Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar at Rise Up for Equality

The opening night of Raell Padamsee’s Rise Up for Equality festival set a powerful tone for societal change, blending impactful storytelling with a call to action for women's and children’s safety and empowerment. Held at the Sophia Bhabha Auditorium, the first day of the festival witnessed the presence of Commissioner of Police Mumbai Vivek Phansalkar, who lent his unwavering support, as he did last year. Accompanying him were Zone 2 DCP Mohit Garg, ACP Suman Chavan, his wife Dr. Megha Phansalkar, and the Nirbhaya Squad of women police, underscoring the collective effort needed to address these pressing issues.

The evening featured a stirring solo performance by actress Lushin Dubey titled Untitled, inspired by Vijay Dan Detha’s Nyari Nyari Maryada and Dario Fo’s Medea. The narrative followed a Rajasthani queen challenging patriarchal norms to reclaim her identity, resonating deeply with the audience.

Vivek Phansalkar, the Commissioner of Police Mumbai, expressed, “This is one of the most well-organized and amazing festivals. Lushin Dubey’s one-act play is incredibly inspiring; it delivers such a strong message to society, and I hope it travels far and wide. Mumbai Police is committed to the safety of women, and we have been launching several schemes, one of which is the 103 Awareness Program. I am grateful to Raell Padamsee, Ace Productions, and Create Foundation for partnering with us in this awareness campaign. She has been very supportive and has also involved celebrities like Sonali Bendre and Juhi Chawla in this cause. I thank them, as well as everyone participating, because this message needs to reach every single woman - especially those who are deprived or lack support from their environment, homes, or workplaces. We are here to respond to every call and ensure that every girl and every woman in the city feels safe.”