Jamuna Tudu, widely known as the ‘Lady Tarzan of India’, has become a prominent name in grassroots forest conservation. Coming from a tribal community, she led a movement in Jharkhand to protect forests from illegal logging and timber smugglers. With the support of thousands of village women, she helped organise local efforts to safeguard the region’s valuable forest resources.
Her work demonstrated how community participation and women’s leadership can play an important role in environmental protection. In recognition of her contribution to forest conservation, the Government of India honoured her with the Padma Shri in 2019.
Who Is Jamuna Tudu?
Jamuna Tudu is a forest conservationist and tribal activist known for mobilising women to protect the Sal forests of Jharkhand. She established the Van Suraksha Samiti, or Forest Protection Committee, in 1998 to organise villagers against illegal tree felling and forest-related offences.
Through this initiative, Tudu helped bring together more than 10,000 women from nearby villages. Equipped with traditional tools and weapons, including sticks, bows and arrows, the women took part in forest patrols to prevent illegal logging and protect the surrounding woodland.
Her determined efforts earned her national recognition and the title ‘Lady Tarzan of India’, reflecting her courage and commitment to protecting the environment.
Early Life and Fight Against the Timber Mafia
Born in 1980 in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, Jamuna Tudu moved to Muturkham village in Jharkhand’s East Singhbhum district after her marriage in 1998. Soon after arriving, she witnessed the widespread cutting of mature Sal trees by illegal logging networks.
Concerned about the damage being caused to the forest, Tudu decided to take action. She initially brought together five village women and established the Van Suraksha Samiti in 1998. Her efforts were not welcomed by everyone. She faced ridicule from village elders and threats from timber smugglers.
Despite these challenges, she continued working to involve local residents in forest protection. What began as a small initiative gradually developed into a broader community-led movement.
How Van Suraksha Samiti Protected the Forests
Under Tudu’s leadership, the Van Suraksha Samiti organised women into patrol groups that monitored the forests at different times of the day and night. The volunteers carried lathis, bows, arrows and spears while keeping watch for illegal loggers and other forest offenders.
Their work often involved serious risks. The women reportedly faced stone-pelting, threats involving firearms and physical attacks during confrontations with timber smugglers. When they caught alleged offenders, they handed them over to the relevant authorities.
Tudu also encouraged villagers to develop a cultural and emotional connection with trees. Through the practice of Vriksha Bandhan, people tied rakhis around trees during festivals such as Bhai Dooj and Raksha Bandhan. The initiative aimed to promote respect for nature and strengthen the community’s commitment to protecting forests.
By combining regular patrols with community participation and traditional practices, the movement sought to make forest conservation a shared responsibility.
Awards and Legacy of Jamuna Tudu
Jamuna Tudu received the Padma Shri in 2019 for her contribution to forest conservation and women’s empowerment. She has also received recognition through the Godfrey Phillips National Bravery Award and the Women Transforming India Award.
Her work is an example of how determined local action can help communities respond to environmental threats. By encouraging women to take an active role in protecting forests, she helped build a movement centred on collective responsibility and conservation.
Known as the ‘Lady Tarzan of India’, Jamuna Tudu continues to be associated with grassroots environmental activism and the efforts of rural women to protect natural resources.