The real pink sari gang
The Indian documentary "Gulabi Gang" chronicles a growing female vigilante movement
Women vigilantes who fight for social justice in rural India, and are famed for their pink saris and sticks, are the subject of an award-winning documentary.
The Gulabi (Pink) Gang battles for women’s rights in Uttar Pradesh, tackling domestic violence, dowry disputes, child marriage and other forms of abuse.
The fatal gang-rape of a student in New Delhi in December 2012 caused widespread anger and protests across the country, but such crimes in poorer areas like Uttar Pradesh still receive far less media attention.
The documentary “Gulabi Gang”, directed by Nishtha Jain and released in India last month, tracks the founder and leader of the group, 56-year-old Sampat Pal Devi.
It also explores the workings and recruitment strategies of the gang, whose members now number in the thousands.
Jain says she was attracted to making the documentary because the group was “a spontaneous women’s movement in one of the most backward parts of India”.
“I wanted to profile not only the leader but also the other courageous members of Gulabi Gang, the majority of whom are poor, old, unlettered and from backward castes,” she says.
Deep-rooted prejudices hamper the gang’s work – some members have faced expulsion for standing by male relatives who have abused women.
Gang leader Pal says she does not only fight for women.
“I try to see the man’s and the woman’s point because if a marriage breaks, the homes of both are destroyed,” she says, adding that she hoped the documentary would raise awareness and understanding.
The film, which has won awards in Norway and Dubai, also addresses the disconnect between rural and urban communities in India. “The extent of gender and caste violence that goes unreported is shocking,” says Jain.
