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El ejército de los saris rosas (
Sampat Pal, una mujer de casta baja del norte de la India, se rebela contra su sociedad y se toma la justicia por su mano para poder ayudar a todos los que se encuentran en condiciones desfavorables, especialmente a las mujeres.Con este objetivo crea una banda llamada Gulabi Gang, el ejército de los saris rosas. Sampat Pal no debía haber ido a la escuela. En su aldea del norte de la India, ése era un privilegio reservado a los varones. Sin embargo, consiguió aprender a leer y a escribir y, al ver la injusticia con la que eran tratados los pobres y las mujeres tanto por las castas superiores como por las autoridades del Estado, decidió decir «no» a la ley de los hombres. En lugar de cruzarse de brazos, organizó el ejército más extraordinario de la historia de la India. Un ejército de mujeres, vestidas con saris rosas y armadas con bastones, dispuestas a defender a los desamparados y a exigir justicia allí donde fuese necesario. Es el ejército de los saris rosas y ésta es la historia de su legendaria fundadora.
- GenresIndiaNonfiction
350 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 25, 2018
Review laterz!
October 15, 2015
The first time I learnt of Sampat Pal and her famed Gulabi Gang was through one of those innumerable Facebook posts that flood my screen. Ever since I read about the group and their resorting to often-subtle-at-times-abrasive methods of vigilantism, I felt curious to know more. So, at the first opportunity available in the form of a book in sale at Landmark, I lunged at it. I can say that I am not disappointed.
Sampat Pal hails from Uttar Pradesh, from one of those innumerable low-caste clans. As such, she had gone through all the troubles one might expect in this background – caste differences, illiteracy, hatred towards the girl child, childhood marriage, lack of understanding from in-laws, oppression from the high-caste Brahmins of her area, and an indifferent government. She is a woman who had stood through all these travails to establish herself as a sole solace for many of the oppressed women, and at times even men, who go through troubles akin to hers. What started as a simple fight against caste-based oppressive treatment, turned out to be a fight against ill-treatment of daughters-in-law, corrupt government employees that fail to perform their duties, corruption in the public distribution system and lack of implementation of the government welfare schemes.
She comes across as a fire-brand social activist who resorts to not-so-subtle tactics to send her message across – like the time when she slapped a Brahmin in her village that beat up a lower class person, or her slapping a cop when he tried to arrest her companion for no reason, or even the time when a corrupt government official as well as a police constable were beaten to pulp by her gang for attacking them.
She claims that she has produced results with her methods often and the spreading of her fame across the globe is only proof enough for the same. While you may question whether she is right or wrong about her methods, I humbly feel that as long as she manages to produce the good results her methods are well justified.
But all isn’t well and pink – forgive the pun here – about her. For one, she comes across as a paranoid, domineering, over-ambitious and belligerent personality. She herself confesses that she does not trust anyone and has no close confidante to share her emotions or inner feelings. Also, she does not do these things in an organized manner – for example, her group itself is not registered anywhere and does not have proper data of its members. Her domineering attitude becomes evident in the way she describes others and talks about others. With a fling at MP elections and her ambitions seeping through her words, to attain power and position so that she can act better, prove that she is not entirely beyond all such things that eventually catch up with any activist.
She never shies away from any single opportunity to compare herself with some of the great leaders of this country – B.R.Ambedkar (finds him inadequate), Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi (says the queen spilt the blood of many men while she didn’t resort to such gory methods), Mahatma Gandhi (compares her work with that of Gandhi). While she may be justified in seeking recognition and glory for her work, I think such comparisons are a little too far-fetched.
Also, I found one thing to be pretty annoying – her constant bashing of men. In her eyes, all the men are absurd, selfish and oppressive. I wonder why does every female worthy of note in this country resorts to bashing up men and their character to justify her own achievements. This woman does not even wince when blasting her husband or her father or even her own ‘Babuji’, the social activist who organized her and made her what she is today. She easily forgets all the contributions that men had made in her life – her uncle who sent her to school against prevailing sentiments, her husband who after initial reluctance agrees to let her do what she wanted, her activist companion ‘Babuji’ who put her in limelight with his organizing skills, or those innumerable unnamed men that support the Gulabi Gang during its processions and demonstrations.
