A rare literary documentation of Maoist women revolutionaries in armed struggle

By Harsh Thakor* 

Viyyukka (The Morning Star) is a collection of stories written by Maoist women revolutionaries, originally in Telugu, spanning four decades. The anthology, translated into English, explores the lives of underground activists, their struggles, and their adaptation to forest life. It provides insight into the challenges faced by these women and their contributions to revolutionary movements.

The collection, published by Virasam in 2023, comprises six volumes and includes 316 stories by 52 authors. Of these, 148 focus on armed struggles, while 168 address broader democratic issues. The anthology is edited by P. Arvinda and B. Anuradha.

The stories depict the daily lives of Maoist squad members, highlighting the physical and emotional hardships they endured, including long treks carrying 15-20 kg loads and constant threats from state forces. Written under difficult conditions, these narratives offer firsthand accounts of personal sacrifices, ideological commitment, and interactions with local communities.

Unlike fictional works, these stories document real-life events and characters, illustrating relationships among comrades, engagements with villagers, and confrontations with security forces. They offer a perspective on socio-political changes in rural and forested regions, shifts in economic life, and the transformation of land relations. The anthology also reflects the impact of revolutionary movements on governance structures, culture, and education among Adivasi communities.

A key theme is the role of women in the movement, highlighting how they balanced armed struggle with intellectual and social contributions. Many women learned to read and write within the movement, later becoming educators and healthcare providers. The stories also discuss the integration of outsiders into Adivasi communities, emphasizing the movement’s efforts to erase traditional divisions.

Women revolutionaries have contributed to revolutionary literature through publications such as Poromahilu (Telugu) and Sangarsharsh and Mahila (Hindi and Gondi). During its peak in Andhra Pradesh, the movement published Viplava Malavi and later Viplavi, chronicling their experiences and ideological perspectives.

Notable Stories

Several stories stand out in their portrayal of revolutionary life and struggle:

- "The Forward March of History" (Ankita) – Examines the influence of Maoist ideology on people's lives and resistance against state forces.

- "Red Flag" (Shweta) – Depicts the significance of the Red Flag and the role of the people’s militia in self-governance.

- "People are the Bulwark" – Highlights how the party functioned within communities, illustrating the role of an underground network in resistance.

- "Little Red Guards" (Shaheeda) – Reflects on setbacks in the Nallamala movement and the resilience of young revolutionaries.

- "Defiance" (Asifa) – Captures villagers’ resistance to police repression and their acts of defiance.

- "Why I Became a Guerrilla" (Budri) – Chronicles an individual’s ideological transformation and entry into the Maoist movement.

- "Famine Raid" (Myna) – Narrates a raid on landlords’ homes and the subsequent confrontation with police forces.

- "Encounter" (Vasudha) – Describes guerrilla strategies, self-rectification campaigns, and the application of Marxist-Leninist-Maoist principles.

While the anthology provides a significant insight into the experiences of Maoist women revolutionaries, it tends to idealize the Janata Sarkars and armed squads, often portraying them as infallible. The narratives emphasize people's trust in Maoist groups but provide limited coverage of governance in day-to-day life or internal contradictions within the movement. There is little discussion on challenges within the Maoist party or guerrilla units that lacked broad mass support.

Viyyukka serves as a rare literary documentation of women revolutionaries in an armed struggle, offering a unique perspective on their contributions, hardships, and ideological motivations. It provides an alternative historical narrative that challenges mainstream portrayals of political resistance and governance.

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*Freelance journalist