An exhibition and exciting activities about boxing this spring at the Museum of World Culture.

Dishum! Dishum! Fight the Tradition

"Dishum" is Hindi and describes the sound when a well-aimed left hook finds its target. This is a photo exhibition on girls who sweat and women who fight back.

Boxing to alter society

From morning workouts along the promenade in Chennai to the evening sessions in Calcutta's dark cellars the girls are constantly practicing. The air is filled with the sounds of commands: switch, parry! Turn, parry!, Sounds which are indicative of a change in India: Girls who sweat and women who fight back. Boxing has become a way for young girls in India to build up confidence and break the conventions of how a girl should behave.

One of the world's best boxing teams

Boxing has long been an illicit world for women in India. Many still think that boxing is unseemly, particularly parents from the higher caste. Matrimonial ads in Indian newspapers are looking for a trained and homely wife - not someone with a good left hook. But the number of girls who fight is rising rapidly. Their practice is so committed that they have become one of the world's leading countries in boxing for women. Boxing for women was not approved as a branch in the Olympics in 2008. Can we hope for a change to the Olympic Games in London in 2012?

The exhibition, including photographs, all taken by photographer Aksel Sundström, opened February 4 and is open till August 9.

Programs for schools

If you would like to book a guided tour one of our exciting school programs, call 031-63 27 60.

Nine year olds Sonu Kumari and Puja Singh train in a backyard in the slums of Bavaniour, outside Calcutta. "I feel a lot braver since I started boxing" says Sonu. Photo: Aksel Sundström

Learning to defend themselves is one of the main reasons for girls to take up boxing. Photo: Aksel Sundström

Many girls are recruited from the countryside to gyms in the cities. They live together in communal barracks while struggling to fulfill the hopes of their families. Photo: Aksel Sundström

The lack of facilities makes it diffucult for girls to practice boxing. Many of the clubs only have one changing room and girls often train together with the boys. Photo: Aksel Sundström

Aaliya Khan 18, is one of few muslim girls who box. "It doesn´t bother me that the girls I train with have a different faith. As long as we have fun in the ring, we´ll have more in common with each other". Photo: Aksel Sundström