ARCHIVES
VOL. 7, ISSUE 4 (2025)
Need for the care of the “Tiger Widows” in Sundarban: Struggle and discriminations
Authors
Ujjwal Halder
Abstract
A significant proportion of the population in
the villages of Sundarban in India depend on the natural resources of the
forest reserve and the river for their livelihood. While carrying out their
activities in the forest, many forest dwellers have become victims of tiger
attacks. Most of the forest dwellers are poor and landless. The husbands are
the sole breadwinners of the family, and after their early accidental death,
the widows are plunged into extreme poverty and great hardship. In addition,
they become socially isolated due to the cultural stigma associated with
killing tigers in the local community or society. (Jamala, et.al.). They are
accused of unnatural and untimely death of their husbands and very often they
are stigmatised and labelled as "swami khego" or "husband
eaters" by the local community. They are forced to live in separate
hamlets (widow settlements) outside the village called bidhoba palli,
reflecting their outcast status and social isolation. After the death of their
husband, all economic burdens fall on their shoulders and they are plunged into
unimaginable poverty, but there are no job opportunities. (Chowdhury). The
present case studies from a village in the Gosaba block in the southern 24
parganas of India's Sundarban reflect the sufferings and ongoing life struggle
of these "tiger widows" as well as the cultural stigma that excludes
them from the normal community life of Sundarban; the resulting negative impact
on their mental health is discussed.
Download
Pages:91-96
How to cite this article:
Ujjwal Halder "Need for the care of the “Tiger Widows” in Sundarban: Struggle and discriminations". International Journal of Sociology and Political Science, Vol 7, Issue 4, 2025, Pages 91-96
Download Author Certificate
Please enter the email address corresponding to this article submission to download your certificate.