It only took a poem to make her an icon. Three minutes of verse declaimed with strength and some guitar notes, on the stage of The Habitat theater, in Bombay, in 2017, entitled A Brown Girl’s Guide to Beauty (A beauty guide for dark skinned women).
“Since the age of 9, I have slapped my face with creams to lighten it”, begins Aranya Johar’s poem. “Every cleanser was a slap in the face because I had a skin tone that was ugly. “ This video, which addresses – among other things – the Indian obsession with pale skin, quickly exceeds one million views. Because many women recognize themselves in the 18-year-old poet, hitherto unknown.
A career as an artist
“I was surprised by such an echo, because I first wrote this text talking about myself, tells Aranya Johar. For example, when I went to bathe and tan and undergo reflections. “ Aranya Johar receives interview requests, the first coming to his surprise from Germany. “I thought women were free and hassle free in so-called developed countries. “
The media talk about poetic slam, she prefers to talk about “Spoken words”. Still, the young woman, still a student, then began an artistic career that she had not dared to hope for. “Since I was 10, I have been writing, inspired in particular by protest rap. “
She multiplies the texts, attacking all the standards of beauty in India, but also mental health, rape or acid attacks. Bleed without violence, recited on World Menstrual Hygiene Day, addresses the taboo of menstruation and again explodes all the counters of views. She also participates in the film Padman, which is a hit.
Threats and criticisms
With her theatrical poetry, Aranya Johar attracts the attention of the whole world. Before the pandemic, she had also started traveling for events organized by artistic collectives, the United Nations or the Bill Gates Foundation.
“Seeing other countries and cultures paradoxically made me realize how much I belonged to India, she testifies. I also understood the importance of the work of field activists. It is thanks to them that I was able to emerge as an icon in the world. “
Everything ends with the pandemic, which she passes with her grandfather in Bombay. “I couldn’t go out anymore because it was risky for him. “ The opportunity to take stock of the turbulent years. “People quickly made me the spokesperson for a whole population of which I do not claim to be representative”, confesses Aranya Johar.
Because beyond the threats of rape which she says she is ready to face, Aranya Johar has also received artistic criticism. How can a young woman from a wealthy family and upper caste be legitimate to speak out about all this violence?
“Come to think of it, I think these remarks make sense, juge aranya johar. So I try to find out as much as possible about the problems facing the lower castes and tribal people in India. Coming from a privileged background can be a strength, from the moment you are aware of it. “
New forms of expression
In the future, Aranya Johar wants to experiment with new forms of expression, but also to help other women from disadvantaged communities to take the stage and on the web. “I’m only 22, I don’t want to be locked into a style or the image people have of me. “
His most memorable meeting? “A woman from Canada, who explained to me that she had used one of my videos to tell her parents about her family rape. “ Hence its message to French women and to all women. “Even if you live in a so-called privileged environment, your perspective is precious. Use the resources that are available to you to help those that are lacking. “
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