C K Janu, the first and only Adivasi woman leader of Kerala, etched her name into the state's political chronicles through her unyielding battle for Adivasi land rights.
C K Janu, the first and only Adivasi woman leader of Kerala, etched her name into the state's political chronicles through her unyielding battle for Adivasi land rights. In 2003, an image burned into Kerala's memory—an Adivasi woman in her thirties, bearing the scars of custodial abuse, a grim aftermath of the Muthanga Police firing inside the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. Janu's resilience was unmatched, emerging as a beacon of hope for her community despite the perilous path she chose.
It was a string of malnutrition deaths among Adivasis in Kerala that ignited Janu’s determination to get into struggle for the reclamation of their rightful lands. The Adivasi Gothra Maha Sabha (AGMS) was born, led by this fearless 30-year-old Adiya woman. Their resounding cry, “Right to live in the land one is born,” echoed in the heart of the capital city, Thiruvananthapuram, challenging the powerful.
After a protracted protest, an agreement promising five acres of land to each Adivasi family was brokered with the then Chief Minister, AK Antony. Yet, the government's breach of this pact fuelled frustration. In defiance, AGMS activists invaded the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary on January 5, 2003, a pivotal moment in their struggle for land rights, embodying their unshakable determination.
This extraordinary action led to a police firing incident, resulting in the unfortunate demise of an Adivasi man and a police officer. Consequently, Janu found herself incarcerated.
Janu's journey later intersected with political parties like the BJP, but disappointingly, these associations failed to benefit her community. Controversies marred her path, implicating her in alleged financial transactions. Though Janu has slowly vanished from the public space after her tryst with the BJP, she continues to be an advocate for her community voicing the rights of the tribal people.