For over three decades, southern Odisha has been burning. The Paraja people, immortalized by Gopinath Mohanty, have not been able to breathe in peace. In the name of development, the government and urban elites have laid their hands on the indigenous tribal communities—Paraja, Kandha, Kutia, Dongria, Jhodia, and Dalits—subjecting them to relentless exploitation. And yet, through electoral means, these very actions are being granted public legitimacy.
The forests are vanishing, the waterfalls are drying up, the hills are being flattened, and wildlife is disappearing—those same hills and forests that have nurtured and sustained indigenous communities since time immemorial. How can they survive without them? Amar Kanwar’s documentary Baflimali 173 revealed this stark reality. Where do the displaced Adivasis go? Many writings and documentaries over these past three decades have brought this question before us. And everywhere, it’s the same story—of injustice, unrest, anguish, and suffering.
Those who once owned vast stretches of land have now been reduced to indentured laborers, coolies, domestic help, and gardeners in the homes of the wealthy. Since the onset of globalization and economic reforms, numerous domestic and foreign multinational mining companies have descended upon southern Odisha. In all this, local elites and politicians have played a complicit role.
The indigenous people are no longer seen as individuals, but as symbols—used as puppets to promote a false image of inclusion, sometimes even seated in the offices of the President or Chief Minister. But behind this façade, the ordinary Adivasi population is being systematically destroyed. In the past thirty years, they have become even more vulnerable and helpless.
However, alongside this suffering, a spirit of resistance has also grown stronger among them. Though attempts have been made to create brokers and middlemen within their communities, a collective voice of defiance now echoes across southern Odisha.
Revolutionary Ganannath Patra, now deceased, once said that today’s Adivasi has taken the form of Bhagabati Charan’s Ghinua. But this Ghinua will not hand over the head of the oppressor to the police. Here, the struggle is not led by a lone rebel, but by thousands. They have taken to the democratic path, asserting the rights granted to them by the Constitution. The voice of the Adivasi now resounds throughout southern Odisha.
The corporate TV studios have installed noise-resistant walls to block out these cries, but to those who look with an equal gaze—Samadrusti—the truth is loud and clear.
Now, let us listen to the story of Sijimali.
Since February 2023, the previously peaceful region of Sijimali has begun to experience unrest, due to tensions between the local community, the government, mine owners, and companies.
From 2023 onwards, many significant events have taken place surrounding the anti-mining movement in Sijimali — such as resistance against company officials’ entry, the formation of the Ma Mati Mali Suraksha Manch (Mother Earth Hills Protection Forum), an open letter to the President on Republic Day, and the organization of the Tijimali Festival.
Resistance Against Company Officials’ Entry
On December 22, 2023, when a vehicle was seen going towards Kutrumali, locals stopped it. Some engineers were inside the vehicle, claiming they were there to take measurements. Members of the Ma Mati Mali Suraksha Manch informed them that the region was undergoing a movement for the protection of Tijimali, and that, as per the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, no Gram Sabha (village council) had yet been conducted. Therefore, they should leave. The locals made them write a note stating they would not attempt to enter again without the villagers’ permission. The vehicle then returned.
Press Conference and Memorandum to the Southern Revenue Commissioner
Meanwhile, a company named Maitri Infrastructure, hired by Vedanta, began moving from village to village to gather public support for the company, against the wishes of local residents. This led to a tense atmosphere in the entire region.
To provide organized leadership to the anti-bauxite mining movement in Tijimali, Kutrumali, and Manjingmali, the locals formed an organization called Ma Mati Mali Suraksha Manch (Rayagada-Kalahandi). On January 4, 2024, the organization held its first press conference in Brahmapur, attended by nine members and supported by local political workers. They highlighted how the Gram Sabha held on December 8, 2023, by the government-company-police was fake, unconstitutional, and forcibly conducted.
Following the press conference, members met with the Southern Revenue Commissioner and submitted a memorandum. They stated that bauxite mining would not only destroy their livelihoods but also harm their cultural identity and religious beliefs. Since the mining lease was granted without Gram Sabha approval, it was illegal. They demanded the cancellation of the lease and the proper conduct of a Gram Sabha first.
January 12 Incident and Police Repression
On January 12, 2024, Mr. Prusti Duria, the Public Relations Officer of Maitri, along with two unidentified men, was allegedly attacked. The FIR stated that 25–30 people arrived on motorcycles with stones and other weapons and attacked them, seriously injuring Mr. Duria on the head. Allegedly, a mobile phone, a gold chain worth one lakh rupees, ₹80,000 cash were looted, and their Bolero vehicle was damaged.
However, instead of proper investigation, police filed criminal charges under various IPC sections (147/148/341/323/324/307/294/427/395/506/149) against 28 individuals from Sarambai, Bontejhi, Talaampadar, Kantamali, Bondel, and other villages — most of whom are known as grassroots leaders and prominent anti-mining activists.
Following this, police deployed forces in multiple locations and intensified repression. They raided the homes of activists like Tankadhar Nayak of Bontejhi, Bhakta Das, and Lai Majhi of Talaampadar during the night, threatening women and children and damaging household items, including sacred spaces. The police failed to produce IDs or legal documents and had no female officers present.
