From Guns To Glam: 9 Former Women Maoists Walk The Ramp In A Remarkable New Beginning

Nine women who once lived in the dense forests of Bastar as Maoist cadres have taken a striking step into a new chapter of their lives, swapping green fatigues for traditional handloom and Kosa silk attire and the jungle for the fashion ramp.

The women, eight from Sukma and one from Bijapur, walked the ramp at a state-level weavers’ conference held in Raipur on National Handloom Day on August 7. For many of them, the experience offered a glimpse of a world they had never imagined during their years in the Maoist movement.

For 22-year-old Punem Jyoti, from Elmagunda village in Sukma’s Chintagufa area, the occasion was particularly meaningful. After surrendering in Hyderabad in December last year, she said her life had changed dramatically.

“I had never imagined that something like this would happen in my life,” Jyoti said, reflecting on her journey from the forests to the spotlight.

Another former Maoist, who surrendered in Hyderabad in April and chose not to reveal her identity, recalled with amusement that she had never witnessed a fashion show while living in the jungle. Her only exposure to public performances had come through the Maoists’ cultural wing.

“We had seen women performing in the cultural wing,” she said, adding that the experience helped her understand some of the basics of performing before an audience and walking confidently on stage.

The women underwent seven days of specialised training by professional experts from Mumbai in ramp walking, grooming, attire and speaking confidently into a microphone.

Seven of the nine women surrendered in Hyderabad, while the others surrendered in Sukma and Mulugu over the past one-and-a-half years. They are now staying at the Punarwas Kendra in Sukma, where they are undergoing rehabilitation.

Their transformation is part of the Chhattisgarh government’s broader rehabilitation efforts aimed at helping surrendered cadres acquire skills, find dignified livelihoods and become economically self-reliant.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai also interacted with the women at the event.