Indian Women Take Down Their Country's Rape Culture In 3-Minute Rap

Indian Women Take Down Their Country's Rape Culture In 3-Minute Rap

Two Indian women busted rhymes to make a point, and they got the world's attention.

Uppekha Jain and Pankhuri Awasthi uploaded a video to YouTube on March 16 featuring the duo rapping lyrics that highlight sexual assault in their country.

The video by Jain and Awasthi -- who dubbed their group BomBaebs -- racked up more than 470,000 views by Friday afternoon.

"I'm short, I'm fat, I'm tall, I'm skinny," Awasthi, located on the left in the video, rapped. "I'll wear what I want, even if it's mini. It's only a dress, don't for a second think it's a 'yes.'"

Jain told The Guardian that both she and Awasthi have faced some of the issues mentioned in their video, which inspired them to "be the voice for other women who might not be able to speak about it."

Sexual violence against women in India has made international waves in recent years. A 23-year-old woman was gang raped and murdered on a bus in Delhi in 2012, making global headlines and drawing activists to speak out for women's rights in the South Asian country.

Four men associated with the incident were sentenced to death in 2013.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau, India experienced a 26.7 percent hike in crimes against women (such as rape and sexual assault) in 2013 from the year before, Reuters reported.

It's sobering figures like that which inspired BomBaebs to become a catalyst for change.

Jain pointed out to The Guardian that those who insult the video are only making it clearer that the group's message rings true.

"I think all of the people who've negatively commented on the video and are spewing a lot of hate -- I think they prove our point," she said. "That this mentality still exists -- the objectification of women still exists."

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Before You Go

1
Ved Vyasa (The Bhagavad Gita)
Painting: Ramanarayanadatta astri (Gorakhpur Geeta Press)
2
Painting: Bodhidharma, by Yoshitoshi, 1887.
3
Kabir, 1440. Photo: Government Of India
4
Swami Vivekananda
5
Sri Aurobindo, Photo: BCCL
6
Jiddu Krishnamurti
7
Osho Rajneesh

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