Masters of Dox

Distraught women come to Sampat Pal for help, believing their only other option is suicide. Sampat Pal courts controversy with her disdain for religion and custom. Combining the sensibilities of vigilante and opinionated auntie, she advises: ‘When a man does wrong, give him a beating.’ Often attracting a crowd of gawkers, she settles problems in the streets, conducting personal arbitrations like the judge of a citizens’ court. Her empathy comes from her own hardships; she was married at the age of twelve and fought to establish her independence. Now her unorthodox lifestyle has her cohabiting with a man from a higher caste. Sampat Pal draws strength from bold declarations, such as: ‘I am the messiah for women.’ Yet Longinotto portrays a complex and flawed figure. We see Sampat Pal’s more vulnerable side, as she endures family pressures and struggles to support her growing circle of dependents.