Comrade Malla Rajireddy’s (CC member, CPI(Maoist) life partner, Comrade Suguna, is no more. A crusader for twenty-five years in the movement, neither long periods of detention nor severe illness could deter her indomitable or relentless spirit. The path of her journey symbolised overcoming the most tortuous obstacles or harshest perils, preserving the revolutionary essence of her soul intact.
Her death is tragic and shrouded in mystery.
Her real name was Bicche Pungati. Her father's name was Kopa Pungati. She was born in what was formerly Bastar, in the village of Majji Mendri in present-day Bijapur district. Since most of the twenty thatched huts on the banks of the Indravati River belonged to the Majji clan, the village came to be known as Majji Mendri, following Adivasi tradition or as a historical development.
Born as the third child to her father, Kopa, no one could certify what her date of birth was. It’s fair to say that sixty years ago, in Adivasi villages, there was simply no system for recording the birth dates of children, especially women. In such a place, nearly six decades ago, Bicche blossomed like a wild hibiscus (Adavi Mandaram).
Her life as revolutionary was cemented or evolved in the backdrop of the revolutionary movement, having faced constant ups and downs and weathered numerous perils.
Unable to withstand the organized strength of the Adivasis, outdated tribal elders like Bandi Gaithal and Masa Gaithal joined forces with the government and began attacking the people. In the history of Bastar, this became known as the first Jan Jagaran Abhiyan.
This was followed by Jan Jagaran-II, and subsequently, a series of operations: Salwa Judum, Operation Green Hunt, Samadhan, and the strikes within Samadhan. Finally, for the past two years, massive military "encircle and destroy" attacks have been continuing on an unprecedented scale. At the outset, the media popularized this latest offensive under the name operation Kagaar.
Being a creature from the moment the revolutionary movement sprung into the forests of Bastar—organizing the Adivasi people and firmly resisting government suppression—Comrade Bicche faced every possible obstacle, from the first Jan Jagaran Abhiyan to the present-day Kagaar. She confronted these with unwavering commitment, organized strength, operating first under the name Suguna and later as Vasanti.
Her revolutionary journey was baptised from being a member of the Adivasi Women’s Organization (Adivasi Mahila Sangham) to becoming an armed guerrilla, then a commander, and eventually rising to the level of a Division-level leader by 2018. Resistance was her very breath; it was her life.
Due to the initial resistance engineered there, many villages in the National Park area were rescued from being done and dusted Every subsequent heroic public retaliation compelled every counter-attack to retreat. On the other hand, [over time], the movement began to nullify.
Born in a remote Adivasi hamlet on the border of Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, Bicche Pungati took up arms in 1989. In her youth, she fell in love with and married Somanna, who was then serving as a leader of the Sangham (Organization) for that region.
Their marriage lasted for nearly a decade. Somanna’s first wife, Jyoti, and Suguna (Bicche) shared a bond of great love and affection, living together in harmony. None of the three had children. Between them, there was never any room for discord.
Comrade Somanna eventually weakened politically and distanced himself from the revolutionary movement.
However, Comrade Jyoti and Comrade Suguna continued to remain active in the movement until the end.
In the year 2000, when their leader and Central Committee member, Sayanna, expressed his feelings for her and proposed marriage, Comrade Suguna accepted. Following their marriage, Comrade Sayanna moved to Maharashtra due to his organizational responsibilities. Consequently, Comrade Suguna took the name Vasanta and assumed the responsibilities of Commander for the Korchi area in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra.
In 2008, due to her ill health, she and her partner Sayanna went out of the forest area for treatment. During this time, they were both accidentally arrested in Kerala.
In a short time, by the end of 2009, Comrade Sayanna was released on bail. However, Comrade Vasanti remained behind bars for much longer and was not released until 2013. After her release, she spent some time with relatives before rejoining the movement in 2014. By then, Comrade Sayanna had assumed a new identity as Sangram, operating in the emerging movement area along the Chhattisgarh–Odisha border. He chose the name "Sangram" as a tribute to the regional political magazine, Jan Sangram.
