Jamuna Tudu: The Forest Guardian Taking a Stand Against the Timber Mafia

Meet Jamuna Tudu, the woman who took on the timber mafia with just a bow and arrow to protect the forests of Jharkhand. Discover her incredible journey of perseverance, courage, and triumph in preserving the trees.

Jamuna Tudu (Source: Telegraph India)

Jamuna Tudu is a force of nature wielding her bow and arrow to protect the forest from the timber mafia. Born in Odisha, Jamuna's story began when she married and moved to Jharkhand's East Singhbhum district.

One fine day on a jog while gathering firewood, Tudu suddenly came to a startling realization: the forest was quickly being depleted. Committed to making this change and inspiring others, she spoke at "enGendered Dialogues... Women Changing the World" about her epiphany. With determination driving her, Tudu sought to preserve the forest for future generations. Since then, She had taken up an ambitious mission - to save the neighbouring forests from destruction. Two decades on, Jamuna still stands triumphantly Armed with bows, arrows, sticks and even dogs, spreading her message that the forest is worth protecting - even tying rakhis onto trees on every Rakshabandhan for their well-being.

Singhbhum district, Surrounded by 50 hectares of forest land, Tudu could see its gradual destruction as the area was plagued by poachers and the mafia. But rather than sit idly by, Jamuna rose to the challenge and decided to take matters into her own hands and protect the forest land from the timber mafia, which led to the formation of the 'Van Suraksha Samiti' (Forest safety committee) in 1998 with a group of five women; an initiative that would transform her life and those in her village forever.

Despite having no support from villagers or the government, she kept on her mission. She took a small step when she set out to persuade the village folk of the importance of preserving their forest land. The villagers were hesitant to accept her call. "Why should we save the forest when it provides us with firewood?", they challenged. But she was determined and eventually convinced them only to take small branches for fuel, leaving the larger ones untouched. It was the first victory for her and the vibrant ecosystem of the forest.

She became a formidable force leading 900 brave volunteers divided into 300 groups of 30 each. They worked in 3 shifts - morning, afternoon and evening - to fulfill her dream of protecting the forest lands from the Timber mafia.

However, this did not come without risks. But nothing would stop her in the pursuit of protecting the forests. She started small, persuading the villagers to stand with her and fight against the mafia, who were intent on destroying the resources of their land. The mafia wanted her gone, so began a tumultuous battle that threatened her life several times. There were death threats, her house was ransacked, and she nearly lost her life in an altercation near a railway station. But ultimately, her perseverance brought about great change – the Jharkhand Armed Police now stands by her side in defending the region, prosecuting those responsible for its destruction.

Despite the obstacles she faced, Tudu's passion for preserving the trees never wavered. "We've vowed to fight for the trees until our last breath," she declared. In a remarkable show of support, the local government began providing resources such as water and education to the village. To further this cause, a strong tradition has been established: when a girl is born, 18 trees are planted in her honour, and when she gets married, 10 more are planted. Such is the legacy of one woman's vision and courage.

Jamuna's resilience and courage could never be denied, as today, Jamuna is celebrated worldwide for her incredible story - one of survival and solidarity. Her inspiring tale demonstrated the power of coming together and acting collectively in pursuit of a brighter future.