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Q: How long have
you been in Dandakaranya?
A: I came 12
years back as a squad member and have worked in most regions of DK.
Q: As commander of
a squad, do the male members accept your role?
A: Due to the
consistent education in the CPI (ML) [People’s War] Party, it is accepted. When
there is opposition it is never direct, but subtle. But in such cases I can
normally sense that a particular comrade is not accepting my leadership because
I am a woman. Any how many of these problems are immediately resolved due to
proper committee functioning ... the fact that I am only representing the
committee view-point.
Q: In your long
history of Party life, what has been the status of women within the Party?
A: First the view
was that women cannot do many tasks and were therefore given only technical
responsibilities. Then there was a lot of struggle within the Party. Now the
situation is much changed and women are given every type of responsibility.
First the approach was, how to somehow find some work for the women comrades.
Now there is an attempt to find what specific problems women face in a
particular work, and they are helped to come forward.
Q: Still the number
of women in leadership positions are few?
A: In India there
is a very feudal and patriarchal culture which has to be consistently battled.
Now there are a number of women commanders and in district level leadership. In
future the situation is bound to change and more women will develop to
leadership positions.
Q: What is the
difference you find between organising the Adivasi women of DK and the peasant
women of Andhra Pradesh?
A: The main
difference is that Adivasi women are free to go out and mix, while in AP the
first struggle is to get women out of the house. This itself was a big effort in
AP. Here, when women become organised, though there is opposition, there need
not be a total break from the house. While in AP, unless it is the family of a
sympathizer, it entails a total break from the house. Also in AP they face much
worse repression — take the brutal killing of Lalitha.
Q: The NGOs tend to
idealise adivasi society as being free from patriarchy. What is the reality?
A: They only see
the relative freedom I mentioned earlier, from afar. They never go into the real
lives of the people. Adivasi society is very patriarchal. The women have no
identity. They are chattels sold in marriage for a price according to the whims
of the parents. If they oppose they are stripped naked, beaten, tied and
forcibly taken. They are then chained in the in-laws house for days, until they
accept. They are made to do all the work in the house, and even outside they
have to work in the fields, bring firewood, carry water from far, etc. When they
have their menstrual periods, they are banished to a hut outside the village and
neglected. When the men go hunting, they are not given anything. The list is
endless. Patriarchy is deep-rooted in the Adivasis, notwithstanding their
relative freedom.
Q: How then have
you been so successful in drawing out women in such larege numbers?
A: Initially it
was a battle against entrenched prejudices. It was only after the DAKMS (peasant
organisation) was formed that we encouraged their members to draw out their
women relatives. It was only in that process that the KAMS (women’s organisation)
was formed. The freedom from patriarchal oppression gained through the formation
of KAMS, led to the latter’s gaining massive popularity. It had taken up issues
such as: opposition to forced marriages, wife-beating, etc and gave women
respect and a sense of identity they never even dreamt as possible. Yet, though
KAMS units exist in most villages, generally its strength is dependent on that
of the local DAKMS unit.
Q: So it is still
tied to male domination?
A: Not really.
But it is difficult for women to come forward without the support and
encouragement of the men-folk of the village. Initially cases of women’s
oppression were dealt with in a ‘panch’ ( a gathering of villagers where justice
is meted out) by the DAKMS. Now it is taken up by the KAMS where its leaders
conduct the ‘panch’. To see young 17-18 year old girls passing judgement and
meting out punishment before an entire village, is an indication of the extent
of change KAMS has brought about not only to women, but also to male attitudes.
Q: How is the KAMS
organised?
A: It has a
village-level membership of activists with a village-level committee. Above this
there is the range committee (about 40 villages) of five members. Every range
committee member is given responsibility to look after five to six villages.
They go around these villages in groups of three to four helping organise women
in the villages.
Q: What are the
issues taken by KAMS?
A: Besides
fighting against all instances of male oppression, they propagate to draw more
women into their organisation. Also they propagate against superstitions which
are very deep-rooted in tribal society and which effect women. Especially they
focus on those superstitions that effect health. For example women do not eat
eggs as they believe if they do, the child will be born like an egg. They also
do not eat liver and many other parts of an animal, due to some superstitions.
There are numerous superstitions on health, child-birth, women’s menstrual
periods, etc.
Besides, the women’s
organisation actively mobilises the masses for all campaigns and other
activities of the People’s War party, like election boycott, martyrs meetings,
development activities, land reforms, etc.
Q: What extent of
success has been achieved in reducing women’s oppression?
A: Forced
marriages now rarely take place, and if they do it is only in those areas where
KAMS is weak or not present. Wife-beating, harassment, etc is much reduced.