There are some moments of absurdity in her attitude as well – when she says that though her work is as good as that of Gandhi, her face will never get to feature in the currency notes of the country or when she says that she will pray (!) to the Statue of Liberty’s replica in Paris for the liberation of all the women.
End of the day, Sampat Pal is a worthy social activist who has her own ways and methods of tackling the issues in the world around her and emerges victorious, all the while grappling with her own weaknesses, faulty traits and prejudices. You can find so many wrongs with her, but you ought to give it to her for courage and sense of dedication for the welfare of others. We need to recognize and bring to light all such activists from the dark nooks and corners of our country. She says that it is only through the foreign media that she might gain recognition for her work in this country. Rightly so!
Sampat Pal hails from Uttar Pradesh, from one of those innumerable low-caste clans. As such, she had gone through all the troubles one might expect in this background – caste differences, illiteracy, hatred towards the girl child, childhood marriage, lack of understanding from in-laws, oppression from the high-caste Brahmins of her area, and an indifferent government. She is a woman who had stood through all these travails to establish herself as a sole solace for many of the oppressed women, and at times even men, who go through troubles akin to hers. What started as a simple fight against caste-based oppressive treatment, turned out to be a fight against ill-treatment of daughters-in-law, corrupt government employees that fail to perform their duties, corruption in the public distribution system and lack of implementation of the government welfare schemes.
She comes across as a fire-brand social activist who resorts to not-so-subtle tactics to send her message across – like the time when she slapped a Brahmin in her village that beat up a lower class person, or her slapping a cop when he tried to arrest her companion for no reason, or even the time when a corrupt government official as well as a police constable were beaten to pulp by her gang for attacking them.
She claims that she has produced results with her methods often and the spreading of her fame across the globe is only proof enough for the same. While you may question whether she is right or wrong about her methods, I humbly feel that as long as she manages to produce the good results her methods are well justified.
But all isn’t well and pink – forgive the pun here – about her. For one, she comes across as a paranoid, domineering, over-ambitious and belligerent personality. She herself confesses that she does not trust anyone and has no close confidante to share her emotions or inner feelings. Also, she does not do these things in an organized manner – for example, her group itself is not registered anywhere and does not have proper data of its members. Her domineering attitude becomes evident in the way she describes others and talks about others. With a fling at MP elections and her ambitions seeping through her words, to attain power and position so that she can act better, prove that she is not entirely beyond all such things that eventually catch up with any activist.
She never shies away from any single opportunity to compare herself with some of the great leaders of this country – B.R.Ambedkar (finds him inadequate), Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi (says the queen spilt the blood of many men while she didn’t resort to such gory methods), Mahatma Gandhi (compares her work with that of Gandhi). While she may be justified in seeking recognition and glory for her work, I think such comparisons are a little too far-fetched.
Also, I found one thing to be pretty annoying – her constant bashing of men. In her eyes, all the men are absurd, selfish and oppressive. I wonder why does every female worthy of note in this country resorts to bashing up men and their character to justify her own achievements. This woman does not even wince when blasting her husband or her father or even her own ‘Babuji’, the social activist who organized her and made her what she is today. She easily forgets all the contributions that men had made in her life – her uncle who sent her to school against prevailing sentiments, her husband who after initial reluctance agrees to let her do what she wanted, her activist companion ‘Babuji’ who put her in limelight with his organizing skills, or those innumerable unnamed men that support the Gulabi Gang during its processions and demonstrations.
There are some moments of absurdity in her attitude as well – when she says that though her work is as good as that of Gandhi, her face will never get to feature in the currency notes of the country or when she says that she will pray (!) to the Statue of Liberty’s replica in Paris for the liberation of all the women.
End of the day, Sampat Pal is a worthy social activist who has her own ways and methods of tackling the issues in the world around her and emerges victorious, all the while grappling with her own weaknesses, faulty traits and prejudices. You can find so many wrongs with her, but you ought to give it to her for courage and sense of dedication for the welfare of others. We need to recognize and bring to light all such activists from the dark nooks and corners of our country. She says that it is only through the foreign media that she might gain recognition for her work in this country. Rightly so!
September 28, 2015
La storia di una donna che si ribella alle consuetudini millenarie che mettono in India la donna sullo stesso piano di un oggetto e tenta in ogni modo di restituirle dignità e valore.
