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Feel sorry for those in denial about sexual harassment survivors: Shobhaa De on #MeToo

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By Siddhi Jain
Nainital, Oct 6 (IANS) Author-columnist Shobhaa De has said that she feels sorry for people who do not believe sexual harassment survivors, asserting that a #MeToo movement is “inevitable” for every field, even outside showbiz.

“I feel sorry for those who do not believe sexual harassment survivors, because there’s soon going to be no place for them to hide,” De told IANS on the sidelines of the third edition of “Himalayan Echoes: Kumaon Festival of Literature and Arts”.

“The truth remains the truth… Whether you believe her or not is reflection of who you are; it’s not any indictment about her. It’s shame if they continue to be in denial, because that’s exactly what I think it is,” asserted the “Seventy…And To Hell With It” author.

On the anonymous naming and shaming of the alleged sexual predators on social media, she said that it may “seem exaggerated and unfair”, adding that “maybe it probably is”.

“Social media encourages anonymity, you can hide behind it, but also sometimes it gives courage. So if someone feels strongly about something and has felt helpless all this while, it will give a voice to it,” she added.

De maintained that she does not have a personal story to share on #MeToo, but that, she asserted, doesn’t take away the empathy she has for every single victim of harassment — boy, girl, man, woman, child.

“I am not a victim. I’m saying that not with relief, because safety is something not to be taken for granted, and I have always taken mine for granted,” she said.

“(It) might be that I’ve been spared, because from a young age, I’ve been a no-nonsense kind of a person but even then you can be oppressed, because you can be overpowered,” the widely-read author said.

Do she think a #MeToo is possible in the literary world?

“It’s inevitable. It’s gonna happen in every single field, it’s gonna happen in sports, politics, art, literature. Because it’s not something restricted to showbiz,” she said.

De participated in a “No Filter” session and was in conversation with author Jahnavi Prasada, the director of the annual literary event.

“There are no saints in Hollywood and there are none in Bollywood either. They say we are actors not activists. It’s not about being an activist, it’s about standing up for a colleague and damning what’s wrong,” De had said during the session.

Himalayan Echoes will conclude on Sunday.

(Siddhi Jain is in Nainital at the invitation of the organisers of Himalayan Echoes. She can be contacted at [email protected])

–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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