ONE STITCH AT A TIME: KERALA NUNS TURN SURVIVAL INTO A STAND FOR JUSTICE

Three Kerala nuns involved in a continuing legal battle connected to sexual assault allegations against former Jalandhar bishop Franco Mulakkal are rebuilding their lives through a survivor-led enterprise. Under the brand Stand By Me, they stitch bags, clothing and furnishings, transforming financial hardship into independence, dignity and resilience.

At the St Francis Mission Home in Kuravilangad, Kottayam, three nuns are turning needle and thread into instruments of survival. Their new enterprise, Stand By Me – Survivors of Gender-Based Violence, is more than a small business selling bags, dresses and household products. For Sisters Ranit, Alphy and Ancitta, it represents financial independence, dignity and the determination to continue a long struggle for justice.

The three women are among the nuns who stood together during the legal battle involving former Jalandhar bishop Franco Mulakkal. The case, which drew national attention after allegations of sexual assault were raised against him, became one of the most significant episodes involving questions of power, gender and accountability within the Indian Catholic Church. Mulakkal was acquitted by a trial court, while an appeal against the verdict remains before the Kerala High Court. 

For the nuns who remained at the Kuravilangad mission home, however, the legal battle has also become a struggle to sustain everyday life. According to their accounts, institutional support gradually diminished and their financial assistance was eventually stopped, leaving them to find new ways of supporting themselves. The Church has disputed allegations that the sisters were abandoned, saying the mission home remains connected to and supported by the Jalandhar Diocese. 

It was against this backdrop that Stand By Me began to take shape in 2023.

The initiative reportedly started modestly, with handkerchiefs and small stitching assignments suggested and supported by well-wishers. Orders for bags followed, and the venture gradually expanded into custom-made clothing, tote bags, nightwear, furnishings and sari covers. What began as a means of meeting basic expenses has evolved into a survivor-led entrepreneurial initiative. 

The choice of the name Stand By Me is particularly significant. It reflects the solidarity that has helped the women endure years of uncertainty and isolation. Women’s groups, supporters and organisations such as the Women Entrepreneur Network have helped create opportunities for the products to reach a wider public. The nuns have previously participated in exhibitions and sales events, receiving encouraging responses from customers. 

Their latest public appearance is expected at an exhibition in Kozhikode, where the products will include handcrafted bags, women’s clothing and home furnishings. The venture is intended to support their daily needs while strengthening their ability to remain financially independent. 

There is a powerful symbolism in their work. Stitching is traditionally associated with quiet domestic labour, but in Kuravilangad, it has acquired a different meaning. Each finished bag or garment has become part of a larger attempt to reclaim agency in circumstances shaped by institutional conflict and personal hardship.

From six nuns who initially stood together in support of the legal fight, only three now remain at the mission home, according to recent reports. Yet their decision to continue is reflected in the name of their enterprise itself: Stand By Me.

For these three women, survival is no longer simply about receiving support. It is about creating it—one stitch, one product and one act of independence at a time