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The streets have always been a thoroughly masculine space. Society does not bat an eyelid even if shirtless men create a ruckus on the streets or assemble in large groups and have a obnoxiously loud 'gala' time. Now, if it were a group of women behaving similarly, the conservatives would rush in with their moral policing. Society has ingrained the idea that women’s enjoyment ought to be docile and indoors, far away from the public view. Bengaluru and Kerala-based transdisciplinary artist, free-thinker, and changemaker Indu Antony articulately challenged this notion when she unveiled her shutter shop for women in Bengaluru roughly a year ago.
"It is a leisure space for women to sit, chill, talk, sing, gossip, scratch and scream, and do whatever they want,” says Indu. “There are a lot of leisure spaces for men, like sutta shops and chai stalls. Women’s leisure is always confined. It is never in a public place. Namma Katte is different in that sense. When you pull up the shutters, it opens out on the road. We have a swing where they can come and enjoy themselves. It is a space away from home."
Indu Antony, in an interview with Firstpost
The shutter shop is located in Lingarajapuram and is called Namma Katte, which translates to ‘our space’ in Kannada. The local gathering place for women in the community was given this name to symbolize the inclusive and friendly atmosphere it aims to create. It appeals to both toddlers and women of all ages. There are no limitations based on religion, caste, language, occupation, or education level.
"It has been a lifelong dream of mine to create a leisure centre for women — a space to bring back a sense of community and laugh and gossip together, have conversations; to just do anything except daily chores."
Indu Antony, in an interview with Mint Lounge
As you step into the area, the first thing that catches your attention is the sizable swing suspended from the ceiling. It is like a tangible inviting gesture for the visitor to sit and converse or even swing for a period of time. The women who visit Namma Katte share their personal stories by stitching them onto pieces of fabric using a needle and thread. These stories revolve around their intimate experiences from their own lives. There is no obligation to perform or create; they have the freedom to choose what and how much they wish to share. While not all, some of these stories touch upon incidents of violence inflicted by their husbands and in-laws.
"Just two weeks ago, one lady told me that her third child was female, and her mother-in-law was so unsupportive of that, that she buried the child alive. There are similar tales, like dowry-related issues, frequent domestic violence cases triggered by alcohol abuse. Each story is so personal in its own way, and the fact that there was no avenue for these women to share them is what had to be changed."
Indu Antony, in an interview with Bangalore Mirror
Antony proposed the concept of sewing a single line from the oral histories onto fabric, aiming to provide a sense of lasting significance to the stories. Additionally, she began compensating the women for their efforts, allowing them to justify to their families for spending time at the katte. The words are embroidered in different languages due to the linguistic diversity of Lingarajapuram, where residents speak Kannada, Telugu, Oriya, Malayalam, Urdu, and even English, as the Anglo-Indian community has a strong presence in the area.
Antony came up with the idea for this initiative as a part of the artist-in-residence program, which was funded by the Wellcome Trust in the UK. This program was done in collaboration with the Museum of Art and Photography (MAP) in Bengaluru, as part of an international cultural program called 'Mindscapes'. The main aim of this program was to support communities in understanding, addressing, and discussing mental health. Antony was selected by MAP to be the artist-in-residence. Her work, Namma Katte exemplifies her belief that leisure is crucial for the emotional well-being and mental health of women.
Find out more about Indu Antony and her works here.
