Taking Side

For centuries, there have been people who have laid down their lives taking side with the oppressed. This is the story of Sr. Valsa John of the SCJM order, born on 19th February 1958 in Edappally, Ernakulam district of Kerala. She joined the SCJM congregation in the year 1983. Valsa decided to work among the Santhal tribe of Jharkhand, who were fighting for their rights over land, water and forest. She led the people’s movement, Rajmahal Pahar Bachao Andolan, for 15 long years against the oppressors of the people. She was brutally murdered by the mining mafia on 15th November 2011 in the anti-displacement struggle against the PANEM company in Pachuwara village in Pakur district. She was the third leader who was killed during the same struggle.