From Kamathipura to London: Can you dare like this lesbian?

She is a storm. She is a star. She is one of the most insanely optimistic people I know. She is our daredevil, friendly, neighbourhood lesbian — Robin Chaurasiya.

Robin, who has some roots in Indore, has served in the US army as a Lieutenant. She made international headlines when she was thrown out of the military for being an out-and-about lesbian; as per the infamous ‘Don’t Ask. Don’t Tell’ policy by the US. She now lives in Mumbai with the girls of Kranti, an organisation she founded. Through Kranti, Robin ensures that girls from the red light area of Mumbai, Kamathipura, become agents of change.

I have been associated with Kranti as a board member since its inception and the girls call me bhaiyya. I have experienced first-hand what a safe space that is free of discrimination and full of empathy can do for these girls who have been through very challenging lives.

Robin doesn’t stay in an air-conditioned home and makes the girls a ‘CSR activity’ for herself. She, instead, lives with them in the same house and calls them her family. She wants them to dare to dream, and believes in the possibility of their dreams coming true.

In the past five years, Kranti’s girls have become the first girls from India’s red-light area to study abroad; have received UN awards for their social justice work; delivered more than 25 TEDx talks around the world; and performed theatre for an audience of over a lakh members.

Now, through theatre, the Kranti girls are sharing their stories with the world, hoping to change people’s mindsets about sex workers, their children, and communities. Their latest play has earned them an invitation to perform at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world’s largest arts festival! Robin la faar faar confidence aahe in people’s goodness. And it shows. Supporters in the UK have already arranged for them to perform in 10 cities across the country. People are providing food, housing, and all sorts of support. Their first performance, on June 21 in London, will be filmed by BBC.

However, she faces a challenge. She doesn’t have the money for flight tickets. And she has her itinerary packed for Wednesday. This is not the first time that she’s faced challenges. You know... some lesbians never learn. I have joined her in her crazy mission. And I rely on you to partner in this mission. Will you help #FlyKranti to London? I know it’s a crazy, last-minute thing. But when have we Mumbaikars and Indians not risen to the occasion? Here’s the link: http://ketto.org/flykranti. I trust you to do what you do best.

Atta malla khelaicha…
kauva udda... billi uddi...
 aeroplane udda
kranti uddi…
Khelnaar kaa?
Robincha kranti saathi, Robinhood bannaar kaa?

(Activist Harish Iyer shares his entertaining adventures through Mumbai’s landscape)

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