Jharkhand’s tribal girl becomes a farmer, smashes patriarchy with a tractor

Manju Oraon, a young woman farmer of Dahutoli in Gumla district of Jharkhand, recounts how she became farmer fighting against patriarchy and villagers’ superstitions – in her own words. 

I was born in a tribal family in Dahutoli village in Jharkhand’s Gumla district, some 90 km from Ranchi, the state capital. 

My father was a poor farmer. I was the youngest in my family. I always wanted to be a farmer. 

Most people migrate from my village for work since our village is perennially drought-hit. Worse still, most of them use traditional farming methods.

I always dreamt of using machines in the farm to make our village self-reliant. After the pandemic, I started giving shape to my dream. 

I sold my smartphone to buy seeds. Then with the help of an uncle, I took a loan from a moneylender and bought a second-hand tractor. I was all set to become a farmer.

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But the villagers were outraged. They believed that women should not work in the farm. They even blamed me for this year’s drought.

I tried to reason with them. I told them women have made huge advancements in life and women of our tribe should also progress. But I failed to cut much ice with them. 

They decided to boycott me. They even staged protests outside my home and contemplated imposing a fine on me.

I wasn’t fazed though. 

Patriarchy is rather common in our world. Adivasi women are not allowed to move in some villages with their untied hair. In some villages, they are not allowed to go to the terrace.

Adivasi poet Nirmala Putul has chronicled many such ill-treatments and abuses in one of her books. She also narrated the story of a woman forced to eat cow dung for daring to become a farmer.

I wasn’t afraid though. I continued to climb on my tractor and plough.

Fortunately for me, the villagers’ protest outside my house attracted the attention of a local journalist. He published a report in the Hindi daily Prabhat Khabar.

The news startled everyone. 

Government district and block officials visited me. The district agricultural officer promised support. I was sanctioned a government loan. 

The district commissioner called for a meeting of the villagers. He told them to ditch their superstitious beliefs, failing which the government would take action.

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On August 9, 2022 – World Indigenous Day – I was honoured by the Kendriya Raji Padha Sarna Prathna Sabha. The district agricultural department also provided me with seeds.

With the government stepping in, the villagers went silent. They haven’t dared to stir up trouble since then.

Earlier I used to work on 10 acres of land. Now I work on 25 acres. 

I attended government workshops and training and they have helped me greatly.

Nowadays, people often request to use my tractor to plough their field. They also seek my advice on new techniques of farming. I also teach young girls how to farm.

However, not everything is hunky-dory. Some of the government promises – including the installation of a solar pump – remain unfulfilled. I also wanted to meet the Chief Minister Hemant Soren. But I couldn’t. 

I definitely need help. Without the solar pump for irrigation, my crops will die.

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