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{{for multi|the 2012 documentary film|Gulabi Gang (film)|the 2014 Bollywood film|Gulaab Gang}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
[[File:Smiles and determination of rural Indian women 3.jpg|thumb|Rural women in Madhya Pradesh]]

The '''Gulabi Gang''' (from [[Hindi language|Hindi]] ''gulabi'', "pink") is a [[Vigilantism|vigilante]] group. The group first appeared in [[Banda district (India)|Banda district]], [[Uttar Pradesh]],<ref name="Slate 2010">{{cite news|last=Fontanella-Khan|first=Amana|title=Wear a Rose Sari and Carry a Big Stick: The gangs of India|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2010/07/wear_a_pink_sari_and_carry_a_big_stick.html|access-date=2011-10-25|newspaper=[[Slate magazine]]|date=19 July 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107064017/http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2010/07/wear_a_pink_sari_and_carry_a_big_stick.html|archive-date=7 November 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> as a response to widespread [[domestic abuse]] and other [[violence against women]].<ref name="BBC 2007">{{cite news|last=Biswas|first=Soutik|title=India's 'pink' vigilante women|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7068875.stm|access-date=2010-07-20|newspaper=[[BBC News]]|date=26 November 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724121538/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7068875.stm|archive-date=24 July 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref> It was previously commanded by [[Sampat Pal Devi]].

The group consists of women between 18 and 60 years old.<ref name="Sciences Po">{{cite journal|last1=Sen|first1=Atreyee|title=Women's Vigilantism in India: A Case Study of the Pink Sari Gang|journal=Mass Violence & Resistance|date=20 December 2012|url=http://www.sciencespo.fr/mass-violence-war-massacre-resistance/en/document/womens-vigilantism-india-case-study-pink-sari-gang|access-date=3 November 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104004933/http://www.sciencespo.fr/mass-violence-war-massacre-resistance/en/document/womens-vigilantism-india-case-study-pink-sari-gang|archive-date=4 November 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> It is reported to have spread and since 2010,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2014/02/gulabi-gang-indias-women-warrriors-201422610320612382.html|title=Gulabi Gang: India's women warriors {{!}} India {{!}} Al Jazeera|website=www.aljazeera.com|access-date=2019-01-05}}</ref> and it has been active across [[North India]],<ref name="Business Standard 2010">{{cite news|last=Krishna|first=Geetanjali|title=The power of pink|url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/geetanjali-krishnapowerpink/397107/|access-date=2010-07-20|newspaper=[[Business Standard]]|date=5 June 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100723144324/http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/geetanjali-krishnapowerpink/397107/|archive-date=23 July 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref> both on the streets and in local politics.<ref>[http://panos.org.uk/features/sari-gang-fights-injustice/ Gulabi gang engagement in politics] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402104127/http://panos.org.uk/features/sari-gang-fights-injustice/ |date=2 April 2015 }}</ref>

== Background ==
The Gulabi Gang is unofficially headquartered in [[Badausa, Uttar Pradesh|Badausa]] in Banda district, Uttar Pradesh.<ref name="Sciences Po"/> As of 2003, the district was ranked 154th on the [[Planning Commission (India)|Planning Commission]]'s list of 447 districts based on an index of [[backwardness]].<ref>{{cite web|author1=Planning Commission of India|title=Riders for NREGA: Challenges of backward districts|url=http://nrega.nic.in/Planning_Commision.pdf|website=Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act}}</ref> The district has an abundant [[Dalit]] ([[Untouchability enforced by upper hindu caste system|untouchable]] [[Caste system in India|caste]]) population which is subjected to discrimination by people from everywhere.

