Rap video by Indian women attacking rape attitudes in their country goes viral

Pankhuri Awasthi and Uppekha Jain. Photo / YouTube

Two Indian women's powerful rap message addressing sexual violence in India has gone viral.

Pankhuri Awasthi and Uppekha Jain posted the YouTube clip yesterday and have already racked up over 90,000 views.

The rap comes just days after reports indicated an elderly nun had been gang raped in India and following from a national outcry after the Indian government attempted to ban the broadcast of a BBC documentary on the 2012 rape of Jhoti Singh.

The vicious attack, on a moving bus in Delhi during December, brought thousands onto the streets and ignited a national and international debate around the treatment of women in India.

The video opens with a disclaimer, warning that "This video doesn't have any explicit or bannable [sic] content. It is just that the reality for women in India in Explicit."

"Don't shy away now / you're a part of this culture," Ms Jain rap tells viewers, before Ms Awasthi tells them: "stop that tweet and actually get up off your feet."

Mixing between Hindi and English, the two women, who are both from Mumbai, cover female infanticide to sexual assault - all rapped out at a fast pace.

At one point Ms Jain asks the audience why instead of banning "swearwords and a sexy undergarment / grow some balls and ban criminals in parliament."

"It's time we found new definitions for honour / dignity / respect / and masculinity," she says.

Ms Awasthi raps out: "I'll wear what I want / even if its mini / it's only a dress / don't for a second think it's a yes."

The rap concludes by "Gone are the times we stayed abused and broken / And behind closed doors we cried / Its about time to change the tide and for you to get on our side /
Help us bring in a new day - for you, for me, for us / Lets carve a new way."

Writing on their Facebook walls the women thank their supporters over the past few hours, Ms Jain posting yesterday "The word's getting out!"

In May of last year Ms Awasthi posted an emotional message urging women to confront men who attempted to assault them. "Don't let ANYONE pester you even ONCE..cos when its done once and tolerated ..IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN," she wrote.

- Independent