Amongst the thickets of Jharkhand's Sal forests lies the story of one woman of the tribal community who turned the humdrum routine of the community into a heroic act of green defiance. Using traditional sticks, sheer guts and the support of thousands of women in villages, Jamuna Tudu stepped out to thwart the timber mafias in their tracks to save India’s dwindling forest cover. Known across the country as the ‘Lady Tarzan of India’, she won the Padma Shri for her eco-warriors’ movement.

Who Is Jamuna Tudu?

Popularly referred to as ‘The Lady Tarzan of India’, Jamuna Tudu is a conservationist and tribal activist from Jharkhand, who headed a people’s movement aimed at protecting the dense Sal forests of the area from poachers and timber mafias. She established the Forest Protection Committee, called ‘Van Suraksha Samiti’ in 1998, where she coordinated over 10,000 women villagers with bows and arrowss to protect several hectares of forests in the area – a heroic effort which won her the Padma Shri in 2019.

Early Life and the Battle Against the Timber Mafia

Jamuna Tudu was born in 1980 in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha and shifted to Muturkham village in East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand in 1998 following her marriage. On arrival there, she could not believe her eyes when she witnessed extensive illegal cutting of mature Sal trees through criminal networks.

Unable to tolerate the degradation of the forest, Jamuna decided to take things in hand. She organised a group of five women from the village and set up Van Suraksha Samiti (Forest Protection Committee) in 1998. She was initially ridiculed by village elders and threatened with violence by smugglers.

Mobilising the ‘Van Suraksha Samiti’

With time, Tudu turned her movement into an organised group of patrols:

  • Forest Patrols on a Daily Basis: Armed with lathis, bows, arrows, and spears, women patrolled the forests on rotating shifts in the morning, afternoon, and night.

  • Confrontations: While confronting stone pelting, gun threats, and physical assault from the illegal loggers, she and her gang used to drive away the mafias and hand over the poachers to the relevant authorities.

  • Nature Worship through Cultural Practices (Vriksha Bandhan): In order to instil respect for nature among people, she promoted the practice of tying rakhis on the trees on the occasion of Bhai Dooj and Raksha Bandhan.

    • Recognition and Legacy

    For her exceptional bravery in forest protection and women empowerment, the Government of India awarded the Padma Shri to Jamuna Tudu in 2019. Some other awards won by her include the Godfrey Phillips National Bravery Award and the Women Transforming India Award.

    Conclusion

    The life history of Jamuna Tudu is an example that community ownership and bravery can overcome the greed of the business world. She will always be remembered as the 'Lady Tarzan'.

    Image credits: Instagram

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