== Description ==
Sampat Pal Devi founded the Gulabi Gang in 2006 in response to the lack of police support for victims of domestic violence.<ref name="Sciences Po"/> Most, if not all, are members of lower castes. The gang focuses its attention on India's most impoverished region, with about half of its population facing poverty, lack of education, and other concerns.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-mp-s-bundelkhand-gulabi-gang-is-illicit-alcohol-traders-nightmare/story-9MC0w6zcynpEatoouAjEhP.html|title=In MP's Bundelkhand, Gulabi Gang is illicit alcohol traders' nightmare|date=2017-04-15|work=Hindustan Times|access-date=2018-05-01|language=en}}</ref> The gang fights for the rights of women regardless of their caste. There are also male members, such as Jai Prakash Shivhari, who joined to stand in solidarity against issues like government corruption, child marriages, and dowry deaths.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=White|first1=Aaronette|last2=Rastogi|first2=Shagun|title=Justice by Any Means Necessary: Vigilantism among Indian Women|journal=Feminism & Psychology|date=23 July 2009|volume=19|issue=3|pages=313–327|doi=10.1177/0959353509105622|s2cid=143457584}}</ref> In 2010, a law was enacted which helped reserve 33 percent of parliamentary seats for women, but the Gulabi Gang still operated because they saw immediate results. The Gulabi cites that even female politicians can be corrupted. They prefer vigilante justice instead of working with politicians as well, with Pal noting that they can maintain their own good work so they will not be taken for granted by the state while also preferring to work on their own rather than with government organizations.<ref name="BBC 2007" /> Some gang members are unemployed, some are agricultural workers, and some make their living in jobs set up through self-help groups. These jobs include selling vegetables, sewing, or trading other commodities.<ref name="Miller2013">{{Cite thesis| title=Gulaabi gang as a social movement: An analysis of strategic choice |last=Miller |first=Katy |date=2013-06-12 |publisher=George Mason University | url=http://mars.gmu.edu/jspui/bitstream/handle/1920/8670/Miller_thesis_2013.pdf |accessdate=2021-04-26|type=MSc}}</ref> ''[[Al Jazeera]]'' reported that the group has an estimated 400,000 members as of 2014; the ''[[Hindustan Times]]'' put the figure at 270,000.<ref>{{cite news|last=Desai|first=Shweta|title=Gulabi Gang: India's women warriors|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2014/02/gulabi-gang-indias-women-warrriors-201422610320612382.html|work=Al Jazeera|access-date=2014-05-04|date=4 March 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140511055125/http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2014/02/gulabi-gang-indias-women-warrriors-201422610320612382.html|archive-date=11 May 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="ht">{{cite news |work=Hindustan Times |title=Gulabi Gang opposes chief Sampat Pal's political aspirations |first=Rajesh |last=Kumar |date=7 March 2014 |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/gulabi-gang-opposes-chief-Suman-singh-s-political-aspirations/article1-1191948.aspx |access-date=2014-07-01}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Pal explains they are not a gang in the typical sense, but are a "gang for justice." She credits her upbringing for inspiring her sense of justice when she was married off at the age of 12 years old, however, on 2 March 2014, Pal was relieved of her role at the head of the Gulabi Gang amid allegations of financial impropriety and putting her personal interests before those of the group.<ref name="BBC 2007" /><ref name="TOI">{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Sampat-Pal-Devi-ousted-from-Gulabi-Gang/articleshow/31365684.cms |title=Sampat Pal Devi ousted from Gulabi Gang |date=4 March 2014 |work=The Times of India |access-date=2014-07-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813235236/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Sampat-Pal-Devi-ousted-from-Gulabi-Gang/articleshow/31365684.cms |archive-date=13 August 2017 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Pal denied these allegations and still has some involvement in the gang.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fembotmag.com/2014/09/30/how-one-all-female-gang-in-india-is-causing-a-revolution/|title=How One All-Female Gang in India is Causing a Revolution|date=2014-09-30|website=Fembot Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-22}}</ref>

