Sampat Pal Devi

Sampat Pal Devi is an Indian social activist from Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh, North India.^[1] She is founder of the Gulabi Gang, an Uttar Pradesh-based social organisation, works for women welfare and empowerment.^[2][3] She was participant of Colors TV's reality show Bigg Boss 6.

Background

Sampat Pal Delvi was married to a resident of the Banda district of UP at the young age of twelve. Four years later, at age sixteen, she took her first stance against domestic violence. A nearby neighbor was regularly abusing his wife, so Pal Delvi encouraged residential women to embarrass the man until he ultimately made a public apology for his actions. She was influenced by social activist Jai Prakash Shivharey to start the Gulabi Gang in support of women's rights.^[4] Pal inspired other women in her village and other villages to join the effort. The women look out for other women in neighboring towns, similar to a western neighborhood watch program.^[4] Together Pal and her women have carried out several raids, have beat up several men and public officials, and have attained one-hundred percent success.^[4]

Work

Sampat Pal started the Gulabi Gang with a group of women from her village to fight various forms of social injustice. This developed into an organized women’s movement with tens of thousands of members spread over several districts in Uttar Pradesh.^[5] To date, Sampat Pal has recruited an estimated 270,000 members to join her cause.^[6]The women members wear Gulabi (pink) saris and arm themselves with bamboo sticks, which they use whenever they come up against violent resistance.^[7]Even after going to jail twice, she continues her efforts to eliminate domestic violence.^[8] Her efforts have influenced people globally, and a chapter of the Gulabi Gang was even started in France.^[8]In an interview Pal said, “I work on a grassroots level and want to set up a small-scale industry for the poor villagers I work with.” The villagers have talents such as the ability to make organic manure, Ayurvedic medicines and candles. Pal wishes for her village and other villages to be sponsored so that they can make a decent living and support their families.^[8] Sampat Pal Devi has become well known across India and throughout the world and was even featured on Indian reality TV show Bigg Boss.^[8] In addition, Gulaab Gang is a movie featuring actress Madhuri Dixit that was inspired by the actual Gulabi Gang.^[8]

On 2 March 2014, Sampat Pal Devi was relieved of her role at the head of the Gulabi Gang amidst allegations of financial impropriety and putting her personal interests ahead of those of the group.^[9]

Bibliography

• Kira Cochrane (2012). "Banda Sisters". Women of the Revolution: Forty Years of Feminism. Guardian Books. ISBN 978-0-85265-262-6. 
• Anne Berthod (2012). Sampat Pal, Warrior in a Pink Sari: The Inside Story of the Gulabi Gang as Told to Anne Berthod. Zubaan. ISBN 978-81-89884-71-0. 
• "All You Need to Know about Gulabi Gang's Sampat Pal - Hindustan Times." http://www.hindustantimes.com/. 7 Mar. 2014. Web. 22 Oct. 2014. <http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/all-you-need-to-know-about-gulaabi-gang-s-sampat-pal/article1-1191985.aspx>.
• "Gulabi Gang." Gulabi Gang. Web. 25 Oct. 2014. <http://gulabi-gang.tumblr.com>.
• "Sampat Pal Ousted from Gulabi Gang - The Times of India." The Times of India. 4 Mar. 2014. Web. 21 Oct. 2014. <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Sampat-Pal-ousted-from-Gulabi-Gang/articleshow/31365684.cms>.

References