After surviving a gang rape, 13-year-old Kiran must confront the phenomenon of victim blaming. At her young age, she decides to take action to change the shame.
An entire community impacted
Three men are sentenced to 25 years in prison each for the 2017 gang rape of a teenage girl in Jharkhand, a small village in northeast India. For 14 months between the attack and the verdict, the community ostracized, threatened, and defamed the family of 13-year-old Kiran as they sought justice. Her story is told in the Oscar-nominated documentary To Kill A Tiger. This gang rape marked a turning point in this rural region.
The trial for this crime is historic in this small Indian village. It provokes an immediate cultural change and awakening. While neighbors urged Kiran’s father to marry his daughter to one of her attackers to avoid family “dishonor,” they now recognize their mistake. Men and boys stop mocking and objectifying women. “The severity of the sentence shakes them; they understand that their behavior must change,” explains Kiran’s father, Ranjit. Ranjit is pleased to see that this misfortune has led to an improvement in women’s living conditions. “They are changing their attitudes toward women, and safety in the village is improving.”
Today, Kiran is 21 years old and in her third year of studies, hoping to become a police inspector. “I would be the first female inspector in my village; it’s essential,” she says. Her courage inspires the girls in her village to continue their studies and dress freely. Her journey shows that profound change is possible, even in societies steeped in rigid traditions.
A voice for change
Now, Kiran is using her experience to raise awareness about gender-based violence. She’s become a spokesperson for #Standwithher, an international gender justice initiative. The initiative was launched in New York following a UN Women screening of To Kill A Tiger. The documentary filming brings together Kiran, her father, director Nisha Pahuja, Ziauddin Yousafzai (Malala’s father), and representatives from organizations like Equality Now and Equimundo. “I want to reach more people and make people understand that the legal system must encourage victims to come forward,” she says.
Nisha Pahuja reveals that this documentary has three objectives. First, it’s about supporting survivors. Second, it’s important to educate men and boys about the impact of patriarchy. Finally, the ultimate goal is to introduce an anti-violence curriculum in 50,000 schools in the United States before expanding it internationally. “This story has the power to unite people. Kiran has managed to shift the shame, putting it where it belongs.”
After her time in the United States, Kiran returned to India to join the Orange Ribbon Survivor Coalition. This group fights against social taboos that prevent victims from speaking out. The name is inspired by the ribbons Kiran wears in her hair at the beginning of To Kill A Tiger. Today, they have become a symbol of her strength. According to Kiran, strength and courage are essential weapons at 13 years old to file a complaint and face bullying, she replies: “The situation forces you to be strong. I understood that if I didn’t do something, no one would. My strength comes from my need to protect myself.”