Gulabi Gang: Al Jazeera Global Ad Campaign

AL JAZEERA: HEAR THE HUMAN STORY

I worked as a film editor on a new commercial for Al Jazeera as a part of their global Hear the Human Story campaign, highlighting the network’s commitment to portraying real stories from real people. In addition to the commercial, we worked on a short documentary to accompany the piece. The spot was directed by Orlando von Einsiedel and produced by Grain Media. To date, the short documentary has been viewed on Al Jazeera’s Facebook page over 250,000 times.

“We believe everyone has a story worth hearing. There are seven billion people to listen to on the planet right now. Al Jazeera exists to cover the people often ignored; people whose voices must be heard – but who are often neglected by mainstream media.”

— Al Anstey, Managing Director of Al Jazeera English

THE STORY OF CHAMPA PAL

The Al Jazeera Hear the Human Story: Gulabi Gang commercial and documentary shine light on the story of Champa Pal, a mother of two living in rural Uttar Pradesh.

In 2011 Champa’s husband was murdered by local men in a bid to snatch their land. After seeking justice through the police and courts in vain, Champa turned to the Gulabi Gang. With their aid, she confronted the man who had stolen her land and managed to reclaim it. She now runs her own sewing centre, teaching local women to stitch, which in turn enables them to earn a living and be more independent.

GULABI GANG – FIGHTING FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN RURAL INDIA

Gulabi Gang is an Indian vigilante women’s group founded by Sampat Pal Devi in Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh as a response to widespread domestic abuse and other violence against women. According to current estimates, the group has between 300,000 and 400,000 followers.

Both the pink saris worn by the women as well as the sticks they carry have become emblems of the movement. Some have criticised the group’s methods, including the occasional use of violence, while others consider the direct action both necessary and inevitable in a region rife with corruption.

Sampat Pal Devi’s efforts have also spawned two feature documentaries, Pink Saris by Kim Longinotto and Gulabi Gang by Nishtha Jain.