THE PROBLEM OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS DEEP ROOTED IN CULTURE.
PRIYA'S SHAKTI is an innovative comic book perfectly designed for children and teenagers to learn about gender-based sexual violence and gender equality.
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We need your help to print the comic book and get it into schools and paint augmented reality murals/street art across India and around the world to create identification and empathy for rape survivors.
Many of us remember the horrible gang rape that happened on a bus in New Delhi in December 2012 that outraged India and the world. At one of the protests, I spoke to a Delhi police officer and asked him for his opinion on what had happened on the bus. The officer’s response was that “no good girl walks home at night.” Implying that she probably deserved it, or at least provoked the attack. I knew than that the problem of sexual violence in India and around the world was not a legal issue; rather it was a cultural problem. A cultural shift had to happen especially views towards the role of women in modern society. That is at the root of the innovative comic book and multimedia project – PRIYA'S SHAKTI. The
project centers on the Goddess Parvati and Priya, a mortal woman and survivor
of rape, who becomes the catalyst for change. Central to the project is an
augmented reality comic book, exhibitions, and street art – the first of its
kind with international outreach and social engagement. (#standwithpriya)
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We recently released the digital and print copies of PRIYA'S SHAKTI at the Mumbai Film and Comic Convention in December 2014 and immediately it went viral with over 200 news stories all over the world including features on BBC, The Guardian, New York Times, NPR, Vogue, ARTE, NBC News, and all of the major newspapers and publications in India. The comic books started a national debate in India on how society treats rape survivors and patriarchal views. The main character in the comic book, Priya, has become a global phenomena and one of the "top ten female comic book characters to watch out for in the future.”
The project is supported by the Tribeca Film Institute’s New Media Fund and the Ford Foundation & incubated at the ‘Made in NY’ Media Center by IFP. Named "Gender Equality Champion" by UN Women.
All USA donations are tax deductible through Rattapallax, Inc. which is the sponsor of this project and a 501(c)(3) registered not-for-profit. Tax ID number is 13-4035109.
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34,000 REPORTED RAPES IN INDIA AND ONLY 21% OF THEM MAKE IT TO TRIAL!
According to India's National Crime Records Bureau, the number of reported rapes jumped every year by 50%. Many more crimes are hidden and never acted upon. Gender-based violence is not just an Indian problem, but a global problem. From college rapes in the USA, domestic abuse in Europe, to acid attacks in Asia – the problems are shared across borders. The comic book is perfectly designed for children and teenagers to learn about gender-based sexual violence. A cultural shift needs to happen and at an early age.
Your donations will be used to get the comic books into the schools & create AR street murals.
APNE AAP WOMEN WORLDWIDE is our NGO partner and actively working on getting “Priya’s Shakti” into schools in India and creating murals all over India. Their mission is to increase choices for at-risk girls and women in order to ensure access to their rights, and to deter the purchase of sex through policy and social change. Apne Aap’s vision is a world where every woman and girl can realize her full potential.
Depending on your donation, the funds will be used for:
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Creation of augmented reality street/murals based on the comic book to create identification and empathy for survivors of gender-based violence (hiring local artists, materials, locating and securing a wall, and converting into augmented reality).
- Printing the comic book in different languages and distributing it into schools (cost of printing, training teachers, curriculum design, and analyzing results). Each comic book costs $1, but reaches 3-5 students per year.
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT:
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$5: PRIYA'S THANK YOU.
A special digital card with your name on it from our team thanking you for your support. (Photo above: Mural in New Delhi).
$10: STAND WITH PRIYA.
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We will put YOU next to Priya and the tiger and post it on our Facebook page. Also a special digital card with your name on it from our team thanking you for your support. Just send us a photo of yourself, and you will appear next to Priya.
$32: SIGNED PRINTED COMIC BOOK (USA ONLY)
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A beautifully printed comic book signed by the creators and a "Priya on tiger" cutout (photo above). Shipping in the USA through US Postal Service Priority Mail is included.
$42: SIGNED PRINTED COMIC BOOK & POSTER (USA ONLY)
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A beautifully printed comic book signed by the creators. Also, a "Priya on tiger" cutout and 8"x14" poster of the cover or any page of your selection. Google Hangout or Skype call with the creators. Shipping in the USA through US Postal Service Priority Mail is included.
$110: SIGNED PRINTED COMIC BOOK & POSTER (International & Canada)
A beautifully printed comic book signed by the creators. Also, a "Priya on tiger" cutout and 8"x14" poster of the cover or any page of your selection. Google Hangout or Skype call with the creators. International shipping either FEDEX or UPS is included. We are sorry for the high price, but this is entirely for the shipping cost.
$185: LITTLE SHIVA PHOTO PRINT
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A beautiful large photo print of "Little Shiva" by Ram Devineni, creator of "Priya's Shakti." Also, a beautifully printed comic book signed by the creators and a "Priya on tiger" cutout and 8"x14" poster of the cover or any page of your selection. Google Hangout or Skype call with the creators. Shipping either US Postal Service Priority Mail (USA), FEDEX or UPS (international) is included.
$750: PRIYA STREET MURAL IN INDIA.
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Creation of an augmented reality mural in India. Your name will appear
next to the mural and dedicated to you. Also, a beautifully printed comic book signed by the creators and a "Priya on tiger" cutout and 8"x14" poster of the cover or any page of your selection. Google Hangout or Skype call with the creators. Shipping either US Postal Service Priority Mail (USA), FEDEX or UPS (international) is included. (Photo above: Mural creation in Dharavi, Mumbai)
$1600: TRANSLATION OF COMIC BOOK.
