Revolutions have long been the bedrock of social change in India. From the firebrand freedom fighters who tore down colonial rule to the silent rebellions waged in villages, history here is not merely written, it is fought for. But revolutions do not always announce themselves with slogans and marches. Across India, quiet revolutions are unfolding, led by groups that refuse to accept the status quo.
I recently watched Gulaab Gang, a film loosely based on the real-life Gulabi gang, a sisterhood from Uttar Pradesh. Late to the party I know but it made me wonder who else is out there rewriting the rulebook.
For those who haven’t heard of it, what you’ll love about Gulabi Gang is that it’s a women vigilante group that isn’t waiting for justice to knock on their door. They’re kicking it down. They show up where the police don’t, fight for those who are too scared to speak, and rewrite the narrative of what rural Indian women can be. Founded in 2006 by Sampat Pal Devi in Bundelkhand, this vigilante group was born out of frustration with the rampant domestic violence, dowry deaths, and police apathy towards crimes against women. The gang, clad in bright pink, patrols villages, confronting abusive husbands, corrupt officials, and caste-based oppression. They don’t just wield sticks, they educate women about their rights, encourage economic independence, and push for female literacy. They have organized “chaupals” (community meetings) to educate women about their legal rights, including the Right to Information Act, enabling them to access government benefits and challenge corruption.
One of their landmark interventions was storming a police station to demand justice for a rape survivor whose case had been ignored. Today, the Gulabi Gang has expanded beyond Bundelkhand, sparking similar movements across India and inspiring documentaries and films that capture their relentless crusade. At the risk of overusing the cliché, not all heroes wear capes some wear pink sarees and thwack lathis.
India’s love stories often have villains scarier than Shakespeare ever imagined, caste councils, angry relatives, and sometimes, even the law. Founded in 2010 by Sanjoy Sachdev, Love Commandos is a Delhi-based group that offers shelter, legal aid, and a safe haven for star-crossed lovers who dare to defy the shackles of caste and religion. They operate in secrecy, protecting couples from honor killings and forced separations. Their network of volunteers rescues young lovers from life-threatening situations, provides them with temporary housing, and helps them marry legally if needed. They provide legal counselling and assistance to couples facing harassment or legal challenges, helping them navigate the complexities of marriage laws and police procedures. Despite facing threats, legal battles, and financial struggles, Love Commandos has helped thousands of couples find safety and freedom. They are a reminder that love, in its purest form, is an act of rebellion.
If you’ve ever walked through Lodhi Colony in Delhi and wondered how the city turned into a canvas, you have St+Art India to thank. Founded in 2014 by Hanif Kureshi and Giulia Ambrogi, St+Art India began as a grassroots movement to democratize art bringing it out of galleries and into the streets. Their work transforms neglected walls into powerful statements, making art accessible to everyone. From towering murals depicting local heroes to thought-provoking installations addressing environmental issues, they are turning cities into open-air galleries. Their Mumbai Urban Art Festival in 2022 transformed the city’s dull spaces into stunning artistic landmarks, engaging communities in conversations about urban identity. Beyond Lodhi, they’ve splashed color across Mumbai’s Sassoon Dock, Chennai’s Kannagi Nagar, and Hyderabad’s Necklace Road. Their Sassoon Dock Art Project in Mumbai revitalized a historic fishing dock, collaborating with local fishermen to create art installations that reflected the community’s heritage and challenges. Through collaborations with international artists, local communities, and even municipal bodies, St+Art Foundation proves that urban spaces can be more than concrete jungles, they can be conversations.
In a world where technological advancements often exclude those who need them most, Barefoot College does the unthinkable, it trains illiterate and semi-literate rural women to become solar engineers. Founded in 1972 by Sanjit “Bunker” Roy in Tilonia, Rajasthan, Barefoot College recognized that sustainable development starts with the community. Their most radical initiative? The Solar Mamas program, where grandmothers, many of whom have never been to school, are trained in solar technology. These women return to their villages equipped with the knowledge to electrify homes, reducing dependence on unreliable power grids and expensive fuel sources. In some villages, the Solar Mamas have also established “night schools” powered by solar energy, providing educational opportunities for children who work during the day.
One of the most striking success stories is that of Fatima from Zanzibar, who, after training at Barefoot College, brought electricity to over 200 households in her community. So far, the initiative has trained over 2,200 women from 93 countries, illuminating over 18,000 homes. The Solar Mamas aren’t just engineers; they are agents of social change, bringing light, independence, and dignity to their communities.
In a world where food waste and hunger exist side by side, the Robin Hood Army is the bridge between excess and need. Started in 2014 by Neel Ghose and Anand Sinha, this volunteer-driven movement collects surplus food from restaurants, weddings, and corporate cafeterias and distributes it to the hungry. They do this without any formal funding. It’s a decentralized, volunteer-driven mission powered by sheer will and WhatsApp. The scale of their impact is staggering since its inception, the Robin Hood Army has served over 100 million meals across 250 cities in 14 countries. During the COVID-19 pandemic, their #Mission30M initiative aimed to serve 30 million people, mobilizing volunteers, corporate tie-ups, and local networks to ensure no one went hungry. During festivals and special occasions, they collaborate with restaurants and caterers to collect and distribute large quantities of food to homeless populations. They also have teams that work to deliver food in disaster struck areas. They have used social media to create “hunger maps” that allows people to locate where food distributions are happening in their local areas. They prove that hunger is a problem that, to some extent, can be tackled with a mix of compassion and technology. Their model is simple but effective: no food should go to waste when millions go to bed hungry.
These groups may not always make front-page news, but they are rewriting India’s social fabric, one protest, one brushstroke at a time. They remind us that change isn’t top-down, it’s ground-up. They show that revolutions don’t always begin in parliament they begin in the streets, in classrooms, on rooftops, and in the hidden corners of society where the forgotten find their voice.
So, the next time you think about who’s really shaking things up in India, forget the politicians, forget the celebrities look at these silent warriors instead. Because the real revolution doesn’t come from conference rooms. It comes from the hands of women in pink sarees, from grandmothers with circuit boards, from artists with paintbrushes, and from volunteers with a simple idea: that change is possible, and it starts with us.
-This article has been written by Samika (4th Year)