Women are more assertive and now partake in the social-political life of the
villages. Slowly, superstitions are being reduced, though the process is slow.
There is a decision of the Party that while forming the GRC (the organ of power
at the village level), there must be atleast one woman member. Also, in the plan
to give ‘pattas’ (land registration) as part of the land reforms, 50% of the
land will be in the name of the wife.
Q: What is the
extent of recruitment into the squads of women?
A: In the latest
round of recruitment in South Bastar, the number was equal to the males. Some
local Adivasi women are already commanders and deputy commanders in the squads.
In a squad of 25 (CGS + 2 LGS) there will now be eight ot ten women. The number
of drop-outs from amongst women squad members is far less than their male
counterparts. In fact most cases of women drop-outs is after marriage when their
husbands leave.
Q: What is their
development like in the squad?
A: In gaining
literacy they take as long as the males. But they are very, very shy. Those that
are able to get over their shyness grow fast; those that don’t tend to stagnate.
In courage, they are equal to men. Many women comrades lose their initiative in
the company of males. We have noticed some who had a lot of initiative as
leading members of KAMS but are stagnating in the squad. Also after marriage
there is a tendency to depend on the husband. Often the women comrades have to
be continuously encouraged by the commander/SAC secretary; once they act they
are quite capable.
Q: What is their
attitude to not having children?
A: This is
discussed before entering the squad. If they do have children then they must be
willing to give the child to some relative. Most accept, seeing the problems
faced with having children in the present situation. Anyhow, it is the husbands
that must have the operation—vascectomy.
Q: What is the
marriage procedure in the squad?
A: Marriage is
not allowed for two years. The minimum age for marriage is 21 for men and 18 for
women. Late marriages are encouraged. If one is interested in the other, he/she
places the proposal to the SAC, which then approaches the other comrade. It is
only after the latter’s acceptance that the marriage takes place. Emphasis is
given by the Party for young recruits to concentrate on enhancing their
political-ideological level, become literate and gaining organisational
experience ... and thereby acquiring some maturity before thinking of marriage.
Q: What is the rate
of political growth of women comrades?
A: It is slower.
In the villages though the number of women in the mass organisation is large,
the number of women in village cells is much less — would be at most 20% of the
total. In the squads too their political growth is slower.
Q: What is done to
encourage their development?
A: Firstly, both
in the village DAKMS and in the squads if any male member has a negative
attitude towards women they are criticised. In the squads separate classes are
organised for women; separate military camps are held; there are regular
quarterly meetings of women comrades; and in the entire squad there are regular
discussions regarding cases of women’s oppression. The main question is on
raising their self-confidence, on which the Party is paying a lot of attention.
After marriage in cases where the two had decided to leave the squad, the
pressure is usually from the husband. There gave been instances where the
husband has left, but the wife has continued with the squad. Now we have also
started a women’s separate squad. (LGS)
Q: How active are
the women in struggle?
A: As active as
the men. There are numerous cases of women confronting the police and preventing
a comrade from getting arrested. In fact, in the villages it is they who
confront the police while the DAKMS activists go into hiding. They themselves
have also faced police harassment like arrests and even rape. In Gadchiroli the
police went from house to house of the women activists threatening the parents
to either get their daughters married off or find themselves in jail. Also three
activists were raped by the police. In Bhandara four women activists have
‘disappeared’ after being taken away by the police. In Bastar, during the Jan
Jagaran Abhiyan white terror, a woman ex-activist was forcibly taken around and
threatened. Also in Bastar, on one occasion, when the police came looking around
for an activist, they began looting eggs etc., from the house. When a girl tried
to prevent them, they hit her with the butt of a rifle and killed her.
Q: How do you see
the future of women playing an equal role to men in the movement an Party?
A: Patriarchal
thinking is very deep-rooted in India. It will be a continuous struggle. But
seeing the big changes that have taken place in women’s involvement in the
movement and in the Party there is great potential for their increased
involvement in all spheres. Women are in no way inferior compared to their male
comrades; with a little encouragement and attention, much can be achieved. The
Party has, of late, been giving this issue a lot of attention.
Discussions with Adivasi Women Squad / Platoon Members
Q: How did you come
to join the squad? Do you miss village life?
Answers :
Vasanthi
(1½ years in squad): In my house my parents were very poor, also they tried to
forcibly marry me. If our government comes there will be a better future for our
women in the village. Picking up a gun to fight is the only answer.
Sitakka (10 years
in squad): When I was young I was forcifully married.When I ran away, the
villagers and my parents threatened and harassed me. When I first came to the
squad I was terrified that if I make any mistake I will be sent back to the
village. But later I realised that here it is different. If we make mistakes we
are educated and helped to improve. Initially, I very much missed the songs and
dances in the village. I used to think of this a lot. Slowly I changed. I have
forgotten those dances and enjoy our own songs,dances,etc.
