My story from pain to power by Manjula Pradeep

My story from pain to power

by Manjula Pradeep

July 5, 2017
12 mins story

Gujarat India

1. Why have you become a human rights defender? (Was there any particular event in your life/country that made you engage with human rights work?)

Young girls standing on the waste, which they collect in the cities and towns of India as they are from the lowest caste and this is work imposed on them for centuries.

Two minor tribal girls from a village in Vadodara distrct of Gujarat, who are survivors of sexual trafficking.

Four Dalit youth, who were flogged by the cow vigilate group in Una, Gujarat and their father

Kuvarben, mother of two of the Dalit youth who were flogged by cow vigilante group in Una, Gujarat. She was also assaulted.

Mother of a Dalit youth, who was burnt alive in his house by dominant caste people in Ankolali village, Gujarat

2. What inspires you in your work as a HRD?

Baluben, one of strong Dalit woman leader, who set up land cooperative for women.

Women leaders who formed Women rights council in their village in Gujarat

A Dalit village head head who was attacked by the dominant caste people in his village

Despite being poor, they are celebrating the occassion of protest against state impunity in Chhota Udaipur town, Gujarat

Ushaben is a feisty social worker from Dalit community, who faced lots of challenges

3. What is the most challenging part of your human rights engagement?

With women leaders from different parts of Gujarat

Addressing in a conference on gender equality held in Kerala

Leading a protest against suspicious murder of a tribal woman, who was a police constable in Rajpipla town, Gujarat.

Protesting against killing of three Dalit youth by police in firing at Thangadh town in Gujarat

Protesting and condemning violence against women in town of Gujarat

4. Do you see any change in the last few year when it comes to (your) human rights work?

Women marching and protesting against violence on them

Active participation of young girls to end violence against them

With the members of International Dalit Solidarity Network at United Nations, Geneva

Women across taking pledge to end violence against them in Gujarat

Women taking front seats in the programs

Story Chapters

1. Why have you become a human rights defender? (Was there any particular event in your life/country that made you engage with human rights work?)

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2. What inspires you in your work as a HRD?

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3. What is the most challenging part of your human rights engagement?

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4. Do you see any change in the last few year when it comes to (your) human rights work?

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5. What do you think are the key elements for sustaining a strong human rights movement in your country/field?

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I Defend Rights