Silchar: Women march with Mashal every night to silently protest against anti-social activities, domestic violence

Not all stories at night are dark. There are stars and they twinkle bright. Around 50 women marching with torches (Mashal) attracted the attention of the hundreds who were traveling back from the counting hall in NATRiP Jhapirbond on May 2. Initial thoughts were it is another victory march, but it wasn’t.

Mahasadak is a road hardly taken at night. Though it connects Silchar with Guwhati via Dima Hasao, the disastrous state of the under-construction stretch after Damcherra makes it impossible for vehicular traffic. Thus, the night scene at that road is very much an undiscovered tale.

At the night of counting of polled votes, the road became unusually busy post-midnight. Due to COVID protocols, the process took longer than it normally does. Politicians as well as the officials from the district administration were waiting to get the final number.

That unusual late-night travel on that road unveiled the hidden story of ‘Badugarh’ village in Durganagar Part II located by the Mahasadak near Jhapirbond. 50 to 60 women with torches in their hands walked silently. They stood a couple of feet apart from each other, “That is how we follow social distancing,” said one of the 60 women.

When asked if it was a special occasion on that particular day that triggered them to walk with the Mashal, they broke into laughter. “We have been doing it every day for the last 15 years,” the woman added. “It is no revolution, it is not to garner the eyeballs of the press or the politicians. We do it to win darkness by spreading light, we do it to generate awareness. It is our way of saying get enlightened and find the path that is correct and not wrong, that is divine and not devil,” asserted the woman who refused to share her name. “I am not a leader and we have no leaders, we all are bound by the purpose and not fruit,” she added.

“Our march is against antisocial activities like gambling, betting… We also walk to stand strong and exhibit our collective protest against domestic violence, eve-teasing, and crime against women,” she added.

Crime in Bhadugarh village in Durganagar Part II is less. Locals said that the women take most of the initiatives. They also emphasise educating the kids the values of life and moral science. “We step out at 9:00 pm, only the women of the villlage. Some men also join us whenever they feel like. And by the time we walk across the entire village, it is 2:00 am. It also serves as a good evening walk or physical exercise as they say,” the woman adds.