25 and have been trained as ‘peer educators’, raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and helping to tackle the stigma and discrimination that is too often associated with the disease.

ActionAid’s partner, the Centre for Youth Development and Activities, has taught the young bikers how to protect themselves from infection.  Knowledge they are keen to impart to other girls and women.

 “It is heartening to see young women taking such active interest in the experience of people living with HIV. They are not only teaching others but are also learning themselves,” adds Kamini.

Sporting red ribbons on their jackets to signify solidarity with people living with HIV/AIDS, the bikers were clad in a range of outfits from the traditional chudidaar kameez to short tops and jeans. Some of them took time out to give an interview for this article.

Solid support

19-year old Shabana Abdul Rezzak Sheikh of Solapur is proud to have been selected for the cruise. A second-year student of BA, Shabana is also pleased to also have the support of her family in embarking on the trip. “Both my parents understand the importance of this message and were more than happy to let me go,” Shabana says. “Among our supporters, we find as many men as women,” she adds.

Stops throughout the week-long journey have taken the bikers to colleges and schools, towns and villages. While outlining the significance of India ’s new law on domestic violence, they strive to point out how discrimination and violence make women more vulnerable to contracting HIV.

16-year old Priyanka Patil, a class XI student from Sangola says she feels sad when she hears the stories of HIV+ women gathered at the event. “Most of them have the virus because of their husbands,” she says. Statistics reveal that about 80% of HIV+ Indian women are infected through their husbands. The confidence to say no to unwanted sex and negotiate safe sex with their chosen partners is crucial to reverse the rising rate of infection amongst women.

Maharashtra is particularly hard hit by the epidemic with around 6.5 lakh people living with HIV/AIDS across the state. According to the National AIDS Control Organisation, at least 5.2 million people in India are HIV positive.

‘Young but not ignorant’

Amidst street plays, songs and discussions, the bikers also gave demonstrations on condom usage and took time to speak with sarpanchs and other elders about the value of sex education.

Slogans like ‘Jawan hoon, naadan nahin’ (I am young, but not ignorant) and ‘Hum Bharat ki naari hain, phool nahin chingari hain’(We are women of India , we are not flowers, we are fire), enthused women across cities and villages, they report.

Vaishnavi Vankate, 20-year old B.Com student from Solapur, says girls and boys should see each other as equals. She also emphasizes the necessity for a blood test before marriage. “Blood tests for confirming HIV status are more important than astrological matching of the bride and groom,” she says.

People also need to be aware of how the virus spreads: “Many HIV+ women don’t know that activities like touching, eating and sitting together cannot infect others. They have stopped interacting with people fearing they might pass on the virus. They need to be educated,” adds Vaishnavi.

During the trip the riders also handed out a questionnaire to girls and women. “If a husband has forced sex with his wife, would you call it rape?” is one of the questions raised.

“Do you know anything about the act protecting women against domestic violence?” is another.

Surprise, surprise

What amazed the bikers were the progressive answers. Contrary to popular perception, most women who cracked the questionnaire were aware of their rights.

21-year old Shinge Tishya, who is in second year of completing BSc, and a biker from Solapur, says, “Girls and women know. It’s only pressure from family and society that stops them from asserting their rights.”

Shinge feels their decision to ride bikes and cruise across different cities symbolizes women’s emancipation. She hopes their gesture will motivate women to speak up against violence. “Our message is that violence against women is not acceptable,” she adds.

World AIDS Day in other cities

In Kolkata, despite a statewide bandh, nearly 300 people joined in a rally to make governments and civil society aware of HIV/AIDS issues. For most of the people living with HIV/AIDS, especially women, it was the first time they had come out in the open to protest against the violence they face, and demand their human rights from mainstream society and government.  They wore black t-shirts bearing slogans in Bengali: ‘We demand a normal life’.

In Hyderabad a mega concert sponsored by the government, corporate bodies and INGOs like ActionAid attracted some 9,000 people, mostly youth. The audience enjoyed renditions by Arti Patnaik, a famous music director from the Telugu film industry and Hema Chandra, another renowned singer.  Shiamak Davar’s dance troupe enthralled the crowd with its foot tapping choreography.

The Director General of Police Swaranjit Sen stressed the importance of care and support to those living with HIV/AIDS. “Awareness among youth is also critical for preventing the spread of the virus,” he says. Andhra minister for health Panabaka Lakshmi promised Rs 90 crore (Rs 900 million) from the State AIDS Control organization for awareness programmes.

Elsewhere in Imphal in Manipur a cultural programme entertained as well as educated where people living with HIV/AIDS performed dances, songs and skits. A candlelight memorial was also held. On December 1, 200 people, mainly women living with HIV participated in a rally, voicing their concerns and calling for law enforcers to protect their rights.

In Bangalore , rallies, street talks and plays helped to raise awareness among people. And a lively question and session was aired on one of the main city radio channels.