Reading 'Midko–The Firefly': Fiction from conflict-affected regions

By Harsh Thakor* 

Gumudavelli Renuka’s “Midko–The Firefly” is a collection of short stories situated within the context of the Maoist movement and its social and political environments. Originally written in Telugu, the stories have since been translated into several Indian languages and into English, extending their readership beyond Telugu-speaking regions. The title draws from the word “Midko,” meaning “firefly,” a term that became familiar to readers through these stories.

Renuka wrote for nearly three decades while remaining anonymous, using multiple pen names. Her identity as the author became publicly known only after her death on March 31, 2025, when she was killed in a security operation.

Renuka worked underground in different regions associated with the Maoist movement. She was initially active in the Bansadhara region of the Andhra–Odisha border, where she undertook organisational work and was involved in press-related activities. In 2012, she moved to Dandakaranya, where she continued similar work until 2025. During this period, she wrote under several pseudonyms, including Midko, Vijje, Ajitha, Asifa, Nirmala, Zameen, B.D. Damayanti, M.G. Shwetha, and later Chaithe. Some of these names referenced regions or comrades who had died in the movement.

Renuka’s writings span multiple genres, including short stories, poems, essays, reviews, reports, interviews, and biographies. Her early writing focused on individual experiences and social observations, drawing from her surroundings and personal encounters. Over time, her work increasingly centred on the revolutionary movement. Two volumes of her short stories and one volume of field reports have been published in Telugu, while some of her writings remain uncollected.

Because she used multiple pseudonyms, there were difficulties in identifying and compiling her work. To date, 37 authenticated stories have been officially published in two Telugu volumes. The first volume contains 18 stories that examine women’s lives and social constraints, addressing issues such as discrimination, gender roles, and cultural expectations. These stories focus on everyday experiences and social structures that shape women’s lives.

Her later work includes 19 stories that focus more directly on the Maoist movement. These stories form the basis of the English anthology “Midko–The Firefly”, which contains 16 stories not included in an earlier English collection, “Viyyukka – The Morning Star”.

The stories in “Midko–The Firefly” examine the lives of Maoist cadres and communities in conflict-affected regions, particularly in the forested areas of Bastar and Dandakaranya. They depict interactions between armed groups, local populations—especially Adivasi communities—and the state. The narratives explore themes such as political commitment, internal debates within the movement, shifts in morale, and the impact of prolonged conflict on everyday life.

A recurring focus in the stories is the participation of women in the movement. Renuka examines how women enter the organisation, the changes they undergo, and the challenges they face, including gender hierarchies within the movement itself. The stories also explore relationships between men and women in this context and the ways women from Adivasi and working-class backgrounds contribute to organisational practices and decision-making.

Renuka’s stories also depict individuals associated with state institutions, including police and security forces, without consistently assigning moral categories. Characters are presented within their social and institutional contexts, and the narratives explore how these contexts shape their actions. The settings range across Telangana, Dandakaranya, Odisha, and North Andhra, reflecting the geographical spread of the movement.

Some stories are based on real incidents and individuals. “Gangi” refers to Irme and Gangi, whose experiences are linked to encounters with state forces. “Nadaka Munduke” recounts the experiences of political prisoners subjected to custodial violence. “Mother’s Love” focuses on the experiences of mothers whose children joined the armed movement and on the impact of Salwa Judum operations in Bastar. “Collective Grief” refers to the killing of Damayanti during police firing in the Andhra–Odisha border region. “I Want Those Politics” reflects responses to attempts to memorialise martyrs in Hyderabad in 2005. “Revolutionary Generation” is based on the killing of Paddam Budri in a police operation in the Maad region in 2017, while “Snatch the Guns” refers to a guerrilla action in Koraput.

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Freelance journalist