After a harrowing New Delhi gang rape in 2012, a police officer told Ram Devineni that “no good girl walks home at night.” In that moment, the Indian-American filmmaker vowed to find a way to shake authorities, and other indifferent members of society, into fighting back against such rampant violence against women.
“[He was] implying that she probably deserved it, or at least provoked the attack,” Devineni told The Huffington Post in an email. “I knew then that the problem of sexual violence in India was not a legal issue; rather it was a cultural problem.”
After consulting with a number of rape survivors in India and researching Hindu mythology, Devineni realized he could craft a relatable comic book character who could speak to the victims’ horrific experiences, and voice their overwhelming need for justice. In December, at the Mumbai Film and Comic Convention, Devineni and his team unveiled Priya’s Shakti — a superhero gang rape survivor who fights against sexual violence and pushes for women’s rights.
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While Devineni hopes the comic book medium is what draws readers in, he wants the overarching message of gender equality to keep them engaged.
“Priya is not your typical ‘superhero,’ Devineni said. “Although she rides a tiger, she has no powers. An idea is much more powerful than Superman’s strength or Wonder Woman’s magic lasso.”
Find out how you can bring Priya’s Shakti to schools here and how you can get involved in the #StandwithPriya campaign.