The Gang has several stations set up and each station has a head of a section called the 'commander', who handles daily activities and smaller problems of people on her own.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-04-02|title=Pink Sari gang fights injustice {{!}} Panos London|url=http://panos.org.uk/features/sari-gang-fights-injustice/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402104127/http://panos.org.uk/features/sari-gang-fights-injustice/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2015-04-02|access-date=2020-06-14}}</ref> She sends regular updates and reports larger problems to the leader of the Gang.{{cn|date=May 2018}} Word of mouth and newspaper articles about the Gang's actions are its main source of advertisement. Abused women who hear about it narrate their stories to the group. The first step is to request the police to take charge. If this fails, the Gang takes over.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=White|first1=Aaronette|last2=Rastogi|first2=Shagun|title=Justice by Any Means Necessary: Vigilantism among Indian Women|journal=Feminism & Psychology|date=23 July 2009|volume=19|issue=3|pages=313–327|doi=10.1177/0959353509105622|s2cid=143457584}}</ref> At the formation of the gang, force and violence were used against the police and government, however, the local police claim "the gang is doing some good work and in a way helping us solve issues."<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://panos.org.uk/features/sari-gang-fights-injustice/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402104127/http://panos.org.uk/features/sari-gang-fights-injustice/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2015-04-02|title=Pink Sari gang fights injustice {{!}} Panos London|date=2015-04-02|access-date=2019-04-22}}</ref>

There is no discrimination based on gender because the gang not only focuses on male jurisdiction over women, but also on human rights and male oppression.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stephens |first=Elijah |title=Equality, Empowerment, and the Gulabi Gang |work=Guardian Liberty Voice |date=18 March 2014 |url=http://guardianlv.com/2014/03/equality-empowerment-and-the-gulabi-gang/ |access-date=2014-10-25 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026001257/http://guardianlv.com/2014/03/equality-empowerment-and-the-gulabi-gang/ |archive-date=26 October 2014}}</ref> Members of the Gulabi Gang were increasingly being asked by men to support local activism. When 7000 Banda farmers protested in the streets to demand compensation for failed crops, the men asked the Gulabi Gang to attend.<ref>{{cite news|last=Prasad|first=Raekha|title=Banda Sisters|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/feb/15/women.india|access-date=28 September 2017|work=The Guardian|date=15 February 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802172742/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/feb/15/women.india|archive-date=2 August 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Community service efforts of the gang include food and grain distribution to villagers in rural areas, pension to widows who do not have the means to support themselves in their old age, and helping prevent the abuse of women and children. The Gulabi Gang also teaches women self-defence and how to be economically self-sufficient.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=White|first1=Aaronette|last2=Rastogi|first2=Shagun|title=Justice by Any Means Necessary: Vigilantism among Indian Women|journal=Feminism & Psychology|date=23 July 2009|volume=19|issue=3|pages=313–327|doi=10.1177/0959353509105622|s2cid=143457584}}</ref>

The Gulabi Gang earned the Kelvinator 11th GR8! Women Award, an award offered by the Indian Television Academy. They also earned the [[Godfrey Phillips National Bravery Awards|Godfrey Phillips Bravery Award]] for social bravery, offered in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Delhi.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gulabigang.in/awards.php|title=Gulabi Gang :: Awards|website=gulabigang.in|access-date=2019-04-22}}</ref>

Corporate partnerships of the Gulabi Gang include Vitalect, a technology and services company that works with non-profit organisations to assist them with their technological needs, and Social Solution India (SSI), a non-profit company that promotes NGO stability<ref name="Miller2013" />

== Incidents ==
In June 2007, Pal heard that government-run fair-price shops were not distributing food and grains to the villagers as they should. She led the gang to observe the shop undercover and they collected evidence and discovered that trucks were shipping the shop's grains to open markets. Pal and the gang reported the evidence to local authorities and demanded that the grain be returned to the fair-price shops. The local authorities ignored their complaints but the reputation of the Gang was bolstered.<ref name="vice">{{cite news |last=Das |first=Sanjit |title=A Flux Of Pink Indians |work=VICE |date=20 October 2014 |url=https://www.vice.com/read/flux-pink-indians-v15n2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029052843/http://www.vice.com/read/flux-pink-indians-v15n2 |archive-date=2016-10-29}}</ref>

In 2008, they stormed an electricity office in Banda district and forced officials to turn the power back on, which they had cut to extract bribes.<ref name="Guardian 2008">{{cite news|last=Prasad|first=Raekha|title=Banda sisters|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/feb/15/women.india|access-date=2010-07-20|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=15 February 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901172121/http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/feb/15/women.india|archive-date=1 September 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> They have also stopped some [[child marriage]]s and protested [[dowry]] and female illiteracy.<ref name="Business Standard 2010" /> In 2007, a Dalit woman was raped by a man of a higher caste and the incident went unreported. The villagers and members of the lower caste protested to no avail and many of them were put into prison for doing so. The Gulabi Gang took action, charged into the police station and attempted to free the villagers who were put into prison for protesting. They also demanded that a case be made against the rapist and when the policeman refused to make a case, they resorted to violence and physically attacked him. From that time, the Gulabi Gang was known to use physical violence if needed to make a point and if physical violence was of no use, then they would resort to publicly shaming the offender.<ref name="vice"/> Despite becoming popular for its violent approach to much of its activism, it also uses non-violent tactics such as marches and occupations.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Richards|first1=Matthew|title=The Gulabi Gang, Violence, and the Articulation of Counterpublicity|journal=Communication, Culture & Critique|date=6 January 2016|volume=9|issue=4|pages=558–576|doi=10.1111/cccr.12139}}</ref>

In 2011, the gang helped Sheelu Nishad, a 17-year-old girl who had been gang raped. Nishad was arrested after arriving to the police station to file a report. The rapists, which also included a member of legislature, arrived to the police station first and requested her arrest. The victim's father approached the Gulabi Gang who in turn organised two mass demonstrations in front of the police station and legislator's house.<ref name="Sciences Po"/>

Pal has said that "Yes, we fight rapists with lathis [large bamboo 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." Suman Singh, a later commander of the gang, mentioned that when "a woman seeks the membership of Gulabi Gang, it is because she has suffered injustice, has been oppressed and does not see any other recourse. All our women can stand up to the men and if need be seek retribution through lathis."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2014/02/gulabi-gang-indias-women-warrriors-201422610320612382.html|title=Gulabi Gang: India's Women Warriors|last=Desai|first=Shweta|date=March 4, 2014|website=Aljazeera}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2010/07/the-women-s-gangs-of-india.html|title=The women's gangs of India.|last=Fontanella-Khan|first=Amana|date=2010-07-19|website=Slate Magazine|language=en|access-date=2019-04-22}}</ref>

== Education ==
One goal Sampat Pal had was to alleviate the illiteracy among young women. In 2008, a school was created in Banda, where at least 400 girls attended.<ref name=":1" />

