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{{Short description|Indian activist}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jasmeen Patheja
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1979|11|11}}
| birth_place = [[Kolkata]], West Bengal
| alma_mater = [[Srishti Institute of Art Design and Technology]]
| known_for = Human Rights Activism <br> [[Pink Chaddi Campaign]] <br> [[Blank Noise]]
| image = Wikimania 2018 - Decolonizing the Internet Conference 074 (cropped).jpg
}}

'''Jasmeen Patheja ''' is a human rights activist in India and was born in [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]]. She graduated from the [[Srishti School of Art Design and Technology]] in fine arts. She is a former [[Ashoka Fellow]] and works towards gender sensitization.<ref>{{cite web |title=Asian Underground guru to marry Calcutta girl - Wedding after hush-hush affair |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/asian-underground-guru-to-marry-calcutta-girl-wedding-after-hush-hush-affair/cid/1278010 |website=www.telegraphindia.com |language=en}}</ref> She has been bringing attention to sexism and harassment in forms such as [[eve teasing]], a form of sexual harassment that is very common in India.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://india.ashoka.org/fellow/jasmeen-patheja|title=Jasmeen Patheja {{!}} Ashoka - India|website=india.ashoka.org|language=en|access-date=2017-12-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211030007/http://india.ashoka.org/fellow/jasmeen-patheja|archive-date=11 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> She established [[Blank Noise]] for the same purpose.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Garia |first1=Nikita |title=Indian Women Divided Over 'Slut Walk' |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-IRTB-11801 |website=Wall Street Journal |date=22 June 2011}}</ref>

==Blank Noise==
Jasmeen started the [[Blank Noise]] as a student project at Srishti in [[Bangalore]] in 2003. This has since spread out to other cities in [[India]] and globally.<ref name=a>{{cite web|title=Case Study: Blank Noise|url=http://www.indiasocial.in/case-study-blank-noise/|accessdate=17 March 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524125457/http://www.indiasocial.in/case-study-blank-noise/|archivedate=24 May 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The purpose of Blank Noise was to create gender sensitisation regarding street harassment and eve teasing. The project exclusively works towards tackling gender-based violence. It intends to shift the blame of eve teasing from victims to the perpetrators. It also provides legal counselling in case women want legal redressal for sexual harassment. It works on the ground with victims and is trying to suggest tougher laws against street harassment while improving on the existing ones. The project addresses the issue with innovative ways such as street performances and confrontational protests. Initially, Jasmeen started by going to Colleges but later came to the conclusion street activism would be more effective.

Jasmeen also uses new and mainstream media to spread awareness around the topic. She has created a blog that brings together diverse groups of people through discussions, questionnaires, testimonials, and photographs. People often volunteer to participate in Blank Noise's public performances and campaigns. Jasmeen has consciously sought new communities with which to collaborate, including youth groups, volunteers from slums, women bus conductors, police, and men.<ref>{{cite web |title=Together for women - Mumbai Mirror - |url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/heroesshow/25071399.cms |website=Mumbai Mirror}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Born in Kolkata, her family migrated to India from [[Burma]] in the 1960s. Her grandmother has been a strong influence in her life. She started engaging in activism during her time in college as an undergraduate student when she realized that street harassment was a systemic problem.<ref name=":0" />

On 21 August 2011 she married London-based guru of Asian electronica, [[Talvin Singh]] in Gurdwara Jagat Sudhar on Rashbehari Avenue in [[Kolkata]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Music and moustache for monsoon wedding |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/music-and-moustache-for-monsoon-wedding/cid/1278168 |website=www.telegraphindia.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Asian Underground guru to marry Calcutta girl - Wedding after hush-hush affair |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/asian-underground-guru-to-marry-calcutta-girl-wedding-after-hush-hush-affair/cid/1278010 |website=www.telegraphindia.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title='I used to borrow money to buy Talvin's cassettes' |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/i-used-to-borrow-money-to-buy-talvin-s-cassettes/story-4xQeM9aM6SHUR2qqaj0D1I.html
|website=www.hindustantimes.com |date=19 August 2011
|language=en}}</ref> She has been a [[TED (conference)|TED]]<ref name="c">{{cite web|title=TED Fellow: Jasmeen Patheja|url=http://fellows.ted.com/profiles/jasmeen-patheja|accessdate=31 May 2014|archive-date=31 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531125149/http://fellows.ted.com/profiles/jasmeen-patheja|url-status=dead}}</ref> and an [[Ashoka Fellow]].<ref name="d">{{cite web|title=Jasmeen Patheja|url=http://india.ashoka.org/fellow/jasmeen-patheja|accessdate=31 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211030007/http://india.ashoka.org/fellow/jasmeen-patheja|archive-date=11 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official website|https://www.jasmeenpatheja.com}}
*{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330044817/https://www.blindaim.com/2018/11/jasmeen-patheja.html |date=30 March 2019 }}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Patheja, Jasmeen}}
[[Category:Indian social entrepreneurs]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Artists from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Indian women activists]]
[[Category:1979 births]]

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{{India-activist-stub}}

Jasmeen Patheja - Revision history

Greyscaledesign at 08:14, 7 March 2025