An Interview with Ruchira Gupta

Ms. Ruchira Gupta’s debut novel, I Kick, and I Fly is not just a story—it is the journey of fourteen-year-old Heera from the de-notified nat community of Bihar, India, who is at risk of being sold by her father, a story that is the reality for many girls from marginalised communities not just in India but all over the world. Through the power of Kung Fu, Heera discovers the indomitable strength of her own spirit in the face of daunting adversity.

As the founder of the groundbreaking anti-trafficking NGO, ‘Apne Aap’, Ms. Ruchira Gupta has illuminated paths out of inter-generational prostitution for thousands of girls, offering them hope of rebuilding their lives with dignity. Her contributions have been recognized with numerous accolades, including the prestigious Clinton Global Citizen and the Abolitionist Award bestowed by the House of Lords. She won an Emmy award for her investigative documentary Selling Innocents

As the President of Girl UP TSRS and Editor with Girl Up Unity, I was privileged to speak to Emmy Award-winning documentarian, author, educator, and activist: Ruchira Gupta on the problem of child trafficking, globally and how small changes at a systemic level and empowerment and education campaigns can break the cycle. Click on the link below to hear the complete interview.