E' la storia di una donna "fortunata" e tenace che ha voluto e potuto da piccola frequentare due anni di scuola, imparando a leggere e scrivere, e che da adolescente (dire adulta è forzato, purtroppo) ha sposato un uomo ottuso, ma non cattivo che le ha "permesso", seppur sotto pesanti insistenze, (purtroppo in India non è possibile fare altrimenti) di seguire la sua vocazione di aiutare chi è in difficoltà.
Non è alta letteratura e spesso fa perfino arrabbiare pensare che "basterebbe" alzare la voce e non essere troppo sottomessi per poter ottenere delle cose, perchè alla fine alcune leggi giuste e paritarie esistono anche in India, ma è un libro necessario per spiegare a che livello purtroppo ancora vivono le persone e quanti soprusi e violenze sono costrette a subire a causa dell'arretratezza di chi li governa e della corruzione che dilaga tra chi ha anche solo un minimo di potere.
E' la storia di una donna "fortunata" e tenace che ha voluto e potuto da piccola frequentare due anni di scuola, imparando a leggere e scrivere, e che da adolescente (dire adulta è forzato, purtroppo) ha sposato un uomo ottuso, ma non cattivo che le ha "permesso", seppur sotto pesanti insistenze, (purtroppo in India non è possibile fare altrimenti) di seguire la sua vocazione di aiutare chi è in difficoltà.
Non è alta letteratura e spesso fa perfino arrabbiare pensare che "basterebbe" alzare la voce e non essere troppo sottomessi per poter ottenere delle cose, perchè alla fine alcune leggi giuste e paritarie esistono anche in India, ma è un libro necessario per spiegare a che livello purtroppo ancora vivono le persone e quanti soprusi e violenze sono costrette a subire a causa dell'arretratezza di chi li governa e della corruzione che dilaga tra chi ha anche solo un minimo di potere.
November 9, 2017
Un de mes livres préféré à vie. Sampat Pal sait que le pouvoir est dans le nombre - et elle mobilise des centaines de femmes pour occuper l'espace, faire du bruit et forcer les institutions à faire leur travail et empêcher les corrompus de vaquer à leurs affaires en paix. Pragmatique, elle ne laisse passer aucune injustice locale. Le caractère de cette femme m'a rentré dans les os comme une toute nouvelle information à digérer, un nouvel élément au tableau périodique humain... Une action militante puissante, irrévérencieuse, féroce tout en restant créative, pacifiste, légale et humoristique - et à toute petite échelle. Quel flair pour l'efficacité de terrain!! Résolument réjouissant. A lire absolument!
September 2, 2017
Es la historia de Sampat Pal, una mujer del norte de la India que ha dedicado su vida a los derechos de las mujeres y los menos afortunados de su comunidad.
Se aprende algo de la historia reciente del país y de algunas costumbres, pero a veces hay tantos temas sociales y políticos que agobian un poco.
Se aprende algo de la historia reciente del país y de algunas costumbres, pero a veces hay tantos temas sociales y políticos que agobian un poco.
December 18, 2013
An amazing woman in a men's country. The difference each and everyone can make in the life of others by fighting the (corrupt) system.
November 29, 2018
Es la historia de Sampat Pal, una mujer india, que no tuvo derecho a la educación y que siguiendo las costumbres de su país fue casada a los 13 años, en un matrimonio arreglado. Por su temperamento siempre tuvo muchos problemas al enfrentarse a hombres, autoridades y otras tribus por injusticias contra sus semejantes. Cuando se hizo adulta formó una banda de mujeres cuyo uniforme era un sari de color rosa cuyo objetivo era defender y luchar por los derechos de las mujeres y de las clases más desfavorecidas. Nunca uso armas, su poder era la palabra y la unión de su grupo, cuando quería reclamar o recuperar tierras que los ricos quitaban a los pobres, cuando las mujeres eran expulsadas por sus maridos sin nada, cuando autoridades del gobierno robaba los auxilios que por ley pertenecían a los pobres, Sampat reunía a cientos de mujeres de su grupo, marchaban y se instalaban, por días si era necesarios, frente a estaciones de policía, hogares u oficinas y no se marchaban hasta ser escuchadas y ver acciones reales que ayudaban a lograr su objetivo. Esta fortaleza la convirtió en figura pública y ejemplo de lucha para muchas mujeres en la India y fue reconocida internacionalmente, lo que curiosamente nunca fue en su propio país.
