Who Is Chutni Devi? The Jharkhand Activist Who Fought Against Witch-Hunting And Saved Hundreds Of Women
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There exist many areas where superstitious practices such as witch-hunting (Daayan Pratha) have been wreaking havoc on the lives of innocent people, especially women. Chutni Devi is an exceptionally brave woman who had suffered through such witch-hunting practices and had made a mission of her life to help save many such women.
Who Is Chutni Devi?
Chutni Devi is a woman human rights defender born in a poor family in Birbans village of Seraikela-Kharsawan District of Jharkhand. Her life changed for the worse when the people in her village declared her to be a daayan (witch). Presently, she is an example of defiance, managing a rehabilitation centre and advocating against superstition in rural eastern India.
Why Was Chutni Devi Branded A Witch?
In 1995, after the child of a neighbour became sick, village elders as well as the local occultists (ojhas) accused Chutni Devi of practising black magic. After being declared a witch, she was tortured in the following way:
She was brutally beaten up, stripped naked, and made to eat human excreta. Her property was robbed and her house demolished, compelling her to leave her house along with her four kids.
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How Did Chutni Devi Survive Witch-Hunting?
Refusing to be cowed by violent superstition, Chutni Devi found solace with her parents. She requested help from the concerned government agencies and NGOs by lodging complaints against her assailants. Her resilience helped her cope with ostracisation and failure to receive justice right away as she turned her survival into a cause.
How Chutni Devi Started Fighting Against Witch-Hunting
She herself got involved in resolving disputes in villages, saving more than 120 women from attacks on account of witch branding.
She turned her own house into a refuge for these victims, providing them with legal, medical, and other assistance. Her relentless efforts forced the state government to enact strict anti-witchcraft laws.
Chutni Devi’s Key Milestones And Recognition
Year |
Achievement |
Significance |
1995 |
Survived witch-branding violence |
Began organising local women against superstition |
2021 |
Awarded the Padma Shri |
Honoured with India's 4th highest civilian award |
Present |
Runs Birbans Rehabilitation Centre |
Rescued 120+ women and continues rural advocacy |
Conclusion
From being a victim of persecution to earning the Padma Shri Award, Chutni Devi is an example of how much strength an individual can show against oppression. The efforts she has put forth have not only saved many lives but have also changed policies related to superstitions.
Image credits: Instagram
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- Q1: What national award did Chutni Devi receive for her work?
- Chutni Devi was awarded the Padma Shri—India's fourth-highest civilian honour—in 2021 by the President of India for her social work and anti-witch-hunting advocacy.
- Q2: How many women has Chutni Devi saved from witch-hunting?
- She has directly rescued, rehabilitated, and provided legal aid to over 120 women who were falsely branded as witches.
- Q3: Which state in India is Chutni Devi from?
- She is from Jharkhand, where she actively conducts community campaigns against superstition across rural districts.
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