Vimla (1½ years
in squad): I too was forcibly married.When 1 ran away 1 was beaten and
threatened. I was already in the KAMS. Conditions had got so bad that I planned
to commot suicide. Finally, with the LGS commander explaining to my father,he
returned the marriage money. After many years of leading KAMS, I recently
entered the squad. It is a tough life, but one with a future. The village
culture of song, dance etc., is very attractive, but it is a culture that keeps
us backward, while the culture in the party takes us forward. I want to reject
the old culture, and grow with the new.
Sunitha (8 years
in squad): I too was forcibly married. When I opposed and came home my parents
refused to give me food. I ate at a friend’s. I then stayed with a relative and
approached the dalam. They said I was too young and had to gain experience in
the village. In the home there was much pressure, here in the squad there is
none. Even if we make migtakes, there is criticism to help us improve and move
forward. In the village there are various ways in which women are humiliated.
Here we get respect. Though illiterate earlier, I have written three songs since
joining the squad.
Swaroopakka (2
years, now in platoon): Studied upto 5th standard in the village. Refused a job
in the Anganwadi in order to join the squad. In the home we only got abuses,
here we get respect and equality.
Rajakka (2 years,
now in platoon): When the squad firat came I was scared of them. But they slowly
explained. Then I used to meet the squad secretly as my parents opposed. There
are problems here in the squad, as there are in the village. The difference is
that these can be solved, while those in the village can not. I joined inorder
to fight to give a better life to women in the villages.
Q: Most of you were
active in KAMS before joining. Could you recount some ofyour experiences?
Vimla: I was an
ordinary KAMS member for one year;a village committee (VC) member for two years;
and a Range Committee (RC) member for one year with responsibility for 11
villages. When in the RC I used to roam the 11 villages with one other member,
guiding the village committees of KAMS. We would propagate against women’s
oppression and against supersition, we would fight specific cases of women’s
oppression and hold ‘panch’ (village meeting to administrate justice) against
the culprit, and we would also carry out the party’s various campaigns amongst
women in these 11 villages. During the 1997 Bundh call I led a batch of 50 women
to implement it — digging up roads,etc. During the’98 boycott campaign led a
group of women that actively participated and threw a bomb at the officials.
Rajakka : I was
active in KAMS for a long period. Finally I became a Range Committee member with
responsibility for five villages. But within a few months the police terror of
the 1997 ‘Jan Jagaran’ campaign began. The repression increased and KAMS leaders
were being arrested some were raped by Mahindra Karma’s men (Congress candidate
for the Lok Sabha since many years). They also came to my house to get me. We
fled to the forests. Many of us leading KAMS and DAKMS comrades had to spend 3
to 4 days in the forest without much food. We returned to the village, but due
to the intense repression I was taken into the squad. While in KAMS we did
propaganda and solved specific cases of women’s oppression.
Shantakka (1½
years, now in platoon): Was a KAMS member for two years. We hold meetings in the
villages about our aims. When the squad comes to our village we used to assist
it.
Q. How do you find
the squad life? What is the attitude of your male comrades?
Sitakka: When I
joined there were not that many women in the squads as there are today. At that
time there were three others; two of whom returned to the village. Generally
party members see us as equals; there are problems sometimes with the new
mernbers, some of whom see us as inferior. We then criticise them. First the
attitudes were much worse in the squads. Women squad members were not sent for
appointments not given patrolling work,etc. The women comrades had to struggle,
but there was also support for us from the leadership. Now the situation is
about 80% improved. Now women are trying to go forward with courage. Even if
there are lot of problems, the party means everything to us. We will give our
lives for the party.
Vimla: Life in
the squad is tough. But it is even more tough in the villages. Knowing the
difficulties of squad life I joined. Now I want to learn politics ... to live
and die with the party. In this one year I have learned to read and write. In
military matters we can do as much as our male comrades.
If we think otherwise
we will remain backward and never grow.
Sunitha: After
coming to the squad I have learnt up to the 4th standard. I can now read our
pamplalets and magazines. I am responsible for organising KAMS in the villages
and taking their meetings and have been a SAC (Squad Area Committee) member
since the last two years. In military matters we can do as well as our male
comrades.
Rajakka: In the
squad I have learnt upto the 4th standard, where as I was illiterate before
joining. I can teach others upto the 3rd standard. But I can not, as yet,
understand a pamphlet. Here, in the squad we can learn politics and military
matters... at home it was an empty and meaningless life.
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