Este es un libro que muestra la corrupción y desigualdad de estratos que hay en India pero que no es diferente de lo que pasa en muchos países, también nos ayuda a conocer un poco las costumbres de ese país.
Interesante y fácil de leer. Recomendado
Este es un libro que muestra la corrupción y desigualdad de estratos que hay en India pero que no es diferente de lo que pasa en muchos países, también nos ayuda a conocer un poco las costumbres de ese país.
Interesante y fácil de leer. Recomendado
February 8, 2023
Sin duda Sampat Pal es una persona fuera de lo común con una gran sed de libertad e igualdad para las mujeres. No obstante me quedé bastante perpleja por su historia y no la terminé.
Criándose en una familia extendida, no pobre pero tampoco acomodada, no pude comprender su ignorancia de las realidades de la vida en la India. Como recién caída del cielo se sorprende e indigna por la opresión que ejercen los Brahmanes sobre las castas inferiores, los hombres sobre las mujeres y los esposos sobre sus esposas. Se rebela contra todo y todos, corriendo graves riesgos hasta temer por su vida.
Dejé el libro cuándo leí que Sampat Pal había dejado que sus dos hijas se casaran a los 15 y 12 años. Cómo lo ha podido permitir ella que había sido forzada a un matrimonio infantil y que se había vuelta una luchadora empedernida por la libertad de las mujeres de elegir su propio destino ?
Criándose en una familia extendida, no pobre pero tampoco acomodada, no pude comprender su ignorancia de las realidades de la vida en la India. Como recién caída del cielo se sorprende e indigna por la opresión que ejercen los Brahmanes sobre las castas inferiores, los hombres sobre las mujeres y los esposos sobre sus esposas. Se rebela contra todo y todos, corriendo graves riesgos hasta temer por su vida.
Dejé el libro cuándo leí que Sampat Pal había dejado que sus dos hijas se casaran a los 15 y 12 años. Cómo lo ha podido permitir ella que había sido forzada a un matrimonio infantil y que se había vuelta una luchadora empedernida por la libertad de las mujeres de elegir su propio destino ?
May 12, 2024
L'histoire impressionnante d'une indienne issue d'une caste modeste ayant créé un vaste groupe de femmes se battant pour l'égalité des droits et contre la corruption et la violence.
Si le fond impose le respect, je n'ai pas adoré la forme: le style est rudimentaire, et, écrit à la première personne du singulier, l'auteur semble souvent manquer quelque peu de modestie - ce qui est peut-être le cas, et vu ce qu'elle a accompli, c'est assez justifié, mais il n'empêche que c'est assez crispant à lire parfois...
Au final, ça reste une belle découverte, un livre qui montre qu'il est possible de changer les choses, quand on le veut et qu'on s'y met à plusieurs...
Si le fond impose le respect, je n'ai pas adoré la forme: le style est rudimentaire, et, écrit à la première personne du singulier, l'auteur semble souvent manquer quelque peu de modestie - ce qui est peut-être le cas, et vu ce qu'elle a accompli, c'est assez justifié, mais il n'empêche que c'est assez crispant à lire parfois...
Au final, ça reste une belle découverte, un livre qui montre qu'il est possible de changer les choses, quand on le veut et qu'on s'y met à plusieurs...
November 25, 2022
Gostei, mas sinceramente esperava mais....
February 20, 2024
Fácil de leer, historia real.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2024
Muy bonito el libro. Tiene harto de la cultura india. Narra la lucha de una mujer por los derechos de las personas más desposeídas. Es autobiográfico. Bonito.
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January 24, 2025Sampat Pal, jeune indienne intrépide, éprise de justice et assoiffée de savoir, se lèvera pour défendre les plus faibles, entraînant à sa suite des centaines de femmes : le Gulabi gang.
May 29, 2011
Sampat Pal, una mujer de casta baja del norte de la India, se rebela contra su sociedad y se toma la justicia por su mano para poder ayudar a todos los que se encuentran en condiciones desfavorables, especialmente a las mujeres.