== In popular culture ==
* The Gulabi gang is the subject of the 2010 movie ''Pink Saris'' by [[Kim Longinotto]]<ref>{{cite web |author=Melissa Silverstein |url=http://womenandhollywood.com/2010/09/17/trailer-alert-pink-saris/comment-page-1/#comment-14444 |title=Trailer Alert: Pink Saris | Women & Hollywood |publisher=Womenandhollywood.com |date=17 September 2010 |access-date=2013-03-02 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130911084028/http://womenandhollywood.com/2010/09/17/trailer-alert-pink-saris/comment-page-1/#comment-14444 |archive-date=11 September 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> as is the 2012 documentary ''[[Gulabi Gang (film)|Gulabi Gang]]'' by [[Nishtha Jain]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Gulabi Gang|url=http://dubaifilmfest.com/en/films/detail/gulabi-gang/23584/2012|publisher=Dubai Film Fest|access-date=2013-08-17|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226175919/http://dubaifilmfest.com/en/films/detail/gulabi-gang/23584/2012|archive-date=26 December 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{IMDb title|2196638|Gulabu Gang}}</ref>
* Initially, it was reported that the [[Bollywood]] film, ''[[Gulaab Gang]]'', starring [[Madhuri Dixit]] and [[Juhi Chawla]] as leads, was based on Sampat Pal's life, but the director denied this, saying that he admired her work but that the movie was not based on her life.<ref>{{cite news|last=Singh|first=Renu|title=Will take 'Gulab Gang' makers to court: Sampat Pal|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Will-take-Gulab-Gang-makers-to-court-Sampat-Pal/articleshow/18880830.cms|newspaper=The Times of India|date=10 March 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313054535/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Will-take-Gulab-Gang-makers-to-court-Sampat-Pal/articleshow/18880830.cms|archive-date=13 March 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Chandra|first=Anjali|title=Madhuri Dixit's comeback film in trouble!|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-05-10/news-interviews/31655352_1_film-Sampat-Pal-gulabi-gang|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130805042833/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-05-10/news-interviews/31655352_1_film-sampat-pal-gulabi-gang|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 August 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=10 May 2012}}</ref>
* In 2013, a book was published about the Gang's origins and work, called "Pink Sari Revolution: A Tale of Women and Power in India."<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/pinksarirevoluti0000font|title=Pink sari revolution : a tale of women and power in India in SearchWorks catalog|website=searchworks.stanford.edu|language=en|access-date=2018-02-21|isbn=9780393062977|date=2018-10-06|last1=Fontanella-Khan|first1=Amana|url-access=registration}}</ref>
* The Gulabi Gang is featured in the 2017 song ''Des fleurs et des flammes'' by French singer [[Tal (singer)|Tal]] from her album ''Tal''.<ref name="Des fleurs et des flammes">{{cite web|url=http://www.chartsinfrance.net/Tal/news-103463.html|title=Clip "Des fleurs et des flammes" : Tal célèbre le courage des femmes du monde (màj)|publisher=Variete Francaise|access-date=April 22, 2018|language=fr}}</ref>
* The Gulabi Gang is featured in N.H. Senzai's novel, ''Ticket to India''.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Ticket-to-India/N-H-Senzai/9781481422598|title=Ticket to India|date=2016-11-15|isbn=9781481422598|language=en|last1=Senzai|first1=N. H.}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Bhumata Brigade]]
* [[Lathi khela]] — [[martial art]] using lathi sticks
* [[Red Brigade Lucknow]]
* [[Sari Squad]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book|author=Anne Berthod|title=Sampat Pal, Warrior in a Pink Sari: The Inside Story of the Gulabi Gang as Told to Anne Berthod|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VfWnlAEACAAJ|year=2012|publisher=Zubaan|isbn=978-81-89884-71-0}}
* {{cite book|author=Kira Cochrane|title=Women of the Revolution: Forty Years of Feminism|chapter=Banda Sisters|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AtT3TnIEQacC&pg=PT218|year=2012|publisher=Guardian Books|isbn=978-0-85265-262-6}}

== External links ==
* [http://gulabigangindia.com// Gulabi Gang website]
*[http://mic.com/articles/78247/yet-another-gang-rape-rocks-new-delhi-but-these-heroic-people-are-fighting-back Parivartan Kendra]

[[Category:Vigilantes]]
[[Category:Indian women activists]]
[[Category:Violence against women in India]]
[[Category:Domestic violence-related organizations]]
[[Category:Women's organisations based in India]]
[[Category:Social history of India]]
[[Category:Banda district, India]]
[[Category:Women from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Women from Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Activists from Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Activists from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Indian women's rights activists]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian people]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian people]]

Gulabi Gang - Revision history

>ClueBot NG at 11:02, 21 December 2021