Femme Force

Fifty-seven Zoroastrian ladies from all over Bombay in the age group of 16 to 60 benefited from the self defence training imparted at Rustom Baug in June 2005. They were participating in the four-day Femme Force self defence program sponsored and conducted by Electrolux Limited as part of its corporate social responsibility. The Electrolux Femme Force Program aims to enhance awareness of the situations where women may get subjected to physical attacks and demonstrates strategies to reduce such attacks. Electrolux being the world’s largest producer of powered appliances for kitchen, cleaning and outdoor use, the home appliances major felt "our commitment needs to go beyond satisfying our customers and employees” by reaching out to women in Delhi and later in Bombay, as notes a press release.

In the wake of increasing number of women becoming victims of crime in metropolitan cities, this program was initiated to train women to be self-reliant and confident to take charge of their own lives. Sensei Jehangir Shroff and his assistants taught lessons in basic fitness training, followed by movements like punches, blocks, kicks, use of dupatta/scarf for self defence, the need for presence of mind, close combat skill, reading of opponent’s mind, unbalancing the attacker… At the end of the training, grading was done and certificates distributed to the participants.

Participants (above and left) with organizers and instructors of the Femme Force program

Grateful to Veera Mavalwala of Electrolux and Hutoxi Doodhwala who worked tirelessly to make the program a success, Kumi Daroowala vice president of the Rustom Baug Association (RBA) who initiated this program referred to the event getting coverage in leading daily newspapers and even the popular Aaj Tak news channel.

At the RBA summer camp this year from April 18 to May 8, 30 children in the age group of five to 14 years participated in the three-week program which had for its theme: "Have fun while you learn,” mentions a write-up. Originally conceived by Daroowala, presently the program is coordinated by Dr Lily Keki Mistry. The camp at the Neville Wadia Hall included sessions in art and craft by Kerman Patel, assisted by Hutoxi Irani, yoga by Armaity Mistry, personality development, speech/drama, flower arrangement and rangoli by Roxanna Vajifdar, assisted by Farzana and Maharukh, religion by Daroowala, dancing by Pinky Bharucha assisted by Kainaz Palsetia. Outings to the Byculla fire brigade and the Johnson and Johnson Park were courtesy Col (Retd) Ronnie Mistry and Johnson and Johnson respectively. At the finale on May 7 the children showed their family and friends what they had learnt during the three weeks, enacting plays, performing yoga and dances.