Gulabi Gang - The Pink Gang
& Véronique de Viguerie

Women in pink saris stand close together in shadow; one in the foreground holds a small piece of paper.
A branch of the Pink Gang is meeting to discuss the gang's upcoming activities and the problems encountered over the past month.
Two women in pink clothing talk in a pink room with peeling walls; an elderly man rests on a cot behind them.
Badausa, India—November 6, 2025: Hira Davi, whose daughter Bithy Raikwar was found hanged the day before at her husband’s home, comes to Sampat Pal’s house to ask the Rose Gang for help so that the case will not be ruled a suicide, as is often the case.
A woman in glasses and a pink-checked top walks past in the foreground, while two women and a man in red watch from a pink shopfront.
Badausa, India—November 6, 2025: Hira Davi, whose daughter Bithy Raikwar was found hanged the day before at her husband’s home, comes to Sampat Pal’s house to ask the Rose Gang for help so that the case will not be ruled a suicide, as is often the case.
A hand holds a phone showing a photo of a young person lying on the floor, with two blurred women standing behind.
LUKTARA, INDIA—NOV. 7, 2025: A photo of Loritkita Kako’s body. Her mother placed a black cloth over her child to cover her nakedness. Sunita (39) asked Sampat Pal and his “Pink Gang” for help in conducting the investigation. Last week, Sunita found her 16-year-old daughter, Loritkita Kako, dead with her scarf stuffed into her mouth, her shirt pulled up, and her underwear around her ankles. She wants a proper investigation to punish the culprit.
Relatives gather around a body wrapped in cloth on a steel morgue table; a woman is held up by those beside her.
Banda, India—November 6, 2025: Hira Davi and her husband are set to identify the body of their daughter, Bithy, who was found hanged yesterday morning. The family has come to support Hira Davi, who is overcome with grief. Sampat Pal (in pink), leader of the Rose Gang, is supporting Hira and leading the investigation.
Women in colorful saris sit on the ground, consoling a grieving woman who is lying back in their arms.
Badausa, India—November 6, 2025: Hira Davi and her husband are expected to come identify the body of their daughter, Bithy, who was found hanged yesterday morning. The family has come to support Hira Davi, who is overcome with grief.
Close-up of a woman crying out in grief, surrounded by hands comforting her.
Badausa, India—November 6, 2025: Hira Davi and her husband are expected to come identify the body of their daughter, Bithy, who was found hanged yesterday morning. The family has come to support Hira Davi, who is overcome with grief.
A body wrapped in black plastic lies on the ground of an open-air cremation shelter as a man sweeps in the smoky morning light.
Banda, India—November 6, 2025: After the autopsy, Bithy’s body is handed over to her in-laws, who are to cremate it. Her mother-in-law, Vimala—with whom Bithy and her husband had been living since their marriage—arrives and plays the role of the grieving mother-in-law to perfection, not hesitating to throw herself down the stairs.
A grieving woman collapses on concrete steps while other women try to hold and support her.
Banda, India—November 6, 2025: After the autopsy, Bithy’s body is handed over to her in-laws, who are to cremate it. Her mother-in-law, Vimala—with whom Bithy and her husband had been living since their marriage—arrives and plays the role of the grieving mother-in-law to perfection, not hesitating to throw herself down the stairs.
An elderly man tends a wood funeral pyre burning inside an open-air cremation shelter at sunrise.
Banda, India—November 6, 2025: It is up to the stepfather to set Bithy's body on fire.
A woman balances a basket of firewood on her head in a village lane at dusk; a small boy and seated women look on.
BARHA, MANIPUR, INDIA- 10th AUGUST 2026: This village was abandoned by the government as a punishment. The villagers are living off what they find in the forest especially wood. In the forest there are some bandits, dacoits who obliged the villagers to help them for protection. The police accused them of collaborating with the gangsters and punish the whole village by depriving them of any help, any infrastructure. The Pink Gang intervened to advocate for them.
