Two women from different generations and states, one in Odisha, the other in Jharkhand, are reshaping what life after militancy looks like for women once caught in the Maoist conflict. Buri Sahu, 67, from Bolangir district in Odisha, and Mani Oraon* (name changed to protect identity), 26, from Latehar in Jharkhand, are both former Naxalites. Their paths into the movement were very different, but both now focus on helping others exit and rebuild lives beyond violence.
Their stories reflect broader shifts in the landscape of Left-wing extremism in central and eastern India. More importantly, they expose the gendered violence that came to define the later years of the movement, and the quiet but determined rehabilitation efforts led by women survivors themselves.