Who’s the Gulabi Gang & Why They Are Spearheading the Indian Feminist Movement

In today’s media, we see so much spotlight on the American Feminist movement and what is going on during this Tumultuous time with the orange as our president. It made me think, are there other movements happening around the world and why aren’t we spotlighting them? I dug into some research and found different groups around the world that are making noise with their movement. One group, in particular, was a group of women wearing pink sarees (traditional Indian Garbs) and making sure they were making the real change to their communities.

The Gulabi Gang formed in 2006  by Sampat Pal Devi in the Banda District of Uttar Pradesh in Northern India. Which has been said to be one of the poorest regions in the country? Filled with an extreme amount of domestic violence, child labor, child marriages and dowry demands. Sampat Pal Devi, saw a man mercilessly beating his wife. She pleaded with him to stop, but instead of listening, he hit her as well. Something in her broke that day, and she decided to speak up. Taking that fire in her and forming the Gulabi Gang. Now, this isn’t your average marching and protesting group. These women are trained for combat and have pink bamboo sticks that are ready to be used.

“Yes, we fight rapists with lathis [sticks]. If we find the culprit, we thrash him black and blue, so he dare not attempt to do wrong to any girl or a woman again,” boasts Sampat Devi Pal, the group’s founder, and head.

They are the vigilantes of India. Making their work known throughout the country and bringing media’s attention to the issues happening. Making more people have a conversation about the injustice women are receiving daily. Their mission Support and train women to enhance their necessary skills to become economically secure and develop the confidence to protect themselves from abuse through sustainable livelihood options.

Now, this is a sisterhood I can get behind. Seeing these women take on everyday crimes and make a genuine difference in the rural parts of their country indeed is inspiring and leaves a modern-day superhero feeling to them. In a world of gun violence, racism, domestic abuse, and injustice, we have women who are willing to handle it. We can all take notes from these women. To learn more about these powerful women, head to their website.