A woman carrying a metal bucket walks down a sunlit village lane toward a dog, while a child watches from a blue doorway.
BARHA, MANIPUR, INDIA- 10th AUGUST 2026: This village was abandoned by the government as a punishment. The villagers are living off what they find in the forest especially wood. In the forest there are some bandits, dacoits who obliged the villagers to help them for protection. The police accused them of collaborating with the gangsters and punish the whole village by depriving them of any help, any infrastructure. The Pink Gang intervened to advocate for them.
Women in pink saris ride in a tractor trailer in front of a brick wall, some looking toward the camera.
AMETHI, INDIA—NOV. 7, 2025: A branch of the Pink Gang is meeting to discuss the gang’s upcoming activities and the problems encountered over the past month.
A large group of women in pink saris sit on dry ground, some holding wooden sticks, a small child among them.
AMETHI, INDIA—NOV. 7, 2025: A branch of the Pink Gang is meeting to discuss the gang’s upcoming activities and the problems encountered over the past month.
Smiling woman in a pink sari raises a wooden stick amid a crowd of women in pink saris with raised arms.
AMETHI, INDIA—NOV. 7, 2025: A branch of the Pink Gang is meeting to discuss the gang’s upcoming activities and the problems encountered over the past month.
Women in pink saris march in a narrow lane, some raising their hands, a young boy walking beside them.
AMETHI, INDIA—NOV. 7, 2025: A branch of the Pink Gang is meeting to discuss the gang’s upcoming activities and the problems encountered over the past month.
Close view of seated women in pink saris, with serious, attentive expressions.
AMETHI, INDIA—NOV. 7, 2025: A branch of the Pink Gang is meeting to discuss the gang’s upcoming activities and the problems encountered over the past month.
A hand points to old photographs in an album: a man holding a baby, and a girl sitting beside a woman.
RAEBARELLY, INDIA—NOV. 9, 2025: Pushpa Singh is the district commander of the Rose Gang in Raebarelly. Ten years ago, she was overcome with grief when her only son was poisoned by his in-laws. She met Sampat Pal, who recruited her into the gang and found her this house; today, Pushpa is the district commander and has found new meaning in her life.
A young woman in a red sari, wrapped in a patterned shawl, sits on a chair against a blue wall, looking worried.
BADAUSA, INDIA—NOV. 10, 2025: Neha (24) came to the Rose Gang for help. She tells Sampat about her ordeal: she got married a few months ago, but her husband wants her to sleep with his brothers as well—men who beat her and recently kicked her out of the house.
Close-up of women in pink saris with serious faces, a young girl leaning against one of them.
The Pink Gang, led by Sampat Pal and followed by Hira Davi (right) and Sunita—whose daughters were found dead—are protesting and calling on the police to conduct thorough investigations into the deaths of Bithy and Loritkita and all other suspicious deaths.
Close-up of women in pink saris with serious faces, a young girl leaning against one of them.
BANDAA, INDIA—NOV. 11, 2025: The Pink Gang, led by Sampat Pal and followed by Hira Davi and Sunita-mothers whose daughters were found dead-are protesting and calling on the police to conduct thorough investigations into the deaths of Bithy and Loritkita and all other suspicious deaths.
Women in sheer pink saris stand close together in sunlight; one peers out from behind the fabric, and a girl stands nearby.
BADAUSA, INDIA-7 AUGUST 2026: Sampat is giving a motivation speech to these girls at coillege. She told them how to defend themselves if harassed in the streets, like by carrying chili powder and throw it in the eyes. Sampat also encouraged them to avoid being distracted and carry on their studies to be independent... Still in India some 20% of girls dropped scholl before coillege because of early marriages.
Rows of schoolgirls in red and white uniforms sit at wooden desks, many raising their hands.
UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA- 8 AUGUST 2026: Champat Pal, one of Sampat's daughter, is giving free lessons of tailoring to 10 girls so they can learn a job and got some independance. The sewing machines were brought thanks to some private donors.
A woman holding a small child stands in a dark room beside an older girl who looks at the camera.
UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA- 09 AUGUST 2026: Rajeswari Khangar (32) mother of 3, was kicked out of her in-laws by her husband on the 24th of March 2026. The in-laws kept her son. She said her husband tried to kill her by throwing her of a train because he want to marry another woman. Now she lives with her daughters in her brother's house.
An elderly man and woman stand side by side beside blue and brown mud walls; she leans on a wooden stick.
BARHA, MANIPUR, INDIA- 10th AUGUST 2026: This village was abandoned by the government as a punishment. The villagers are living off what they find in the forest especially wood. In the forest there are some bandits, dacoits who obliged the villagers to help them for protection. The police accused them of collaborating with the gangsters and punish the whole village by depriving them of any help, any infrastructure. The Pink Gang intervened to advocate for them.
A woman in a pink shawl kneels over a metal basin kneading dough as another woman holding a baby watches from behind.
BARHA, MANIPUR, INDIA- 10th AUGUST 2026: This village was abandoned by the government as a punishment. The villagers are living off what they find in the forest especially wood. In the forest there are some bandits, dacoits who obliged the villagers to help them for protection. The police accused them of collaborating with the gangsters and punish the whole village by depriving them of any help, any infrastructure. The Pink Gang intervened to advocate for them.
Villagers, including many children and elderly people, sit and stand behind a rough wooden fence in front of a blue wall.
BARHA, MANIPUR, INDIA- 10th AUGUST 2026: This village was abandoned by the government as a punishment. The villagers are living off what they find in the forest especially wood. In the forest there are some bandits, dacoits who obliged the villagers to help them for protection. The police accused them of collaborating with the gangsters and punish the whole village by depriving them of any help, any infrastructure. The Pink Gang intervened to advocate for them.
Farmers bend over to plant rice seedlings in flooded fields under a cloudy sky, with a large tree and a power line in the distance.
UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA- 09 AUGUST 2026: Rice cultures.
An elderly woman with a cane walks past a blue house where a thin man stands in the doorway and children eat on the step.
BARHA, MANIPUR, INDIA- 10th AUGUST 2026: This village was abandoned by the government as a punishment. The villagers are living off what they find in the forest especially wood. In the forest there are some bandits, dacoits who obliged the villagers to help them for protection. The police accused them of collaborating with the gangsters and punish the whole village by depriving them of any help, any infrastructure. The Pink Gang intervened to advocate for them.
Women in bright pink saris walk away from the camera along a village lane lined with blue houses and parked motorbikes.
MAHOBA, INDIA- 10th AUGUST 2026: Some of the Pink Gang members are getting together to protest against the state of the village, Kala Bhambhauri, roads. They were in such a bad state that led by Sampat they planted some rice on the roads in front of cameras to shame the government and force them into action.
Smiling women in pink saris raise bunches of green grass above their heads outdoors, with trees in the background.
MAHOBA, INDIA- 10th AUGUST 2026: Some of the Pink Gang members are getting together to protest against the state of the village, Kala Bhambhauri, roads. They were in such a bad state that led by Sampat they planted some rice on the roads in front of cameras to shame the government and force them into action.
An older woman in red touches the arm of a veiled woman in a red sari seated on steps, with two boys watching behind.
BADAUSA, INDIA- 12th AUGUST 2026: Dayavati (22) came with her father Natthu Prasad to the house of Sampat, the leader of the Pink Gang, because she was kicked out of the house of her in-laws by her husband, 5 months ago. The family doesn't want to give her back her 4-years-old son, Sumit. Dayavati and her father went to see a lawyer to get her son back but they were told it will take years and by the time, Dayavati will have lost the connexion with Sumit. Sampat is bringing Dayavati to her in-laws. The homecoming by Sumit was very emotional. Sampat made Dayavati a memeber of the Pink Gang to give her power and strenght. If any problem with her in-laws, she will be called immedaitly and they will have to face the Pink Gang anger.
