This International Women’s Day, DARPAN salutes two extraordinary women whose relentless efforts are making the world a safer and more compassionate place. These inspiring warriors are fighting battles that many turn away from.
Dr Sunitha Krishnan: A Leading Advocate Against Sex Crimes
Being resilient is an attitude, and no one can define it better than the Padma Shri awardee Dr Sunitha Krishnan. From being a rape survivor to a warrior fighting for the victims of sexual violence, Sunitha Krishnan has dedicated her life to crusade against one of the world’s most heinous crimes.
Humanitarian work came naturally to Sunitha. When she was only eight years old, she was teaching dance to children with special needs. By twelve, she was running schools in slums for underprivileged children. However, at fifteen, her life took a harrowing turn. While campaigning for a Dalit community in Andhra Pradesh, Sunitha was gang-raped by eight men who did not like the interference of a woman in their so-called ‘man’s world’ and raped her to teach her a lesson.
Though traumatized by the incident, Sunitha refused to play the victim. “It was a crime committed on me, and if anybody had to be shamed… it had to be those who did it. I never felt like a victim, and that bothered people around me. A large part of my isolation and ostracization (by society) happened because I didn’t conform to the bracket of a victim; I refused,” Sunitha revealed in an interview.
It is said that some of our greatest pains can become our greatest strengths, and Sunitha’s journey is a testament to this. Instead of falling prey to self-pity, she channeled her rage into fighting for other victims of sexual violence. In 1996, Sunitha started Prajwala, an anti-trafficking organization dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and reintegrating survivors of sex crimes. What began as a small initiative has become an unstoppable force, rescuing over 28,000 victims, rehabilitating 26,500 survivors, and preventing 18,000 children from falling into the trap of prostitution.
Since the inception of Prajwala, despite several attempts made on her life, Sunita has been tirelessly working against sex crimes and advocating for stronger laws against human trafficking. Sunitha’s foundation also provides trauma counseling, education, and vocational training, and runs a survivors' support network called Aparajitha. But, the biggest challenge, she says, is changing societal mindsets. “The fight against sex slavery is not just about rescuing victims; it is about changing mindsets. It’s very fashionable to talk about human trafficking in air-conditioned halls, but it's not nice to bring survivors into our homes or workplaces. That is my biggest challenge,” reveals Sunitha.
Sunitha Krishnan's story is compelling and inspiring, and we can’t help but applaud her courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to eradicating sexual crimes.
Want to support Sunitha’s mission? Visit www.prajwalaindia.com to volunteer or donate.
Mangal Arun Shah: A Grandmother to HIV Positive Children
“The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.” This Albert Schweitzer quote resonates well with the warm and affectionate septuagenarian Mangal Arun Shah, fondly known as Mangaltai. This extraordinary woman has selflessly dedicated her life to providing a haven to over 150 abandoned HIV-positive children who had nowhere to go.
Mangaltai was always inclined toward humanitarian work. Married at a young age, instead of settling down and doing household chores, she started providing home-cooked food for needy hospital patients and spreading awareness about HIV and AIDS. However, it was in 2001 that Mangaltai found her true calling. Mangaltai and her daughter, Dimple, were conducting an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign among sex workers in Pandharpur when they came across two abandoned HIV-positive infant girls in a cow shed. Their parents had succumbed to AIDS, and no orphanage or hospital was willing to admit the children due to the stigma associated with AIDS/HIV. Mangaltai recalls, “I was disheartened to see that no government hospital was ready to admit them. We also tried to contact NGOs for orphans, but they also turned them down. So, I decided to take care of these two little girls myself.”
Realizing the dire need for a safe space for orphans infected by HIV, Mangaltai and her daughter, Dimple Ghadge, founded the Palawi Foundation under the Prabha Hira Pratishthan NGO. Standing true to its values, over the last two decades, Palawi has grown into a sanctuary for over 150 HIV-positive children, providing them with food, shelter, medical care, and education.
Despite financial setbacks, Mangaltai continuously strives to provide life-saving medical care and education to HIV-positive children and destitute women. Over 6000+ children have found shelter at Palawi’s Care Home. At the same time, over 1.5 million people have been educated through their HIV awareness initiatives, and 38,000 underprivileged children have gained knowledge and skills for a brighter future.
“Each child deserves to be happy, safe, healthy, and educated. At Palawi, we believe in empowering each child in our care home,” says Mangaltai.
Her commitment to providing a safe and supportive environment, along with combating the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS, is truly commendable.
Visit https://palawi.org/ to support Mangaltai’s mission.
