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Bundelkhand region, in the hinterlands of Uttar Pradesh, is one of the poorest districts in India. In this deeply patriarchal society, domestic and sexual violence against women is endemic. Girls who escape being killed at birth are married off at puberty and often murdered with impunity. The Gulabi (pink) Gang was founded by Sampat Pal to start a movement for change. Named for the pink saris worn by the women members, the organization helps raise women's consciousness and empowers them to become self-sufficient.

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    G

    The courage and tenacity and vision for something better, kinder, and more respectful for these women and the daily acts toward this change.

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    Shagun

    This is such a beautifully made film. It gave the artist in me goosebumps. I made a documentary on the Gulabi Gang 9 years ago, one of the first documentaries made on them, when I was in college. I was a student of filmmaking then, and for me the storytelling and the art of filmmaking seemed equally important, if not more, sometimes, to the lives of these women, because I had been trained that way. I felt I was helping tell their story to the world. That was true ofcourse, and I am sure it did help bring attention to them. However, when I look back now, I often question my own ethics as a filmmaker. I've seen so many journalists/filmmakers go into villages, place a camera, and try to take 'nice' shots, because they want to make a beautiful film, and it's made me look within and question my own motivations. Anyone who's ever made a film will know that in order to get beautiful shots like these, one needs a fair bit of enactment and reenactment, positioning people inside frames, making them pose, making them act. One takes 'creative license'. When I was there, Sampat asked an entire bunch of women to travel from their village to take out a procession, which I could film. It was a performance for the camera. I didn't think about it much then, but I wonder now. How important is it to be brutally honest, good cause or not? I did not pay them, they did this because they hoped that through this, a way to a better life could be paved. In coming all the way to attend this shoot, they, who were daily wage earners, were letting go of money that was anyway hard to come by. How do you convey that hope, born out of desperation, in a few nice shots? So much media has descended upon them in the last ten years, myself included. Some good has come out of it, but if our motives even start to border on the exploitative, we just create more of what is being fought against in the first place. We objectify them. And then they turn around, and refuse to shoot until paid. They call the women to stage a procession. We created that, didn't we? Champa is Sampat's daughter. Here, you feel like they are meeting for the first time. Where do you draw the line between documentary and fiction? To what purpose? Does the role of the media end here, having showcased the story to the world? And no, we are not just fire. We are also the ashes, we are also the smoke. There has been much internal politics, strife, powerplays and corruption, even here. Does that make Sampat less admirable? Not to me, but in order to come to that acceptance, I have to see her in her truth, not a glorified version of her. I've been asking these questions to myself. I still don't know the answers, but felt like sharing.

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    Lynn

    Peoplebumps.....wow, what amazing, brave, strong women!

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    Kathleen

    This was a beautifully done film that shows the incredible strength of women who have banned together to stand up to established norms and male domination. How very brave these women are. Their story bears retelling as often as possible.

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    Tiffany

    Hi, I'm not able to watch it... not sure why. It isn't loading. :(

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    DC

    Women coming together and empowering each other is powerful. My heart goes out to all the women in India. May more women be inspired to come together and create more Gulabi Gangs and make the change that needs to happen.

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    Kristy Pace

    The strength and determination is so inspiring. The results so well deserved.

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    Debbie

    Women must stand together, we are strong, and many patriarchal societies are afraid of that. Women are worthy.... and women are strong.

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    Akasa

    The power to be found when females empower themselves to live without fetters of any kind. I add my prayers for wisdom, strength and truth to prevail as each new soul finds her way! I send peaceful, harmonious blessings to all.

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    Eve Seamone

    Women taking back their power and solving their problems without having to depend on men

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    Gwen

    Powerful stuff! Inspirational thanks!

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    max.Parshotam

    The colour pink personifies unconditional Love. Female affection will transform a man and society. The Pink panthers are a building block for civilisation, woman exemplifies hope for humanity !

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    Deepak

    Inspirational . This is Women Empowerment at it's best in a society rooted which is totally male oriented . Would do my best to share this video on social media and on the net . Thank you .

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    Brian

    Thanks Guys. Strength in numbers. Prayers for the Women, and that hearts transform. Peace

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    Mandy meaghan

    What an inspirational film and the women who know their power know they are Dangerous to the established norms of their culture. We have lots of the peddle sewing machines I wonder how expensive it is to ship them over to the women. Let's open a dialogue here to give the Women and girls the power to earn and feed their fight.

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    Gina Stetsko

    People do not realize the power they have. They believe the lies that others and their own minds tell them. Once they forget those lies, anything is possible. People need to stop believing the stories they were told and that they bought into an write their own stories! Gina Stetsko

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    Lisa

    The power of women as a unit supporting each other was inspirational.

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    Yvonne

    The power and the strength through connecting together ..one voice for many.Always brings change for the better.

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    Kathleen

    Women together creates a community of support, love and power

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    rosa

    beautifully done and conveyed... it brings hope to the world

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    Mansukh

    THE COURAGE AND BRAVERY OF THESE GREAT SOULS...IF WOMEN OF INDIA STOPS WORKING FOR A WEEK, INDIA WILL CEASE TO EXIST...WAKE UP YOU PATHETIC INDIAN MEN-AND START TREATING THE LADIES IN THE LIFE WITH RESPECT AND LOVE.....AND FOR HEAVEN SAKE GET TO WORK...

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    Paul

    I was gripped from start to finish. It's a beautiful film on so many levels, and so wonderful to see these women come together and be strong. This short film definitely deserves to gain as wide an audience as possible as this kind of treatment of women is, alas, not confined to India.

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    ranga rao

    If not single-handedly, but by jointly, one can overcome any evil.

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    Linda

    Beautifully presented! So inspiring what these woman have accomplished, I'm humbled.

  • Page 1

  • Learn more about the Gulabi Gang and their efforts in women's empowerment.
  • There are many reasons girls are prevented from going to school worldwide. Find out about girls and women's right to education.
  • Take a moment today to consider how you might empower a girl or woman in your life.

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