As mulheres indianas que foram fotografadas a utilizar máscaras de vaca fazem parte de um projeto que tem por objetivo pôr as pessoas a pensar na seguinte questão: as mulheres são menos importantes que o gado, na Índia? O movimento foi iniciado por Sujatro Gosh, um fotógrafo de 23 anos. Ao pegar no animal mais sagrado para o povo hindu – a vaca – ele quis originar um debate social e político sobre a desvalorização das mulheres naquele país.

Eu comecei o projeto em Deli, já que é a capital e é o centro de tudo – política, religião e até mesmo dos debates”, declarou.

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My art comes as a form of protest. In my country Cows are more important than a woman's life with more security. (Reference: Majority of Hindus believe cow as their holy animal and they worship it though Majority of Muslims consume it as a part of their daily meal.) The debate is never ending "Whether to consume or worship it" but gaining political benefits out of it is wrong. Why not let the people decide what they want to consume. I will be photographing women from different parts of the society. I would be more than happy if you reach out to me and want to get photographed or maybe join this form of protest. Nicole says : "At least if I walk down the streets in a cow mask, my chances of being harassed will probably be slim. No one wants to harass anyone who looks like a deity or a representative of a deity." #RisingBeyondJingoism #classroom #cow #women #protest #womenpower #politics #indiarising #studying #thecowmaskproject #animals @instagram #love #laugh #art #standup #everydayeverywhere #indiaphotoproject #everydayindia #womenphotographers #myfeatureshoot

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No início deste mês, durante uma visita a Nova Iorque, o fotógrafo comprou uma máscara de vaca, numa loja de festas. Quando regressou à Índia, começou a fotografar mulheres em frente a locais turísticos e edifícios governamentais, em ruas movimentadas ou na privacidade das suas casas, em barcos ou em comboios, com o objetivo de mostrar que “as mulheres são vulneráveis em qualquer sítio”.

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Estou perturbado com o facto de no meu país as vacas serem consideradas mais importantes que as mulheres. Leva muito mais tempo para uma mulher, que é violada ou assediada, a obter justiça do uma vaca”, disse o fotógrafo de Deli à BBC.

Na Índia, a cada 15 minutos uma violação a uma mulher é reportada. Mas, na maioria dos casos, leva anos até o culpado ser punido. Porém, quando uma vaca é abatida, existem grupos extremistas que, imediatamente, matam ou agridem os suspeitos do crime.

Este projeto, segundo Ghosh, esta é a sua “maneira de protestar” contra os grupos de vigilância de gado, que têm vindo a ser encorajados pelo hindu nacionalista Bharatiya Janata Party, liderado pelo primeiro-ministro Narendra Modi, que chegou ao poder no verão de 2014.

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My art comes as a form of protest. In my country Cows are more important than a woman's life with more security. (Reference: Majority of Hindus believe cow as their holy animal and they worship it though Majority of Muslims consume it as a part of their daily meal.) The debate is never ending "Whether to consume or worship it" but gaining political benefits out of it is wrong. Why not let the people decide what they want to consume. I will be photographing women from different parts of the society. I would be more than happy if you reach out to me and want to get photographed or maybe join this form of protest. (Unable to disclose name for security reasons) says : "The mask instils a feeling of closure in the world of creepy gazes and lewd comments. This makes me feel empowered and safe. Empowered because I can raise my voice against these political miscreants and safe because it conceals my identity." #RisingBeyondJingoism #WHPstandout #bedroom #cow #women #protest #womenpower #politics #indiarising #phonecall #thecowmaskproject #animals #love #laugh #art #conversation #everydayeverywhere #indiaphotoproject #everydayindia #womenphotographers #myfeatureshoot

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Ainda em declarações à BBC, o fotógrafo diz que já captou imagens de mulheres “de todas as áreas da sociedade”. Alega sentir dificuldades em abordar estranhos, tendo-se cingido a pessoas que conhecia.

Desde que publicou o projeto no seu Instagram, já recebeu inúmeras reações às suas fotografias. A maioria dos comentários tem sido positiva, mas admite que já foi alvo de ameaças. Porém, ele não se mostrou afetado.

Eu não tenho medo, porque estou a trabalhar para uma causa maior”, declarou.

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Holy Animal meets the Holy River Calcutta'17 It's been a rollercoaster ride with this project of mine and it's been appreciated in almost all the platforms in the country. Thank you so much for everything the cow will keep travelling ???? If you're interested in it – @catch.news http://www.catchnews.com/national-news/cows-over-women-a-unique-photo-series-protesting-india-s-misplaced-priorities-66021.html @times_of_india https://www.facebook.com/TimesofIndia/posts/10155503200257139 @timesnow http://www.timesnow.tv/the-buzz/article/whats-trending-in-town-gai-mask-the-new-moral-safety-helmet/63420 @wionews https://www.facebook.com/WIONews/videos/671912879686017/ Read the whole story here : http://www.wionews.com/life-fun/if-the-cow-is-our-mother-then-so-is-a-woman-16903 InUth http://www.inuth.com/trends/social-virals/this-photo-series-has-women-in-cow-masks-since-cows-are-greater-than-women/ Ebela https://ebela.in/national/kolkata-guy-protested-against-misplaced-priorities-of-india-using-a-photo-series-dgtl-1.630782?ref=national-ft-stry%3Futm_source%3Dfacebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=fb_mab The Quint https://www.thequint.com/india/2017/06/20/sujatro-ghosh-photo-series-cows-masks-women-safety @indiatimesinsta http://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/23-yo-artist-uses-a-cow-mask-to-point-out-the-flaws-in-our-society-this-is-why-it-s-brilliant-324167.html The Indian Express (Web) http://indianexpress.com/photos/lifestyle-gallery/photographer-sujatro-ghosh-images-of-women-wearing-cow-mask-protests-indias-misplaced-priorities-4714059/ @buzzfeedindia https://www.buzzfeed.com/soniathomas/women-wore-cow-masks-to-question-if-cows-are-safer-than?bffbindia&utm_term=4ldqpgp#4ldqpgp @allindiabakchod https://www.facebook.com/IndiaBakchod/posts/1492152207495435:0 Indian Express (Print) http://epaper.indianexpress.com/m/1254019/Indian-Express/June-22,-2017#issue/25/1 and many more ????????‍♀️???????? I will be photographing women from different parts of the society. I would be more than happy if you reach out to me and want to get photographed or maybe join this form of protest. #RisingBeyondJingoism #thecowmaskproject #cow #protest #women

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