Story

The Villagers

January 02, 2008 | Pulitzer Center

Tattooed tribal woman with child at their home village in Naxalite-controlled territory, south Bastar region.

Tribal girls at their home village in Naxalite-controlled territory, south Bastar region.

Village head man, south Bastar region.

Government-built facility destroyed by the Naxalites, south Bastar region.

Village boys grill rats they’ve just caught, south Bastar region.

Tribal women constructing a road at Dornapal camp. With more than 17,000 people, it’s the largest of 22 official government camps in the Bastar region.

Tribal family waits as relative prepares lunch time meal, Dornapal camp.

Girl stares from atop trash pile flanked by tin and mud shanties, Dornapal camp.

Muria tribal women, Dantewada market.

Both animal and owner are bloodied after a post-cockfight dispute, Dantewada market.

The Bastar region is home to a number of indigenous tribes, many of which continue to live in nature as they have for centuries. Since the start of Salwa Judum thousands have been forcibly relocated to government-run camps.