Shakti Mohan Reveals Childhood Harassment: Eve-Teasing, Molestation Were Daily Reality
Renowned choreographer and dancer Shakti Mohan has courageously opened up about facing persistent eve-teasing and molestation while growing up, describing how harassment formed a constant, traumatic part of her daily life. In an exclusive conversation with interviewer Siddharth Kannan, Mohan shared deeply personal experiences that highlight systemic issues affecting women across India.
'It Was a Daily Experience'
Recalling her college years, Shakti Mohan revealed that even basic activities like stepping out after 7 PM felt unsafe, as if inviting trouble. "Eve-teasing was a regular part of life back then—I don't know if it still is, but for us, it was constant," she stated. The harassment wasn't limited to nighttime; it occurred even during daytime commutes to college.
"I studied at Miranda House, and the two years I travelled by university bus were extremely traumatic," Mohan explained. "The way people would look at you, the way someone would come and touch you—it was a daily experience. Every day I would come home safely and thank God that nothing serious happened. Because we would hear stories of girls being pulled into cars or assaulted."
Family Response and Survival Strategies
Sharing how her family coped with these challenges, Mohan recalled her sister's bold approach. "My sister once even slapped a guy in the bus. She used to tell us, 'Don't be scared. If someone stares at you, stare back and intimidate them.'" However, she acknowledged the terrible reality that women must develop such defensive mechanisms. "But honestly, it's terrible how women have to live like this. If I had the means to travel in a car, I would have—but we didn't, so I had to go through this every day."
The emotional toll was significant. "Of course. There was anger—so much anger. You feel helpless and think, 'What can I even do to change this?' Sometimes you feel like grabbing them and hitting them. But many of these men are so shameless that it doesn't even affect them," she admitted.
Addressing Victim-Blaming and Societal Norms
Mohan strongly countered victim-blaming attitudes, emphasizing that clothing choices are irrelevant to harassment. "That's completely wrong. I used to go to college in a full kurta-pyjama, with a shawl or sweater in winters. If you want to blame someone else for your actions, that's cowardly. It's not about clothes."
She highlighted a crucial societal imbalance in education. "As girls, we are taught everything—how to dress, how to sit, how to behave, what time to come home. But boys are not taught about consent. I used to wonder—why would anyone do something wrong?" she recalled, reflecting on her childhood confusion.
Molestation by Strangers and Relatives
In a particularly vulnerable revelation, Mohan disclosed experiencing molestation multiple times in different locations. "Yes. Not just once—multiple times, in different places. And not just strangers—even relatives. Ask any girl, and you'll realise this is very common."
She described the delayed understanding of these violations. "At that time, I was too young to even understand what had happened. I realised it much later, in college, when it suddenly hit me—'Oh, this was wrong.' And this was someone we trusted completely—someone my parents trusted."
Family Dynamics and Silence
When asked about parental awareness, Mohan admitted she never directly told her mother. "Honestly, I never directly told my mother about this particular incident. Like I said, I told my sister. All of us sisters were shocked when we started sharing our experiences. There was a lot of anger. I didn't tell my mother because I was scared—what would I even say to her? And what could she do?"
She revealed this pattern extended through her family. "Yes. I told my sister, and she was like a parent to us. Whether in boarding school or in life, we always went to her for everything. Then I started hearing stories from my other sisters too. And even from our female cousins—it was the same pattern. Not just one or two people, but multiple relatives. At that point, you're just left wondering—what do you even do?"
Choosing Distance Over Confrontation
Explaining their response, Mohan said they chose to cut contact rather than confront perpetrators. "We didn't know what to do. By the time I realised what had happened to me, I was already in college. Years had passed. I didn't know how to deal with it. All I could do was share it with my sister. After hearing everyone's stories, you're even more shocked. Eventually, you just choose to cut contact. You don't meet those people again. That's all we could do."
Even today, she finds the situation complicated. "Honestly, I still don't know how to deal with it—even now. Also, my mother would worry about the family's reputation. Her instinct would be to protect us by telling us to be careful in the future, not to confront them. Calling them out openly—that would never happen in our family."
Societal Observations and Regional Differences
Mohan pointed to problematic attitudes among some men. "Not all men, but yes, some men feel it's their right—that they can speak to women in a certain way or treat them however they want. That's something I still clearly see in society today—the upbringing of boys and girls is very different."
She acknowledged mixed feelings toward men. "Not hatred, but there is definitely rage towards certain men," while noting she has also met "wonderful, kind and respectful people."
Comparing regions, she observed: "In North India, it felt worse. After coming to Mumbai, I felt much safer and more comfortable. I feel Mumbai has a very different culture—there is a sense of mutual respect between men and women."
Call for Fundamental Change
Ending with a powerful message, Mohan emphasized the need for mindset transformation. "We teach our daughters to be careful, but we don't teach boys about consent. Boys often grow up with too much freedom and no clear boundaries. If that mindset doesn't change, nothing else will."
Her revelations underscore the urgent need for comprehensive consent education and societal reform to create safer environments for women and girls across India.
