“Unite to End Violence: Celebrating Diversity, Promoting Inclusion* Event Concludes Successfully

New Delhi, February 22, 2025: Dwarka Collective a vibrant platform of artists, activists, and intellectuals in collaboration with OBR India, organized a successful event, “Unite to End Violence: Celebrating Diversity, Promoting Inclusion,” as part of the global One Billion Rising campaign. It was attended by over 200 people.

The event, held at Mount Carmel School, Sector 22, Dwarka, from 4-7 pm, brought together individuals, organizations, and community groups to promote a culture of inclusivity, diversity, and non-violence.

_Performances and Highlights_
The event featured a range of performances, including:
– A dance performance by the Troupe of Versatile Dancers founded by Lakshmi Khatti & Dilip Raikwar [performers – Niva Agarwal, Diva Agarwal, Bhavya Kashyap, Deshani Sarkar, Avika Singh, Charvi Dhawan, Aishwarya, Kavisha Goel, Dhairya Mittal, Navya Arora, Yashasvi Bisht, Avnika Singh, Adwika Dey, Navira Chaturvedi, Aarush Tiwari] on the theme of women empowerment.
– Poem recitations by Reena Singh, Anupama Bhatnagar , Ritu Khulbe , Sanskriti Sharma & Yeshu
– A dance performance by Agaaz dance group [Rehana ji, Divisha, Ashana, Ahana, Kanishka, Awantika, Aliya] on the song “Badal par paanv hai.”
– A play by YWCA, titled “Breaking the Cycle,” which portrayed the harsh realities faced by many young girls.
– A dance performance by Mausami Basu group [Mausomi Basu, Natasha Jhamb, Ananya Bal, Stuti Shah, Shivika Bhatt, Ojal Kashyap] on the song “Bekhauf azaad Rehna muje.”
– A Qawwali performance by 11 empowered women from Dwarka by Romila Gandhi & grp [Romila Gandhi, Shobha Bhatnagar, Kamlesh Soni, Asha Varshney, Santosh Jhakku, Anupama Bhatnagar, Rehana Khan, Veena Bahl, Seema Mittal, Ritu Tiwari Khulbe, Neeru Gupta] which told the story of women power, struggle, and self-reliance.
– A protest music performance by Majma [Supriya, Sania Hashmi, Moggallan Bharti, and others] singing songs for gender equality.

_Speakers _
The event featured a range of speakers including:
– Amrita Upali, who heads the YWCA Community Centre.
– Dr. Parinita Kaur, Principal Consultant & Unit Head – Internal Medicine, who spoke about the role of healthcare providers in preventing violence.
– Vani Subramanian, documentary filmmaker and women’s rights activist, who spoke about the struggles and movement for women’s rights.
– Abirami Jotheeswaran, General Secretary of All India Dalit Women’s Rights Forum (AIDMAM), who spoke about condition of Dalit women
– Bhasha Singh, renowned writer and journalist.
– Shabnam Hashmi, renowned social activist and human rights advocate.
Anchors : Seema Joshi and Ritu Khulbe

_Exhibition_
The event also featured an exhibition, “Women Who Inspire: A Tribute to Indian Women,” which showcased the lives and struggles of 50 Indian women freedom fighters, poets, singers, and social reformers.

_Book Introductions_
The event included introductions to books by women writers, including:
– Savita Pathak, who introduced her book “Kaun Se Desh Uttar Ka.”
– Shehla Hashmi Grewal, who introduced her book “Parivaar Nama.”
– Lalima Singh, who introduced her book “Pyar Ki Banjaran Talaash.”

_Music Performance_
The event concluded with a music performance by the Breaking the Silence Band [Humza Khan, Uzma, Sumit, Preet, Naman Tak, Sonia, Rifat Naz] and a rendition of the song “Tu Zinda Hai” by all participants.

_Organizers_
The event was organized by Dwarka Collective, a community-based initiative that brings together individuals, organizations, and community groups to work on various issues affecting the residents of Dwarka and OBR India. One Billion Rising campaign seeks to create a global movement that brings together individuals, organizations, and communities to rise up and demand an end to violence against women.” – Dwarka Collective