All for a Cause

Lets face it, as noble as the concept is, an AIDS awareness programme spells boredom to most of us. Slides showing both the male and female sex organs, and long rambling speeches on the many facets of the disease, things tend to get a wee bit predictable. However, on World AIDS Day, when Elaan, an organisation which deals with child sex abuse, in partnership with SAATHII, an organisation which deals with issues of gender and sexuality, brought forward the message of HIV/AIDS awareness among the visitors to the rooftop at Star Theatre, what really made a difference to the otherwise cliched’ methods of awareness-raising was the innovative presentation of the idea.

A medley of Bollywood numbers, an exciting body art session and a quiz, ensured that the event didn’t end up being just another AIDS awareness programme. “ We wanted to make it a fun event. Who says an AIDS awareness event has to be a sombre one?” asks Pranaadhika Sinha of Elaan.

As people queued up to be “tattooed” with the symbolic ribbon, quizzes were carried out in a bid to gauge audience awareness on the issue; which, it was discovered, was woefully inadequate. Sample: Most people were still under the misconception that the virus is transmitted via mosquito bite which is untrue as it is too weak to sustain the harsh atmosphere when it is exposed, as a result of which it weakens and dies.

After a long evening of tattooing, question-answer sessions it was concluded that not only HIV/AIDS but other allied issues such as sex education, sexual abuse and gender-sexuality need to be brought out of the closet as awareness is the need of the moment. However, the organisers had to fight to get their points across. “We were asked to not mention the topics of sexuality and sex abuse, by the authorities. The event was meant ` for a family audience. Yet, we said what we wanted to. After all, how can you talk about HIV/AIDS, without mentioning this issues?” asks Sinha.