Ideas change everything

Everyone deserves to be safe

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Jasmeen Patheja |

TED Talks India

• December 2017

What does a woman never leave home without? A safety pin, a pointed nail file, red chili powder -- some small weapon to fight off unwanted touches and grabs in public. When artist Jasmeen Patheja asked women to share this intimate detail of their lives, it made her point: everyone deserves safety. Her project, Blank Noise, helps to reclaim public safety for everyone through public projects that build trust and independence for everyone. Watch to the end for a thoughtful dialogue with host Shah Rukh Khan.

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What does a woman never leave home without? A safety pin, a pointed nail file, red chili powder -- some small weapon to fight off unwanted touches and grabs in public. When artist Jasmeen Patheja asked women to share this intimate detail of their lives, it made her point: everyone deserves safety. Her project, Blank Noise, helps to reclaim public safety for everyone through public projects that build trust and independence for everyone. Watch to the end for a thoughtful dialogue with host Shah Rukh Khan.

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This talk was presented at an official TED conference.

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About the speaker

Jasmeen Patheja

Artist

Jasmeen Patheja is a disruptive artist based in Bangalore. She is the founder and facilitator of Blank Noise, a citizen-led community arts collective. Born and brought up in Kolkata, Patheja always had the urge to use her creativity to make a difference. Haunted by the experience of being harassed on the streets, even as a young girl wearing her school uniform, and frustrated by public apathy, she decided to do something about it.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference.

Read our curation guidelines.