Give me the stick
My name is Manju
I live in Barkundi, in the Chitrakoot Region
You should hold it like this
Let's try again
Hit, hit, hit
They closed the doors and put a rag in my mouth when I screamed
My name is Rithu
I live with the Pink Gang
I learned how to live and how women become slaves
I came up behind him and kicked him really hard
That day, we announced no one would beat their wife again
If there's a problem and no one listens, we'll definitely go to him
- Rithu, will keep fighting! - We're with you, Rithu!
Yes, Rithu!
GIRL POWER HINDI 00:01:41.607 00:01:49.299 [ VO ]Not many people in India are as famous as her. She’s starred in feature films, documentaries and she’s received international awards. 00:01:49.299 00:01:55.966 Her name is Sampat Pal, she’s the leader of the ‘Pink’ Gang or in Hindi, the Gulabi gang 00:02:00.116 00:02:02.786 Violence against women is a major problem in India. 00:02:02.786 00:02:13.769 The worst and highest profile cases have provoked mass riots. For example, a 2012 case of gang-rape in Delhi stirred outrage all over the country. 00:02:21.086 00:02:31.054 Sampat Pal is part of the solution. She doesn’t pass laws or conduct raids. She helps in another way: she tours the country, to meet, listen and talk to people.
[ Manju ]My name is Manju
I live in Barkundi, in the Chitrakoot Region
I graduated with a bachelor's degree
I come from a very poor family, so I tried very hard to get an education
A guy who lives next door, Surendra Dwivedi, molested me in a field
After that, I went to his house and complained to his parents
Then he started blackmailing me
He started saying he loved me very much, that he'd support me every step of the way
He convinced me and I believed him
We slowly began to communicate
Then, we had physical intimacy
A few days later, I got pregnant with his baby 00:03:35.655 00:03:39.655 [ VO ] Sampat Pal hears similar, or even worse stories at every Pink Gang meeting.
[ Sampat Pal ]All right, come over here, have a seat
Did you bring your sticks?
My daughter, take a stick! Take a stick, my daughter!
Pick it up
You'll need it like your sister did if your mother-in-law starts hurting you
A stick's always useful
I tied a sari around my waist…
and now came my sisters turn
You sing too! It's a very good song 00:04:16.174 00:04:21.997 [ VO ]From the outside, it might look like a cult gathering. But in reality, what they teach here is really quite mundane. 00:04:21.997 00:04:25.708 People come to talk and to discuss common domestic problems.
[ Sampat Pal ]I tied a sari around my waist, and now came my sister's turn
Come on, louder! More joyful!
My name's Sampat Pal and I'm known as the leader of the Pink Gang all over the world
I created this organisation, the Pink Gang, when I was 20 years old
with 4 other women from my town
There was a bully there who constantly beat his wife
I once asked him why he beat her
He told me…
I was 20 then, this is a very old story
Anyway, he insulted me
And then I beat him in a field with 4 other women
I hadn't told them that he'd insulted me when I asked him not to beat his wife
It's just that these women were in the field with me mowing the grass
And when he left his field, I came up behind him and kicked him really hard
Then I called over these women and told them everything
And we beat him pretty good
That day, we announced that no one would ever beat their wife again
That was the beginning, with 4 women. Now, we've got 1,100,000!
[ Manju ]I told him: 'This is your baby, tell me what we'll name it'
Or I'd say, 'Let's go to the temple and get married,
or go to the court and formalise our marriage there'
He told me the courts and other organisations weren't working due to the quarantine,
and even the temples were closed, so nothing could be done
But he said we'd get married as soon as the quarantine ended
But he did nothing
I was already 4 months pregnant and told him we needed to marry
Then he said we needed to do an ultrasound
I did as he asked. The ultrasound showed a 4-month-old child
I called him from there, but his phone was disconnected
When I got home, I went to Surendra's house to find out where he was
His father said, 'We don't know where he is'
And his uncle, Om Dwivedi, began to scold and insult me,
and asked why I'd come
He said, 'Don't you know we're Brahmins? We're above you, we'll shoot you!'
And he started calling me very dirty names 00:07:25.270 00:07:36.150 [ VO ]If Sampat Pal led a gang of men, the government would have plenty of reasons to worry: thousands of uniformed followers, all over the country, each one armed with traditional batons. 00:07:36.150 00:07:40.150 But the Pink Gang’s leader teaches Indian women nothing more than self-defence.
[ Sampat Pal ]In the Pink Gang, we learn to handle sticks
Spin around slowly
Don't laugh! You laugh too much!
