Pre-teens to 45-yr-olds join self-defence class as KP launches 10th edition of Tejashwini

Kolkata: Around 300 participants turned up at the Police Athletic Club tent on Tuesday, for the 10th edition of Tejashwini, an initiative by Kolkata Police that empowers girls and women by teaching them self-defence.There are a few perverted minds in society who will try to take advantage of women, but it is time they are protested against, said commissioner of Kolkata Police, Supratim Sarkar, during the launch of the event. During this initiative, girls and women aged between 12 and 45 will learn basic protective skills for 2.5 hours over the next four days.
"In society, there's always some degenerate men who misbehave with women. They try to disturb you when you are travelling. You often do not know how to fight back or strongly protest against their behaviour. Tejashwini is here to teach you to gain the confidence that is needed to look into the eyes of the perpetrator and protest, and physically stall them. This is also an effort to remove your fear and your hesitations," said Sarkar.The Commissioner said the training will not turn anyone into an expert overnight. "But you will know the basic techniques of self-defence. You might have some doubts in the beginning, but at the end of the course, you will emerge stronger. People who have attended the course earlier will tell you that they do not need to ask their tuition teacher to dismiss them early or think twice while taking public transport at night. There is nothing to fear. Give it your best shot," said Sarkar.Sutapa Nandy, 45, from Behala, who joined on the first day, said she wanted to increase her confidence. "It is not something that I will only learn. I will also try to practise what I learn," said Nandy.Mukulika Jana Chatterjee, 44, who came from Hooghly, said she wanted to learn something new each day. Aratrika Mondal, and Sneha Sarkar, the youngest participants from Sarsuna, said they felt that the course will make them stronger, mentally and physically. Earlier, officials of the Kolkata Police Sergeants' Institute, one of the main organisers, expressed their plan to launch an academy that will provide a regular course in self-defence. According to KPSI sources, three things will be kept in mind while opening the academy. Firstly, the training will be restricted to weekends to allow students and working women to participate. Secondly, the training will be conducted for three hours each day, and finally, it will be scheduled to avoid clashing with the other two KPSI programmes, cricket and basketball.