Having spent nearly six years in prison, Comrade Vasanti’s health had severely taken a toll. Upon her return, she initially revived her guerrilla life in the Sunabeda hills of Odisha. However, surviving in that environment became nearly impossible for her. She later worked in the Gariaband district (Gobra, Udanti, and Sitanadi areas).
Ultimately, she could no longer bare the suffering of her advancing age, worsening illness, and intensifying police raids. Consequently, the Central Committee decided to transfer her back to Dandakaranya.
By the time she reached Dandakaranya, Comrade Vasanti had risen to the rank of a Division-level comrade.
However, due to her failing health, she was unable to work as she once had. She began to suffer from severe vision loss, and acute anemia made even walking a struggle. Issues like thyroid problems and high blood pressure continued to haunt her.
Although the movement aspired to provide her with better medical treatment and settle her in a safe, favourable location outside [the forest], the Central was unable to do so. The revolutionary camp fell silent.
On the other hand, amidst increasing suppression and constant police raids, it became impossible for someone in her condition to survive or penetrate such tortuous terrain day and night alongside the guerrillas. Consequently, the Party stationed her in a village within the region where she was born and raised. While staying there, she unwaveribngly continued to work among the people to the best of her strength.
However, as her vision problems and other health issues aggravated, the Party sent her to Dhamtari town in Chhattisgarh through revolutionary sympathizers for treatment in 2023. Based on prior information, she was arrested there. From February 2023 to August 2024, she was held in Bilaspur Jail.
The Party was unable to provide adequate legal assistance in places like Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.
On the other hand, the revolutionary movement—weakening by the day—could not provide her with any other necessary support. In the backdrop miserable conditions, the Kagaar attacks were launched, causing previous support systems to vanish. Everything fell into chaos.
A dire situation arose where even the meager efforts the Party was making for her release could not be sustained. There was no way to provide even basic information about her to her own partner. Under such circumstances, no one knows exactly when she was released or how.
However, after her release, she was left in a state of isolated misery. The possibility of re-establishing link with the Party was non-existent. She had no one to call her own—and even those who were there were in no position to help. Deciding that leaving everyone behind was better than continuing to live this way, her 35-year revolutionary life took her own life and plunged into the lap of the Indravati River.
Two days ago, by chance and to great surprise, a person was encountered through whom the details of Comrade Bicche Pungati were finally known. This person said that Bicche, having reached home from Bilaspur Jail, appeared deeply anxious and dejected about her future.
Yes, her dejection was understandable. Her anxiety is even more so. The movement she was part of for nearly 35 years was now withering away, turning into something she could no longer call her own. She fell into a state of total confusion, not knowing where her partner, Sangram—with whom she had lived for twenty-five years—was or how he was doing. He too is entering his 80s, facing old age and ill health.
In the forest, no matter where one looks, there are police. No matter who is asked, people are unable to say anything or offer any help; there is a palpable fear and anxiety in everyone about what might happen if they do. Amidst such circumstances, she had no direction to what should she do, where should she go,whose shelter should she seek, and what was her future.
Now, in her village of Majji Mendri, she had no one left. Even in the neigh boring village of Gonguvada, where her relatives live, she was essentially without any support. She thought it all through. Reaching the decision that it was better to disappear from everyone than to continue living (and these are just our reflections!), she took the leap and plunged d into the lap of the Indravati River.
Her relatives and friends set fire to her mortal remains. Comrade Saguna is no longer with us physically. Yet, in the Indravati basin, in the forests of the National Park, in the Korchi region, and in the Sunabeda hills—her voice and soul will always resonate. In the movements against the displacement brought forth by corporate interests, she will be a beacon for the people.
Harsh Thakor is freelance journalist
Thanks informatic from Ravi Narla and Karuna (basing on information from distant friends
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