Everyone's happy here
This is your fight, you need to fight for your rights
You must ask for your rights and insist on getting them
There are 250-300 people here now, but we have about 500 in all
Many have joined us, and many others are preparing to
We've been to authorities in Dussatna and Mazgaon, but no one listens
No one wants to help the poor
We've been to Mazgav
Sticks are our weapons
Sometimes we train with shoes
When the stick doesn't work, we beat them with shoes
We teach women to hang old shoes on a bully's neck. Sometimes we even tie them up 00:08:41.140 00:08:51.580 [ VO ]Sampat Pal is no feminist or women’s rights activist in the Western sense. Hers is a kind of folk wisdom and the fighting moves she teaches are more like tricks that can be used in daily life. 00:08:51.580 00:08:57.210 For example, how to use an opponent’s power against them! First, you yield - and then push back.
[ Sampat Pal ]A husband and wife are one couple
Like a car with four wheels, if one wheel stops working, will the car go?
Therefore, a husband and wife should always keep a balance
If a husband believes his wife is bad, he should try to understand her
I also have a home and a family
I don't do this because I lack that
- Rithu, will keep fighting! - We're with you, Rithu!
Yes, Rithu! You'll show this stick to your mother-in-law
That's it! 00:09:43.396 00:09:47.396 [ VO ]A teenage girl was gang-raped in the north of India. She died from her injuries in a New Delhi hospital. 00:09:55.931 00:09:59.931 Statistics show that more than sixteen women in every 100,000 in India have suffered domestic abuse. 00:10:01.051 00:10:08.163 Most of the problems Sampat Pal is approached about though, don’t involve violence per se, but routine family issues. 00:10:08.163 00:10:14.718 For example, a husband with a drinking problem who borrows against the family home. These are the types of story she usually hears.
[ Sampat Pal ]Don't be afraid
Never be afraid
Take care of yourself
The main thing is to build a family
What do you think?
What does he want?
- He's afraid of you - Of me?
Yes, I could kick his butt
[ Woman ]I've learned how to live, how women become slaves,
and how to fight for my rights
That's what I've learned
Yes, I'm educated, but I didn't know or understand this before
I lived like a slave
I was treated like a servant
But the Pink Gang taught me I had rights
When I joined the Pink Gang, my parents were overjoyed,
as they thought I'd finally get my rights and live in peace in my home
My whole family and all my relatives were very happy
Yes, I've felt safe since I met Sampat Pal, of course
[ Sampat Pal ]When I was 15, my family sometimes annoyed me
When I talked about my rights…
they'd get upset
Back then, it was a male-oriented society
Now, it's gotten a little bit better
A woman couldn't even leave her house before
For example, sometimes a mother-in-law wouldn't let her daughter-in-law eat
She controlled her food
Why are women in India so backward today?
Because they were never given an education
And if they have no education, they are not self-sufficient
And if they are not independent, they can't be free
They can't earn their own bread
So, what's been happening to women in India is all due to a lack of education
By tradition, daughters were not educated
So, we girls were jealous of the guys…
that they could learn
We'd sneak out into the fields and study under the trees
I learned to read and write pretty quickly
And then, I got married at the age of 12
Just imagine, at the age of 12!
And at 15, I gave birth to my first daughter 00:13:28.483 00:13:35.243 [ VO ]Every leader needs a trusty assistant. In the Pink Gang’s case, you might expect to see a girl at Sampat Pal’s side. 00:13:35.243 00:13:39.243 But the Pink Gang leader’s right hand is a man who she once helped.
[ Siyaram ]I am Siyaram Pajapati
I live in the Banda District
This is my ancestral home
My mom and dad used to live here
Then there were problems here
Some people beat up my parents and kicked them out of their house
That was a very long time ago, in 1980
I looked for the place where my parents had lived because I need this house now
I went to many places, visited many government offices
I explained the situation and my position everywhere
But it didn't help
I haven't received any help from the government at all
[ Manju ]I refused to have an abortion
The doctor said it could put my life in danger
My fiance's uncle insisted, saying nothing would happen,
but I wouldn't give in
His uncle's wife was there
She said, 'If she won't agree, make her take the medicine we got yesterday'
They grabbed me and held me down. Then, the uncle came in and they shut the door
When I started screaming, they put a rag in my mouth
Then, they took my clothes off and made me take the drugs
They only let me go nearly 24 hours later after the miscarriage 00:15:38.717 00:15:46.238 [ VO ]In Bihar, a woman was forced to walk naked in front of a crowd and then badly beaten. Local residents suspected her of murdering a man.
[ Sampat Pal ]Here, here, look!
I was recently awarded this medal…
by the chief minister of state in Lucknow
[ Policeman ]Madame! You're a person of international importance!
What are you doing here?
I won't talk on camera 00:16:18.407 00:16:25.247 [ VO ]Then again, Sampat Pal is not a typical Robin Hood who fights to defend the poor. She’s on very good terms with the authorities too. 00:16:25.247 00:16:30.451 You’ll go a lot further with a baton and polite legal enquiry than with just the baton.