Activists Hinda Majhi and Kantilal Nayak were picked up by the police on January 17 and 18 respectively, allegedly for organizing and speaking at protest meetings. Kantilal reportedly responded, “I don’t fear for my life; I am ready to face the gallows, but I will write to ensure that Tijimali is protected forever.” Following mass protests at the police station, the police released them.
Locals alleged that instead of uncovering the truth of the January 12 incident, the police were deliberately targeting leading activists with false charges. Families of the accused demanded an impartial investigation. On January 18, several civil society organizations and human rights groups issued a joint press statement demanding an independent inquiry into the matter.
Republic Day Observance and Open Letter to the President
Despite all the turmoil, the people of Tijimali, Kutrumali, and Manjingmali celebrated Republic Day with a pledge to uphold the Constitution and protect their land, hills, and springs forever.
They sent an open letter to President Droupadi Murmu, stating that as someone who understands Odisha and the Odia people, they were encouraged to write to her. They expressed pride that someone like them — an Adivasi — could rise to become the constitutional head of the country.
In the letter, they posed questions: “Isn’t it unjust to sell our sacred mountains, lands, and rivers to companies without asking us or taking our consent? Is resisting injustice a crime?” They said, “If our ancestors — Birsa Munda, Laxman Nayak, and Rendo Majhi — were alive today, they would’ve done the same.”
They concluded: “Over the past six or seven months, we have felt deeply that the constitutional governance, law, and institutions of this country now serve the interests of companies, not ordinary people like us. Even local political parties openly act as company spokespersons. When we raise our voice to save our land and water, the protectors of the law label us criminals. So where should we go and what should we do?”
Public Meeting in Bhubaneswar:
On December 29, 2023, a massive public meeting was held in Bhubaneswar under the leadership of the Anti-Displacement People’s Movement. Several grassroots organizations participated in this gathering, including Ma Maati Maali Suraksha Manch (Rayagada-Kalahandi), Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti (Kalahandi-Rayagada), Khandual Maali Sthayi Suraksha Samiti (Kalahandi), Mali Parbat Suraksha Samiti (Koraput), Jindal-Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (Jagatsinghpur), Malkangiri District Adivasi Sangha (Malkangiri), and Jeevan, Jeevika o Paribesh Suraksha Samiti (Puri), among others.
The public meeting was organized to protest against the repression by police on people resisting displacement, impoverishment, and corporate loot of natural resources. The meeting emphasized the protection of water, land, hills, and forests.
On this occasion, a memorandum was submitted to the Governor of Odisha demanding the protection of people living in Scheduled Areas, the release of political activists involved in people’s movements, withdrawal of criminal cases, and conservation of coastal sand dunes and casuarina forests, which act as natural barriers in Odisha’s cyclone-prone districts.
Meeting in Kantamal:
On February 9, a meeting was held in Kantamal to form a formal committee. On the same day, Upendra Bag and Krishna Sikaka of the Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti were released from jail on bail and were heading towards Niyamgiri via the Kantamal route. They were welcomed there with great joy and enthusiasm.
The gathered people reiterated their commitment to protect the hills and forests and expressed their readiness to face all forms of sacrifice, police repression, and hardship. A call was also made to maintain unity across the entire Maali region.
At the end of the meeting, extensive discussions were held about forming a committee, and it was decided to observe the Sijimali Festival on March 5.
Slogan:
“Let life be lost if it must,
If Maali survives, the country will smile.
Our Maali belongs to us.
If Maali is opened, the country will cry.”
The peaceful, democratic, and just struggle of the people of Sijimali, Kutrumali, and Majhingmali is for the protection of their land, life, and livelihood. This fight is not just to safeguard their own lives and means of living but also aims to preserve the environment and nature of Rayagada and Kalahandi districts, thereby protecting the entire country and all living beings.
It is noteworthy that Gram Sabha (village assembly) is a fundamental democratic institution for expressing free and unrestrained opinions. The presence of Vedanta and its subcontractors or agents in such meetings violates the autonomy of the Gram Sabha. It also breaches the constitutional values ensured for the Fifth Schedule areas in the Indian Constitution and violates PESA (Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas) and Forest Rights Act provisions.
Voices of opposition also rose from other parts of Odisha regarding such incidents in the Sijimali region. On December 10, 2023, during the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations, trade unions, tribal organizations, democratic rights groups, and other progressive forces jointly issued a statement condemning the administration’s attempt to organize a fake Gram Sabha in Sijimali.
They expressed their concern and anger over the violation of Dalit and Adivasi rights in the region and demanded the cancellation of Vedanta’s mining lease and proper implementation of PESA and the Forest Rights Act.
This is not limited to Sijimali—almost all the Maali hills and mountainous areas of southern Odisha are facing exploitation and repression. While the educated elite remain indifferent, the Adivasis, despite being burdened with suffering, continue to resist actively. It seems as if only the Adivasis are awake to protect nature, wildlife, and the environment, while the rest of society appears ready to sell out their motherland in exchange for small personal gains.
By Bighneswar Sahu
(For the preparation of this article, I express my gratitude to Mr. Narendra Mahanty and indigenous social activists.)
* Bighneswar Sahu is a Senior Journalist and has been with The Samadrusti as its Executive Editor for more than two decades. His email id is sahubighna@gmail.com
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