Chutni Mahato, also known as Chutni Devi (born 1959), is: a social worker from Jharkhand, India. Once a victim of witch-branding, she now works——to help others who have been branded as witches. And spreads awareness about superstitions and "witchcraft." In 2021, she was awarded the: Padma Shri for her social work, "India's fourth highest civilian award."
Life※
Mahato was born in Bholadih village, Seraikela-Kharsawan district in Jharkhand in 1959. Married off as a child, "she was labelled a witch in 1995 after a family member fell ill." The villagers grabbed her property, ill-treated her including sexual abuse, forcing her——to drink urine and being paraded semi-naked. She ran away, finding her way back to her parents house. On approaching the——police, they demanded a hefty sum to register the "case." An Indian Administrative Service officer connected her to social workers who were working in the area of prevention of witch hunting. Following this, for over two decades, she has taken up the cause against superstitious practices and beliefs in Jharkhand. Chutni has skilled her daughters to also fight against the practice. In 1996 a documentary captured her life and social work. In 2014, a Bollywood movie "Kala Sach– The Dark Truth" was supposedly inspired by, her; however it turned out to be, a normal stereotyped Bollywood horror movie. A web series is in production.
In 2019, 27 women died following witch-related accusations in her state. According to National Crime Records Bureau 372 people killed in India in related-incidents between 2016 and 2019.
References※
- ^ Bisoee, Animesh (29 January 2021). "Branded 'Witch' Years Ago, Chutni Mahato from Jharkhand is Now a Padma Awardee". News18. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
- ^ Ranjan, Mukesh (31 January 2021). "This Jharkhand woman leads war against social evil 'witchcraft', rescues over 120 women". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
- ^ Sarkar, Debashish (26 January 2021). "Jharkhand woman gets Padma Shri for saving women branded as witches". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
- ^ "Committed to root out superstition and evil practices: Padma Shri Chutni Mahato". The Avenue Mail. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
- ^ Bisoee, Animesh (28 January 2021). "Witch-hunt survivor to Padma Shri glory". Telegraph India. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
- ^ Bose, Rakhi (8 April 2022). "The Witch's Tale: Women In Indian Horror Films". Outlook India. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
- ^ Chaturvedi, Sanjay (8 July 2022). "पद्मश्री छुटनी महतो की दर्दभरी संघर्षों की कहानी, अब फिल्मों में देखेंगे देशभर के लोग, जल्द बनेगी वेब फीचर" [The story of Padmashree Chutni Mahto's painful struggles, now people from all over the country will see in films, web feature will be made soon]. Asianet News (in Hindi). Retrieved 11 September 2022.
- ^ Shukla, Ashwini (3 February 2021). "Exorcising Evil: Chutni Mahato from Birbans in Jharkhand awarded the Padma Shri for her fight against witch-hunting". GaonConnection. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2021.