Bengal: How Tribal Girls Are Reclaiming Their Power

“If someone tries to attack us, we have learned physical techniques to counter the assault. Not only will we defend ourselves, but we’ll also teach the attacker such a lesson that they’ll never dare to raise their hands again,” class XI student Riya Majhi (16) confidently told this writer. The venue was a self-defence camp that is held every Sunday in a school.

Majhi lives in Keliapathar village in West Bengal’s Jangalmahal region, under Ranibandh Block in Bankura district, about 70 kilometers from the district headquarters, Bankura, and 235km from state capital, Kolkata.

For the past 10 months, a self-defence training camp has been operating on the primary school grounds of Keliapathar village. More than 200 students—boys and girls from primary to college level—are participating in the training, with the majority being girls. The training includes Karate, Judo, and Boxing. In addition to physical training, the camp also emphasises health awareness, especially educating girls on how to take care of their bodies during adolescence, with the help of medical and health experts. This self-defence initiative has now become an example for the entire state. Students proudly declare, “We can defend ourselves—we are no longer dependent on anyone for our survival.”

When asked about the reason behind starting such a camp, a clear and painful memory rises. “Last year, on August 9, a post-graduate medical student, Tilottoma—whom we all considered an elder sister—was brutally raped and murdered inside the campus of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. We still haven’t forgotten that,” said Archana Saren, 22, a post-graduate tribal student from Ranibandh.

Ongoing self-defence training at Keliapathar village under Ranibandh Block, Bankura,  in Bengal’s Jangalmahal.

“Every day, we hear of women being assaulted—whether in Kolkata or in remote villages across Bengal and India. Such horrific incidents have occurred even in places like Ranibandh and Sarenga in Bankura district, Bandwan in Purulia, and Belpahari in Jhargram District, all within the Jangalmahal region. That’s why we felt the urgent need to start this self-defence camp—to ensure that women can secure their own safety,” she added.

Read Also: Bengal: Girls Take Charge of Own Safety in Jangal Mahal

The regions of Ranibandh, Raipur, and Sarenga in Bankura; Manbazar and Bandwan in Purulia; and Belpahari and Banspahari in Jhargram are surrounded by dense forests and hills. Due to the difficult terrain, the distance between villages is huge. Students often have to walk or cycle long distances to reach schools, colleges, private tuition centres, or local markets.

Many women also walk deep into the forests daily to collect leaves and branches, which are their primary sources of income. “These women not only face threats from wild animals but also live in constant fear of being assaulted—either by strangers or even by known miscreants—as they pass through isolated forest paths and hilly terrain,” Uttam Khan, 55, headmaster of Holutkanali High School, told this reporter.

What Led to the Self-Defence Camp?

“The horrific incident involving that young doctor in Kolkata had a deep emotional impact on girls in our region,” said Usha Mahato, 45, an ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) worker from Ranibandh.

Students having a meal after completing their self-defence session.

“Girls in many forest villages of Jangalmahal organised torch processions, and encouraged their friends and relatives in neighbouring areas to start self-defence camps of their own,” she added.

“Seeing the rising interest among girl students from different villages in Ranibandh, we decided to formally set up this camp,” said Madhu Sudan Mahato, a social worker and convener of Jangalmahal Atmaraksha Samanway.

Mahato told this writer that the organisation was formed due to overwhelming interest shown by students across this forest region. “We officially started the camp on 29th September 2024 at the Shaheed Khudiram Bose Madhyamik Shiksha Kendra premises in Keliapathar. The camp has been running continuously since then.”

Residents that people from various parts of Ranibandh, Bankura, and even other districts are actively supporting the initiative. No fees are charged to the students participating in the camp. “The self-defence camp begins every Sunday at 6:30 a.m. Even in the freezing winter mornings, when temperatures drop below 10 degrees Celsius, students show up on time,” said Jugolkishore Mahato, 65, a resident of Deuli village in Ranibandh Block. After returning from the camp, the students continue practicing at home throughout the week. He proudly mentioned that he brings his granddaughter, a class IV student, on his bicycle from 15 kilometers to attend the camp.

Arnab Auli, 35, among the most well-known karate instructors in Jharkhand and Bengal, teaches Karate, Judo, and Boxing at the camp free of cost.

“With rising incidents of violence against women, even women in villages are no longer safe. In forest areas, the risk is even higher. That’s why self-defence has become essential”, he said, adding that “there is no other self-defence camp in Bengal where so many students are trained together. This is a unique and inspiring example.”

“We’ve learned a lot in the past 10 months,” said Anita Sardar, a class IX student from Dhagara village in Ranibandh. “We’ve been taught about the weak spots in the human body, and if someone tries to harm us, we know exactly where to hit. We can take them down instantly.” Her words were echoed with pride and determination by the other girls and boys in the camp.

The students who participate in this self-defence camp undergo regular health check-ups conducted by doctors from Ranibandh and Khatra hospitals. A few days ago, they also went on a trek to the 1,000-meter-high Bamni Pahar (Bamni hill). “We’ve planted different varieties of fruit and flower trees around the training ground. We’ve even started a women’s football team and plan to launch a cricket team soon,” said Anita Sardar, along with Sangita Maji, a class VIII student from Dangeria village.

Ongoing self-defence training at Keliapathar village under Ranibandh Block, Bankura,  in Bengal’s Jangalmahal.

On August 31 morning, after completing various physical exercises, the students practiced Karate and Boxing for over an hour. Riya Majhi said, “We’ve started another self-defence training camp a few months ago at Brahmandiha village under Indpur Block of Bankura, about 30 km from here. Some of the trained students from Keliapathar go there to teach.” She said similar self-defence camps were being planned in Purulia and Jhargram districts.

“The point is simple—women must learn to protect themselves. And now, across the Jangalmahal region, we are mentally and physically ready for that,” she added.

All photographs taken by Madhu Sudan Chatterjee

The writer covers the Jangal Mahal region for ‘Ganashakti’ newspaper in West Bengal.