[ Policeman ]In the last 2 months, including January and February,
we've registered 6 cases of violence against women
Of these,
three or four cases have already gone to trial, and two are still under investigation
People have begun to fear that, if they molest women or girls,
the police will react quickly and there will be instant arrests,
and criminal cases will be promptly opened
As a result, cases of violence have been greatly reduced
Mostly men are to blame
The cases we send to court are against men
I can only urge young men and girls to look out for their own safety
If a girl feels someone is stalking her,
if it seems someone has targeted her, or if someone is sending unpleasant messages,
we ask them to immediately contact our help service line at 1090
Call this number, and we'll be on the spot quickly
The more careful they are, the safer they'll be 00:17:55.825 00:17:59.825 [ VO ]You might think that Sampat Pal would take the woman’s side in any conflict. But that’s not what happens. 00:18:00.264 00:18:07.253 Even in the seemingly straightforward case of gang rape in Delhi, the Pink Gang leader managed to criticise the victim’s behaviour.
[ Sampat Pal ]We had this terrible scandal – this case called Nirbhaya
There was a mistake made by one girl
The girl was on a bus with her boyfriend,
and her guy started behaving badly
There were a lot of other guys there too, and they lost control of themselves
And this is what happened
Girls need to be more responsible in such situations
Why get on a bus with your boyfriend at midnight instead of with your parents?
That was her mistake
[ Manju ]I went home and told my family about everything that had happened to me,
but they began to scold me
'Don't do anything!'
'We can't fight them,' they said
And that's true because we're very poor, and they're very rich
That's why they pressured me all the time
I lost my baby, I cried all the time, but no one supported me
At the time, I thought it would probably be better if I died
I left the house, got on a bus, and cried all the time
The other passengers asked me why I was crying, and I told them everything
They said Sampat Pal helps poor women like me
They said, 'Go to Sampat Pal, she gets everyone their rights'
I believed them, so I came here
[ Siyaram ]I found out about Sampat Pal
People with problems like mine come to her, and their problems get solved
I went to Sampat Pal and started doing everything I could to help her
I've been involved in the fight she's waging for two and a half years now
She treated me with respect and friendship
I began to understand that I was a good and righteous person
I told her everything and asked:
'If someone is beaten and thrown out of their own house,
can this person get their house back?'
She said: 'Why not? If the law requires it,
then we'll definitely get it back
If this isn't legally possible, then we won't
The decision must be in accordance with the law'
She immediately agreed to help me
We went to Bashanda and met the police chief, Bishan Dubi
We told him my story and he said:
'Listen, madam, wait a little. I'll help and justice will be done'
And it's true
When poor people are wronged, she helps put things right
Look at me: after 40 years, she prepared an agreement between us in just 40 minutes
She explained everything to everyone
Everyone understood everything, agreed, and got what they were due
- What's your name? - Rithu
- Say it like this: 'My name is…' - My name is Rithu
Rithu, I'm Rithu
- Where do you live? - I live in Pathaya
Are you a member of the Pink Gang?
[ Rithu ]Yes, I live with the Pink Gang because they give me food
I have no food, I go to the jungle to collect dead wood
There's no housing to live in
- She's telling the truth - When I sell something somewhere, I eat
- Look at me, do you know me? - Yes
- What's my name? - Sampat Pal
Yes, Sampat Pal
Now tell me, daughter, why aren't you studying?
- There's no school - No school?
And what about the schools that are far away?
- They're not very good - Oh, not good? 00:22:43.387 00:22:44.626 [ VO ]Schools aren’t always safe either. In the arid state of Rajasthan, a woman was quarantined in a local school. 00:22:44.626 00:22:47.420 Three men broke in one night and they all raped her. 00:22:47.420 00:22:55.184 The Stick fighting lessons for Indian girls are a self-defence class and a confidence booster. 00:22:57.813 00:23:07.045 If you see a girl in a pink sari wielding a baton, rest assured, she’s in the Pink Gang and if you harm a member, you’ll have its boss to deal with. 00:23:07.045 00:23:11.045 Subtitle
[ Sampat Pal ]There've been a lot of changes but, in any case, our pink colour has appeared on the map of India
For example, in the states of Hyderabad, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Punjab, Karnataka
People search for us through Google
There's always a phone number to call
All women with questions or problems call me, and I help them
If I get the right information, I can even arrange a meeting and restore justice
[ Siyaram ]I'll be grateful to them all my life
I'll always do whatever I can for them
[ Manju ]I exist today because of her
Today, I'm punishing the people who did this to me,
and it's all thanks to Sampat Pal
If I hadn't met Sampat Pal, I wouldn't be alive,
and I wouldn't be able to punish these criminals
We are strong and always will be!
I will make the women of the Pink Gang brave
[ All ]- The Pink Gang! - Forever!
- The Pink Gang! - Forever!
- A family's strength… - It's a woman!
- He who respects women… - He will rule!
- Misbehave… - And you'll get the stick!
- If officials misbehave… - They'll get the stick!