Many Bollywood and
Television celebrities are sharing their #Metoo stories on social media where
they open up about a past sexual assault or harassment faced by them. Shrenu
Parikh is the latest one to join the list. The Ishqbaaz actress took to social
media to talk about a disgusting act she was victim to as a 6-year-old. Shrenu
was molested in a local bus by a man who made her sit on his lap and touched
her inappropriately.
Shrenu writes, “As a kid I used to spend my
vacations at my grandparents’ town! Those days we travelled in a local bus! And
when the seats used to be occupied my grandfather used to request someone to
share the seat for me! Similarly one uncle offered to nanu that 'il make her
sit on my lap'. He willingly agreed thought at least I won’t get tired, he made
me sit on his lap! Me as a child couldn’t know what’s gonna happen to me I
dozed off, only woke up to the feeling of being inappropriately being touched
by that uncle! I could sense something’s wrong but I went all numb and thought
its ok for him to hold me like that! I could see my naanu standing a little
away from me but couldn’t tell him anything not then not later! I wish I would
have spoken about it, I wish that man would’ve gotten his share of punishment
for molesting a 6-year-old! Not once but so many such incidents have happened,
I’ve known from my friends but we never talk about it! Never raise our voices
coz we r scared of how the society will eventually not believe us and we don’t
stand for ourselves! What’s happening with Gauri is something I’m sure we all
have faced on some or the other level in our lives! And that’s why m so glad we
did this track so that women can come out and speak. If we don’t own our truth
nobody else will. This is just a small attempt to create a space for all of us
to share our stories and raise our voices! #ishqbaaaz #metoo”
Well, the incident is quite unfortunate but we hope Shrenu’s efforts to encourage
awareness among young girls pays off.