A woman in a red veil looks down at a shirtless boy who gazes up at her in a dark room.
BADAUSA, INDIA- 12th AUGUST 2026: Dayavati (22) came with her father Natthu Prasad to the house of Sampat, the leader of the Pink Gang, because she was kicked out of the house of her in-laws by her husband, 5 months ago. The family doesn't want to give her back her 4-years-old son, Sumit. Dayavati and her father went to see a lawyer to get her son back but they were told it will take years and by the time, Dayavati will have lost the connexion with Sumit. Sampat is bringing Dayavati to her in-laws. The homecoming by Sumit was very emotional. Sampat made Dayavati a memeber of the Pink Gang to give her power and strenght. If any problem with her in-laws, she will be called immediatly and they will have to face the Pink Gang anger. Dayavati in her room at her in-laws is ready to stay to be with her son.
People sit and talk in a small legal office with Hindi names of lawyers painted on the wall.
BADAUSA, INDIA- 12th AUGUST 2026: Dayavati (22) came with her father Natthu Prasad to the house of Sampat, the leader of the Pink Gang, because she was kicked out of the house of her in-laws by her husband, 5 months ago. The family doesn't want to give her back her 4-years-old son, Sumit. Dayavati and her father went to see a lawyer to get her son back but they were told it will take years and by the time, Dayavati will have lost the connexion with Sumit. Dayavati, her dad and Sampat are with the lawyer to have his advice on what to do so Dayavati can see her son again.
A man in a dark jacket reviews documents with two women and an older man in a small barred legal office.
BADAUSA, INDIA- 12th AUGUST 2026: Dayavati (22) came with her father Natthu Prasad to the house of Sampat, the leader of the Pink Gang, because she was kicked out of the house of her in-laws by her husband, 5 months ago. The family doesn't want to give her back her 4-years-old son, Sumit. Dayavati and her father went to see a lawyer to get her son back but they were told it will take years and by the time, Dayavati will have lost the connexion with Sumit. Dayavati, her dad and Sampat are with the lawyer to have his advice on what to do so Dayavati can see her son again.
People, a cow and motorbikes crowd a busy market street tangled with overhead wires.
BANDA, INDIA — AUGUST 12, 2026: Banda's market.
A woman holds a small child inside a dim mud-walled room with a cow, while an old man sits on a rope cot.
UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA- 09 AUGUST 2026: 8-months-pregnant Gaitri Sahu (24) just arrived to her old father Devideen Sahu with her 3-years-old Dhananjay because they were evicted to her husband's family house. Her in-laws were torturing her and her husband tried to killed her with a knife twice. She wanted to report to the police but her husband ordoined the rickshaw to not stop to the police and to go staright to her father's house. Since a few weeks, Gaitri her dad and her son are sleeping in the same room than the family cow (who sadly hasn't got any milk). Gaitri is scared that when the time comes to go to the hospital her very old dad won't be of any help. Sampat managed to ask the neighborg who is working with an amabulance to take care of Gaitri in exchange she will halp the family to go through the process of registering hsi disabled sister.
A boy holds a woven fan next to a seated woman in a brown sari as an older woman in red looks on in a green-walled room.
BADAUSA, INDIA- 12th AUGUST 2026: Dayavati (22) came with her father Natthu Prasad to the house of Sampat, the leader of the Pink Gang, because she was kicked out of the house of her in-laws by her husband, 5 months ago. The family doesn't want to give her back her 4-years-old son, Sumit. Dayavati and her father went to see a lawyer to get her son back but they were told it will take years and by the time, Dayavati will have lost the connexion with Sumit. Sampat is bringing Dayavati to her in-laws. The homecoming by Sumit was very emotional. Sampat made Dayavati a memeber of the Pink Gang to give her power and strenght. If any problem with her in-laws, she will be called immediatly and they will have to face the Pink Gang anger. Dayavati in her room at her in-laws is ready to stay to be with her son.
