but its sickening to think about the suffering of the local people. and witch hunts is far from being the only cause of suffering in chhatisgarh/madhya pradesh. recently, the communists have stepped up their terror campaign, massacring poor villagers and forcing internal displacement thru fear and bullying. it really disgusts me think about these things when everyone in india (and nri’s as well) seem to want to talk only about how great the economy is and how everything is booming. i guess when i say everyone, that basically refers to a narrow slice of the middle class population, but u see my point……….

Backward is clearly a relative term here.

/obligatory

one analysis i’ve come across is that encroachment and economic change have compelled adivasis, who in many cases were once nomads, to assign ownership and value to land; with growing competition for land within the community as well as land pressure from outside the community, some of these “witch” hunts are actually land grabs. at other times they are punishment for speaking up, or for resisting sexual advances.

it all flows into dynamics of the larger caste- and tribe-based rural society.

its not only women, any one who has had a seizure can also get into trouble.

I think challenge to existing power structures and some inherent misogyny both might be contributing factors.

Poonam Toppo, who was once declared a ‘witch’ and ostracised, says that through dramatizing the true-life witchcraft nightmares, she along with others seeks to reach out to the villagers.

At least you ended on a hopeful note : Thats the right way to fight these heinous practices. It also shows the incredible courage this woman has, to confront these powerful forces. Bravo !!!

BTW, Raipur is in Chattisgarh (was in Madhya Pradesh). One of my freind’s wife is from there.