Pink Sari Gang: Gulabi Gang (PHOTOS and VIDEO)
Sampat Pal Devi and members of the Pink Sari Gang
The Pink Sari Gang, or Gulabi (pink) Gang, is a group of several hundred vigilante women in India, committed to protecting women against social malpractice, corrupt administrators, and abusive husbands.
A revolutionary movement in India’s northern Uttar Pradesh state’s Banda area, the Gulabi Gang is striking fear in the hearts of wrongdoers and earning the grudging respect of officials.
Leader Sampat Pal Devi, wife of an ice cream vendor, mother of five children, and a former government health worker, says, “we are not a gang in the usual sense of the term. We are a gang for justice.”
Two years after giving themselves a name and uniform, the women in the Pink Sari Gang have thrashed men who have abandoned or beaten their wives and unearthed corruption in the distribution of grain to the poor.
Shunning political parties and NGOs, because “they are always looking for kickbacks when they offer to fund us,” Sampat Pal Devi says, “Nobody comes to our help in these parts. The officials and the police are corrupt and anti-poor. So sometimes we have to take the law in our hands. At other times, we prefer to shame the wrongdoers.”
According to 25-year-old gang member Aarti Devi, “Men used to think the law didn’t apply to them but we are forcing a huge change.”
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Filed under: World News
This is so awesome.
The Pink Sari Gang make me proud. Keep up the good fight, Sisters!
Is there a way to help?
How brilliant! All power to you!
Pink… and hot pink at that. Makes an easy target if you ask me.
Good.
The Caste system in India is a little outdated; granted that cultures and societies should dictate when to transition (see the Japanese transition from feudalism to a manufacturing powerhouse in less than fifty years), but abuse in the guise of ‘traditional values’ is what’s picking apart modern society…including fundamentalist Christianity…
These women got it right–the government doesn’t know better; that’s why the CIA financed Betty Friedan’s “Ms.” magazine–more taxes from working women and the STATE becomes the parent…
Amazing! These women are simply awesome!
It’s heartwarming. May their numbers increase!
I am keen to see the improvements of the Pink Gulabi Gang. I know that they will persevere and help themselves and their villages, including helping (disciplinging) the men to really become men spiritually. They are turning physically grown boys into men by standing up for themselves and by taking matters into their own hands rather than being subservient, beaten, abused housewives who live in constant hell. I am so proud. Women are not naturally subservient. Women, when taking matters into their own hands are naturally strong minded, assertive, hard working, decisive and cooperative individuals who help communities flourish into heaven on earth… *tear* I am also happy that Sampat Pal’s husband is very supportive and that younger boys are also supportive. This is just the start. Step by step things will improve. Does anyone know if funds can be directed to help these women?..Or would the funds be diverted and misused by corrupt officials who do not wish to see communities (both women and men) prosper into hard working, harmonious havens? This is a test for the men’s actions to keep up with their professed so called ’spirituality’. Only time will tell if they choose the correct pathway. I am very hopeful and positive that things will change…
*disciplining* btw an e.g of naturally strong women are the Mosuo people of Southwestern China…very interesting…look it up…
Video maker , please check.
at 18 seconds , you guys have marked ‘Kashmir’ , a part of india as not a part of india.
Bravo sisters,
you have set an example for men to follow and to improve and government should listen to you and improve or let us have new government team, where leaders are like you.
ASHLAND, OR, U.S.A.
Wonderful!
Met Sampat Pal in october 2008, when she came to launch her book published in France.
She asked me to join her gang!
So we created a non profit association to help her : Gulabi.
What she asked us : stitching machines, elementary classes for adult women.
I can tell that the Gulabi Gang women do take strength from all the moral support they get from all over the world
we want to get one step further and provide material support
Hello…I didn’t read all the comments but I have been doing a lot of research on these women and agree that a fundraiser is a great idea. I have done plenty of them and want to put my efforts into this. I live in the US but am Indian and even as a kid have been bothered by the mistreatment of women in India, with all this Eve Teasing nonsense. I current am an outreach coordinator and am applying to medical school. My focus is on womens empowerment, women’s strength and womens health issues. I am currently working on Girls Strength Classes in schools in the US and would like to take this overseas to India. I would love to see this group get support, I am so proud of them. I am trying to work with some womens groups in India to get a strong working relationship with this group. If you are interested in donating to this group please email me at . I am going to be putting up a site on their behalf. I would like to travel to India to meet with these women and get them some more attention. These women are great, so strong and they are just the thing India needs to move forward. I LOVE THEM!!!!
We need a branch of the Pink Sari gang here!! I’m down for your fundraiser. let us know when.where.etc..!!!
If you want to join a service group that is doing projects to support this group please join my newly created facebook page. There is a french group and two english groups. Mine is simply titled Gulabi Gang, if you join I will be updating with service projects in the US. I am also planning a service trip to India. Join my group!
Great video! Thanks for posting this.