Swara Bhasker Hails Hema Committee Report As 'Heroic' At Hortus Festival.

Actor and activist Swara Bhasker praised the Hema Committee Report and applauded the efforts of WCC during her session at the Malayala Manorama Hortus Festival on Sunday on the topic “Artist as a Dissenting Citizen,” moderated by writer Shahina Rafiq.

She commended the women who came forward with allegations of sexual harassment, saying, “Those girls are heroes… What those women and girls have done is unprecedented.”

Swara stressed the significance of the report, stating, “We have not seen this in any other language industry, anywhere in India, in the hundred-plus year history of Indian cinema.

“She acknowledged the challenges faced by the women, noting, “To consistently stick with something that involves paper, bureaucracy, hearings… that’s absolutely incredible.”

She also foregrounded the gravity of the allegations, saying, “What happened is a crime, not gender disparity or inequality, but gender crime.”

She added that women’s bodily safety is often compromised in the workplace, calling it a “denial of human rights.”

Regarding accountability, Swara said, “The Hema Commission is good because it’s making people accountable.” She praised the commission’s efforts, stating, “Already, there have been resignations, and people have had to explain themselves.” Swara hopes this will create a culture of accountability, reducing predators’ audacity.

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During the Q&A session with the audience, Swara addressed concerns about the report’s effectiveness, saying, “When anybody disturbs an existing power structure, they pay for it… Conformism is convenient, profitable, and practical.” She acknowledged that victims of sexual harassment often face punishment for speaking out.

Swara Bhasker shared her own experiences and those of friends, explaining the difficulties victims face in seeking justice. “The whole process is so onerous on the victim to prove everything… Sometimes you don’t have proof.” She accented that not all crimes leave physical evidence, but that doesn’t make them any less serious.

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