C K Janu’s unfinished autobiography “Mother Foster: The Unfinished Story of C K Janu” which is translated by N Ravi Shankar is an eloquent testimony to her courage and her convictions. It is the recounting of her experience in her past. C K Janu is the prominent organic woman leader who managed to gain land for the tribals who were stamped under foot by the elites and the government. She is the leader of the Adivasi tribes who dedicated her youth for the betterment of the tribes. In the beginning she became a member of the communist party. Later she realised that the party cheated the tribal people and she left the party in1982. Later she organised a tribal meeting in South India in 1992 as a part of the reclamation of the land of the tribe. She incited and led the agitation by the tribal people. For this she was physically and mentally assaulted nine times by the Kerala police. In 1994 she was awarded as the best tribal social worker by the Government of Kerala. But she returned the award. She became the only Indian ambassador of India in the UN tribal conference. Even though illiterate she gave speeches in 120 countries. Later in 2001 the Government of Kerala signed an agreement with the tribal people, but did not keep it. The tribals protested against this in the land at Muthanga .This ended with a massive violence. Till now the cases are going on against her. She cooperated with national and international organisations for some time and now she spends time serving the tribes.
Sreeja S Nayar
PhD