Anita Patel
The Hindi word Dalit can be translated as
divided, split, broken, scattered…
like a handful of rose petals flung into
sugared water to flavour gulab jamun
soft, delectable, melt in the mouth
dumplings…
but there is nothing soft or sweet
about the furious jangle of a
thousand bare feet pounding the
earth as a rose pink army
advances – undivided –
ready to break and split
and scatter –
brandishing lathis like swords,
seeking retribution with bamboo
sticks – shaming the cruel husband,
the rapist, the murderer, the thief,
the wife beater, the bully –
(unafraid to thrash a culprit black
and blue)
bringing the gulabi fragrance
(of whole and perfect roses)
into unsugared lives…
The Gulabi (Pink) Gang is a group of Indian women activists who wear bright pink saris and wield sticks. They’re…unified by one aim: the struggle against discrimination and violence.
The group first appeared in Banda district, Uttar Pradesh, as a response to widespread domestic abuse and other violence against women. This district has an abundant Dalit (Untouchable) population. Dalit women are at the bottom of both caste and gender hierarchies. (Wikipedia)