Five women sit and recline on a bed in a pink room, looking attentively in the same direction.
ATARRA, INDIA — AUGUST 13, 2026: Sampat was called by a group of transgender women asking for help. In India, transgender communities often live together in shared households and work collectively. They are traditionally invited to bless weddings, births and birthday celebrations, and contribute their earnings to their guru, Katrina (lying in bed in white), who then redistributes the money among the group.
For several months, Katrina’s household has been locked in a conflict with another transgender household in Banda over territory. As tensions escalated, they turned to the Gulabi Gang for help. Both groups went to the police station to try to settle the dispute, but no agreement could be reached.
A woman in a gold-patterned sari moves energetically in a green room with hanging drums, while others eat and use a phone.
ATARRA, INDIA — AUGUST 13, 2026: Sampat was called by a group of transgender women asking for help. In India, transgender communities often live together in shared households and work collectively. They are traditionally invited to bless weddings, births and birthday celebrations, and contribute their earnings to their guru, Katrina, who then redistributes the money among the group.
For several months, Katrina’s household has been locked in a conflict with another transgender household in Banda over territory. As tensions escalated, they turned to the Gulabi Gang for help. Both groups went to the police station to try to settle the dispute, but no agreement could be reached.
Two people dance with raised hands in a green room with hanging drums, as others watch, play a drum, and a woman sits eating on the floor.
ATARRA, INDIA — AUGUST 13, 2026: Sampat was called by a group of transgender women asking for help. In India, transgender communities often live together in shared households and work collectively. They are traditionally invited to bless weddings, births and birthday celebrations, and contribute their earnings to their guru, Katrina, who then redistributes the money among the group.
For several months, Katrina’s household has been locked in a conflict with another transgender household in Banda over territory. As tensions escalated, they turned to the Gulabi Gang for help. Both groups went to the police station to try to settle the dispute, but no agreement could be reached.
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The PhotoBridge Project partnered with the Gulabi Gang in Uttar Pradesh, India, to document a women-led collective challenging violence, discrimination, and unequal access to justice. Through the lens of photographer Véronique de Viguerie, this portfolio follows women in their communities as they stand together, support survivors, and demand that institutions respond.

Uttar Pradesh, India – Gulabi Gang

Across India, women continue to face discrimination and violence shaped by gender inequality, caste exclusion, and unequal access to justice. For nearly two decades, the Gulabi Gang, instantly recognizable by its distinctive pink saris, has organized women to confront these challenges collectively. Founded in Uttar Pradesh in 2006, the movement has grown to more than 450,000 members, supporting women facing domestic violence, dowry-related abuse, corruption, and social exclusion. 

In 2026, The PhotoBridge Project worked with photographer Véronique de Viguerie to document the movement and the women behind it. The portfolio follows members as they support survivors, resolve disputes, advocate for justice, and challenge deeply rooted social norms. Rather than focusing only on violence and hardship, the photographs show the leadership, solidarity, and collective action at the heart of the movement, and how women who were often expected to remain silent have become advocates and negotiators within their communities. 

The resulting portfolio belongs permanently to the Gulabi Gang, giving the movement a body of professional images it can use for advocacy, public engagement, communications, and reaching new supporters and women seeking its assistance.

About the Gulabi Gang

Founded in Uttar Pradesh in 2006, the Gulabi Gang is a grassroots women’s movement / collective working to challenge violence, discrimination, corruption, and social exclusion. Its members advocate for women experiencing violence, press authorities to investigate crimes, and help women navigate institutions that have often failed or excluded them. The movement has grown to more than 450,000 members and has remained largely independent of external donor funding, sustaining itself primarily through contributions from its members.