“I belong to Lohakhan (Ajmer) in Rajasthan. After the Bisalpur dam was built, every other day I would hear of a girl being beaten up or kidnapped or raped. It upset me very much, but nobody took notice of me: my community is silenced because of its position in society. But I asked the women: how long will you withstand this brutality? I urged them, “If you don’t do something, then who will?

In response to this, a group of women got together with me and we decided to make our voices heard. We decided we would no longer accept the word of a group of men (jati panchayat) who mean nothing to us … we agreed that we would be directly involved in the decision making processes that affects our lives. We also figured that this would be possible only if there at least five of us together; if a person went alone she would be ignored or ridiculed. Five women we knew, would be able to swear back and lift the scoundrel of his seat so that he listens! This is why the group solidarity is so important. In order to get justice we must all stand together and fight.

I defied my family and community to do this work. Fortunately, after these years there’s been some acceptance within the community. But my husband is still hostile to my work. But what can he do? He’s tried everything and there’s nothing left (smiling) so he shuts up and puts up with it!

We are poor people with little education. There is no industry, there are no rains and we have no choices. Women are viewed as a burden … and we are treated as objects to buy and sell. We are only celebrated if we jump into a fire and commit sati. “Oh, she is a devi (goddess) for jumping into the fire,” villagers exclaim. Some people have even started to call me a devi for the work I do, but I say don’t make me a devi … I’m a woman and deserve to have my human rights recognised. This is the absolute minimum that should be guaranteed to everyone when discussing who’s just and unjust. For the future, I want to start an army of women to fight for our rights and stop violence and injustice; so that we can have a happy and peaceful existence.”