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Support the cost of translation into a different language. The edition
will be dedicated to you and your name will appear in the credits next
to the authors. Also, a beautifully printed comic book signed by the creators and a "Priya on tiger" cutout and 8"x14" poster of the cover or any page of your selection. Google Hangout or Skype call with the creators. Shipping either US Postal Service Priority Mail (USA), FEDEX or UPS (international) is included.
$5000: PRIYA MURAL IN NEW YORK CITY.
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Creation of an augmented reality mural in New York City.
Your name will
appear next to the mural and dedicated to you. Honored guest to the
launch of the exhibition at City Lore and all-access pass to PEN World
Voices Literary Festival in New York City in May 2015. Also, a beautifully printed comic book signed by the creators and a "Priya on tiger" cutout and 8"x14" poster of the cover or any page of your selection. Google Hangout or Skype call with the creators. Shipping either US Postal Service Priority Mail (USA), FEDEX or UPS (international) is included. (Photo above: Mural creation in Dharavi, Mumbai)
$10,000: PRIYA IN THE SCHOOLS.
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Support the printing of the comic book for schools in India. The edition
will be dedicated to you and your name will appear on the back of the
comic book. Also, a beautifully printed comic book signed by the creators and a "Priya on tiger" cutout and 8"x14" poster of the cover or any page of your selection. Google Hangout or Skype call with the creators. Shipping either US Postal Service Priority Mail (USA), FEDEX or UPS (international) is included. (Photo above: From our workshops in September 2014 in Dharavi, Mumbai).
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Why create a comic book about sexual violence?
RAM DEVINENI (co-creator): I was in Delhi when the horrible gang rape
happened on the bus in 2012, and was involved the protests that soon followed.
Like many people, I was horrified by what had happened and angered by the indifference
exhibited by government authorities at every level. There was an enormous
outcry in particular from young adults and teenagers — both women and men. At
one of the protests, I spoke to a Delhi police officer and asked him for his
opinion on what had happened on the bus. The officer’s response was that “no
good girl walks home at night.” Implying that she probably deserved it, or at
least provoked the attack. I knew than that the problem of sexual violence in
India and around the world was not a legal issue; rather it was a cultural
problem. A cultural shift had to happen especially views towards the role of
women in modern society. Deep-rooted patriarchal views needed to be challenged.
Talking with several gang rape survivors, I realized how
difficult it was for them to seek justice and how much their lives were
constantly under threat after they reported the crime. Their family, local
community, and even the police discouraged them from pursuing criminal action
against their attackers. The burden of shame was placed on the victim and not
the perpetrators. This created a level of impunity among men to commit more
rapes. “Priya’s Shakti” is an innovative comic book with a new
Indian “superhero” – Priya, who is a rape survivor and through the power of
persuasion she is able to motivate people to change.
What is augmented reality?
Augmented reality is a major part of our
comic book, and by scanning the comic book or street murals with the popular augmented reality
APP – Blippar, you can view animation, real-life stories, and other interactive
elements pop-out of the pages. "Priya's Shakti" is one of the first comic
books to use augmented reality in India,
and can help define the new
frontiers of integrating books, exhibitions, and public art with augmented
reality.
Who are your supporters?
This project has been funded by Tribeca Film Institute’s New Media Fund and the Ford Foundation. Also, the Jerome Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts, New York Community Trust, and Asian Women’s Giving Circle supported by Ms. Foundation for Women.
Developed at Crossover Labs and DOK Leipzig Net Lab. Selected for the market at Power to the Pixel, Cross Video Days and Sheffield DocFest’s Crossover Market. Incubated at the ‘Made in NY’ Media Center by IFP.
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Are you a not-for-profit? Can I write-off my contribution with my taxes?
This project and campaign is run by Rattapallax which is a registered 501 (c)(3) Not-for-Profit in the United States. Rattapallax produces films and literary books focused on issues of globalization and contemporary social issues. The organization has been funded by National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council for the Arts, and Open Society. USA contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Rattapallax's tax ID number is 13-4035109.
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APNE AAP WOMEN WORLDWIDE is our NGO partner and actively working on getting “Priya’s Shakti” into schools in India and running the outreach. Their mission is to increase choices for at-risk girls and women in order to ensure access to their rights, and to deter the purchase of sex through policy and social change. Apne Aap’s vision is a world where every woman and girl can realize her full potential. Apne Aap Women Worldwide is a registered charitable trust in India. It has consultative status with the United Nations. Apne Aap International is registered as a 501 (c)(3) in the US to raise awareness and funds for Apne Aap Women Worldwide.
For all contributions, you will receive an official receipt for tax-reporting purposes by email after the campaign ends.
What is your media coverage?
We recently released the digital and print copies of “Priya’s Shakti” at the Mumbai Film and Comic Convention in December 2014 and immediately it went viral with over 200 news stories all over the world including features on BBC, the Guardian, New York Times, NPR, Vogue, NBC News, ARTE, and all of the major newspapers and publications in India. The comic books started a national debate in India on how society treats rape survivors and patriarchal views. A list of media coverage can be found at: http://www.priyashakti.com/press/
SOME SAMPLE PRESS COVERAGE: