An Indian-American documentary maker has created an absolutely awesome comic book, with a rape survivor as it's leading character, fighting sexual violence.

Ram Devineni was in Delhi in 2012, during the aftermath of the horrific gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old student on a bus that shocked the world.

What left him even more shocked, he says, was the reaction of of one police officer he met amid the protests that followed. "He said something that I found very surprising. He said 'no good girl walks alone at night.'

"That's where the idea began," he told the BBC. "I realised that rape and sexual violence in India was a cultural issue, and that it was backed by patriarchy, misogyny and people's perceptions."

Ram then began to meet with gang-rape survivors to learn more about their experiences. "They said they were discouraged by their families and communities to seek justice, they were also threatened by the rapists and their families. Even the police didn't take them seriously."

After hearing so many terrifying stories, Ram came up with the idea of creating a comic and teamed up with illustrator Dan Goldman in New York to make Priya's Shakti.

The story follows a young woman who is raped, but with the help of two Hindu gods, she returns to her home and ends gender-based sexual violence in India.

They also run 'Comic books For Social Change' workshops priyashakti.com

He's now expanded the project and joined up with a group of street artists in Mumbai to create huge murals featuring scenes from the story. "Our target audiences are children starting from 10-12 years to young adults," says Ram. "It's a very critical age in their lives and it's an attempt to start a conversation with them."

While stricter laws go some way in tackling rape, it's hoped that by creating awareness and changing attitudes, the next generation won't follow what has come before.

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