Page 28 - Chupi-Todo
P. 28
I am a popular female Carnatic vocal musician. I too have been a silent victim
of child abuse by my own music teacher. They teach us that ‘Matha Pitha Guru
Dhaivam’ (Mother, Father, Teacher and God) in the order of respect but when my
own teacher started to behave this way, I just gave up. My whole music career was
shattered because of this one person.
But then I started to think why this should happen to me. I started listening to
recordings, creating my own style of music and tried learning from female teachers.
Now I run a very successful online Carnatic music school. But even now, I feel that
life would have been much better if not for those incidents.
I just want to tell others that do not let go of your passion because of these incidents.
Chase your dream and let them regret for they are the culprits.
-Jaya
I was abused for years and I can’t even remember when it started. I have gone
through years of therapy, self-talking and pushing it under the rug, in the hopes of
moving on. I have two children and have visited India with them over the years.
When my daughter was 13, she told me she was sexually abused in India by one
of her cousins when we were attending my father’s funeral. My daughter was 6
years old at that time. Her cousin was 13 years old. In my daughter’s case, I see
not one victim but multiple victims. When an adolescent boy’s natural curiosity is
quenched by abusing a child or a baby, the problem is a systemic one.
I have spent my life ighting against an inner demon in me pushing me to end this
miserable life and it’s devastating for me to know that now my daughter is going to
go through what I have gone through for 40 years.
-Shivani
CHUPPI TODO! | 26
of child abuse by my own music teacher. They teach us that ‘Matha Pitha Guru
Dhaivam’ (Mother, Father, Teacher and God) in the order of respect but when my
own teacher started to behave this way, I just gave up. My whole music career was
shattered because of this one person.
But then I started to think why this should happen to me. I started listening to
recordings, creating my own style of music and tried learning from female teachers.
Now I run a very successful online Carnatic music school. But even now, I feel that
life would have been much better if not for those incidents.
I just want to tell others that do not let go of your passion because of these incidents.
Chase your dream and let them regret for they are the culprits.
-Jaya
I was abused for years and I can’t even remember when it started. I have gone
through years of therapy, self-talking and pushing it under the rug, in the hopes of
moving on. I have two children and have visited India with them over the years.
When my daughter was 13, she told me she was sexually abused in India by one
of her cousins when we were attending my father’s funeral. My daughter was 6
years old at that time. Her cousin was 13 years old. In my daughter’s case, I see
not one victim but multiple victims. When an adolescent boy’s natural curiosity is
quenched by abusing a child or a baby, the problem is a systemic one.
I have spent my life ighting against an inner demon in me pushing me to end this
miserable life and it’s devastating for me to know that now my daughter is going to
go through what I have gone through for 40 years.
-Shivani
CHUPPI TODO! | 26
