n Friday, the road next to the Lahore Press Club turned red and black as the participants of Aurat March wore these colours representing conviction/ fortitude and grief, respectively.

Aurat March, which has now become an annual feature on March 8, ie the International Women’s Day, attracted people in droves, women as well as men, supporters and detractors (we know how they always manage to find their way in, even if as bemused spectators). The march was led by women from various walks of life, chanting slogans that were in line with their theme this year — Siyasat, Mazahmat, Azadi — as stated in their manifesto which had been released a few days prior.

Premised on this theme, the participants marched to “tackle electoral politics head-on and reimagine a version of political participation where oppressed groups and communities on the margins take centre stage.”

The march started at the LPC at around 2pm, and was headed for the Faletti’s Hotel via Edgerton Road. On the way, it was to meet four art installations with thought provoking themes. A range of performances and speeches were also planned for the day.

One was reminded of last year’s Aurat March in which an art installation had stolen the limelight. It was a cloth tunnel on a pavement on Edgerton Road that afforded those passing through it ‘a taste’ of how the women in our society have to navigate catcalls and nasty stares in public spaces. As you entered the tunnel, you heard wolf whistles and cheap come-hither calls that had been pre-recorded.

While the organisers of the march deserve kudos for mounting an impressive show every year, despite having no structured hierarchy and no funding channels, the efforts of those working tirelessly behind the scenes — the volunteers — cannot be discounted. These volunteers work dedicatedly, away from the media glare.

TNS spoke to Ayesha Sohail, a volunteer who had been participate in vigils to ensure that the march went smoothly, in order to get a sense of what goes into the making of a march. She said that Aurat March Lahore “organise a range of activities throughout the year. This year alone we held demonstrations in solidarity with the Palestinians as well as against deportation of Afghan refugees.”

Sohail revealed that the preparations for the march “commenced in December last year. Our social media platforms were regularly updated as activities took place.”

Talking about recruitment of volunteers, she said, “People of all age groups are encouraged to join as volunteers. Typically, we have 30-40 volunteers contributing to most activities. That said, we do everything collaboratively. That’s how creativity flourishes and innovative ideas emerge. We come together to brainstorm and discuss, and most of the work is done as a group.”

What keeps the volunteers motivated is the organisation’s “core values, and the need to build a supportive community in a culture of care. We take care of one another and proactively try to manage burnout. We also have activities such as a feminist dholki to integrate joy into our work and keep it fun,” Sohail added.

When asked how they assess the success or failure of a march, Sohail said, “For us, the success of the march is not necessarily something that could be measured. We see the impact in media trends, household conversations and overall mindset shift in society.”

Ahead of the march, the organisers held what they termed a “feminist press conference” in which the charter of demands was unveiled. Unlike some past press conferences, it was rather calm and serene. No impeaching or loaded questions were put to the organisers; and there was no mad rush for answers. The reason was that the Aurat March organisers had encouraged women and trans- journalists to attend it.

It almost fed the suggestion that male journalists were not allowed in. One of the organisers said, “We did not mean to exclude males [from the press conference]. We only wanted the media houses to send their female staff.”

Someone at the press conference asked why Aurat March had not considered participation in electoral politics. They replied with explaining a fundamental perspective that defines Aurat March: while elections represent a crucial facet of politics, Aurat March as a movement subscribes to the principles of alternative politics, deeming it equally significant.”

According to the organisers, the march operates as a non-partisan entity within the political landscape, functioning as conscientious stakeholders. The emphasis is on the belief that alternative politics, distinct from conventional electoral processes, is pivotal to their mission.

Prior to the press conference, the volunteers had organised a dholki night, which has become integral to the march. The content here, too, was heavily political; the tappay sung on the occasion shed light on the recently held elections. Here are some snippets from those:

“Raat day bara bajay aakay meri nindar khullay

Patta koi kharkay tay main dil nun pharr kay baini aan

Band buay day kol khalo kay, hauli hauli kendi aan

‘Kon ae?’

‘Jamaat ae!’

‘Nin, ki kendi ae?’

‘In ko aata hi nahin hai

In say hota hi nahin hai

In ko pata hi nahin hai

Meray voters mujh say pyar nahin kartay.’”

The writer is a media

veteran interested in

politics, consumer rights and entrepreneurship