Con este objetivo crea una banda llamada Gulabi Gang, el ejército de los saris rosas. Sampat Pal no debía haber ido a la escuela. En su aldea del norte de la India, ése era un privilegio reservado a los varones. Sin embargo, consiguió aprender a leer y a escribir y, al ver la injusticia con la que eran tratados los pobres y las mujeres tanto por las castas superiores como por las autoridades del Estado, decidió decir «no» a la ley de los hombres. En lugar de cruzarse de brazos, organizó el ejército más extraordinario de la historia de la India. Un ejército de mujeres, vestidas con saris rosas y armadas con bastones, dispuestas a defender a los desamparados y a exigir justicia allí donde fuese necesario. Es el ejército de los saris rosas y ésta es la historia de su legendaria fundadora.
Me gusto mucho, interesante como una mujer de tan baja educacion puede manejar a todas.
Con este objetivo crea una banda llamada Gulabi Gang, el ejército de los saris rosas. Sampat Pal no debía haber ido a la escuela. En su aldea del norte de la India, ése era un privilegio reservado a los varones. Sin embargo, consiguió aprender a leer y a escribir y, al ver la injusticia con la que eran tratados los pobres y las mujeres tanto por las castas superiores como por las autoridades del Estado, decidió decir «no» a la ley de los hombres. En lugar de cruzarse de brazos, organizó el ejército más extraordinario de la historia de la India. Un ejército de mujeres, vestidas con saris rosas y armadas con bastones, dispuestas a defender a los desamparados y a exigir justicia allí donde fuese necesario. Es el ejército de los saris rosas y ésta es la historia de su legendaria fundadora.
Me gusto mucho, interesante como una mujer de tan baja educacion puede manejar a todas.
August 13, 2012
Leer 'EL EJERCITO DE LOS SARIS ROSA" y conocer la historia de Sam pat pal ha sido maravilloso. Una heroína que aun vive en la india, y tiene bajo su mando a miles de mujeres que luchan por sus derechos , por la justicia en una sociedad desigual y por ser tomadas en cuenta en sus lugares de origen. sin dudas, una de mis mujeres favoritas, una historia que hay que leer.
August 24, 2017
Très intéressante trajectoire d'une jeune indienne refusant de se plier au pouvoir masculin et à la corruption, en organisant des manifestations d'Indiennes en Sari rose.
Voir une discussion sur le livre ici: http://www.cerium.ca/Planete-Terre-6-...
Voir une discussion sur le livre ici: http://www.cerium.ca/Planete-Terre-6-...
March 18, 2013
This is a quick read about a current and controversial women's activist in UP, India: Sampat Pal. Pal has organized other disenfranchised and poor women into a gang which uses public exposure and shaming to effect much-needed change in villages across the state.
March 2, 2011
Very interesting, very encouraging, very hard too. Why do some people feel the need to use and abuse others is something I will always struggle to understand.
April 21, 2015
La storia di una donna di grande coraggio, che diventa un simbolo per tutte le donne indiane. Davvero una bella storia, vera tra l'altro.
September 16, 2019
Interessante história de coragem!
March 26, 2017
As i started the book, found it really interesting. I found the story fascinating.
Going on reading, I had a strange feeling. Something was not clear to me.
I then googled the story of Sampat Pal and found that not everything is that clear as written in the book.
Anyway, the fight for the right of the poorest of the society is something that have to be respected. Even more the fight for the right of women.
What I did not like of the book is that the author makes the reaction to some society's issues to easy. It is unfortunately mostly not enough to be brave.
I also did not like the gap Sampat Pal sketched between men and women. A battle between right and wrong has nothing to do with the gendre.
All in all, it could have been better.
Going on reading, I had a strange feeling. Something was not clear to me.
I then googled the story of Sampat Pal and found that not everything is that clear as written in the book.
Anyway, the fight for the right of the poorest of the society is something that have to be respected. Even more the fight for the right of women.
What I did not like of the book is that the author makes the reaction to some society's issues to easy. It is unfortunately mostly not enough to be brave.
I also did not like the gap Sampat Pal sketched between men and women. A battle between right and wrong has nothing to do with the gendre.
All in all, it could have been better.
May 26, 2019
Un racconto accuratissimo sulla situazione femminile in India e della disparità tra caste in generale.
E' spiegato tutto in un modo semplicissimo e ti viene voglia di andare ad Atarra, indossare un sari rosa e protestare insieme a Sampat e alla Gulabi Gang
E' spiegato tutto in un modo semplicissimo e ti viene voglia di andare ad Atarra, indossare un sari rosa e protestare insieme a Sampat e alla Gulabi Gang
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews