I Witnessed a Witch Hunt in India

As a journalist for the past ten years, I thought I had seen it all - from corruption to cast wars, until one day a chance visit to a remote village in Angara Block, on the suburbs of Ranchi, the capital of the Indian state of Jharkhand, made me realize I wasn't done learning about the human capacity for evil.

I went there along my friend and research scholar Ganga Nath Jha. He had heard that a witch hunting trial would take place and the journalist in me was very curious to witness that.

The morning mist was just lifting as our jeep bumped along the muddy trails of Angara, a suburban area of Ranchi, the capital city of Jharkhand, home to over 30 ethnic tribes, such as the Santhals, Mundas, Oraons, Ho, Kharia and Kharwar. Superstitions and tribal practices amongst the villagers abound in Jharkhand. Women are still not free to pursue a basic education, resulting in deep-rooted fears and ignorance in the society.

The air was cold and penetrating, as if it were anticipating what Ganga and I were about to experience. We arrived just on time for the "jan adalat" or "public meeting." Slowly, the village center filled up with men. There were no women around. People gathered in small groups and talked among themselves in their own dialect. After a while a middle-aged man who looked like an important person in the village called everyone to attention. Suddenly, there was a hushed silence and everyone turned to stare at a woman who was being dragged in by two men.

I couldn't help but stare a woman who I would come to know as Budhaniya Majhi. She appeared extremely fragile and far from looking evil, a simple village girl.