From guns to green fields: Inspiring tale of Maoist rebel Madi Munda

Deepak Mahato 

Ranchi, Dec 20: In a remote corner of Jharkhand, where the echoes of gunfire once silenced dreams, a remarkable transformation is blooming. Madi Munda, the nephew of jailed notorious Maoist commander Kundan Pahan and a former close aide of Rs 1 crore bounty rebel Anal Da, has traded his arms for a plough and despair for hope.

Once a known name in the ultra left outfit, Munda now stands as a beacon of change in Dadudag village, 50 kilometers from Ranchi in Namkum block.

It took three years of dedicated effort coupled with lots of patience and perseverance for the 24-year-old tribal to get rid of the rebel tag and emerge as a prosperous farmer.

It all started around 2017-2018 when  he met Pravin Tiwary, a Maoist encounter specialist of Jharkhand police, during a face-off with the latter in the jungle.

Tiwary not only succeeded in influencing Munda to lay down arms but also made him impact several others in the ultra outfit to quit the treacherous life in the jungle and avail the lucrative Jharkhand Police surrender policy to lead life afresh.

Come 2020, Munda severed all ties with the Maoist troupe that he had got associated with at the age of 16 and returned to his village.

Since there were no named FIRs against him, Munda could not receive the benefits of the surrender policy.

With almost negligible savings or income, he decided to till the farms and become a farmer to lead a normal life.

Where there is a will, there’s a way, goes the adage.

In the next three years, supported by few of his village brethren, he worked very hard learning modern farming tricks and sowing cash rich crops that enabled him to multiply his income rapidly.  There has been no looking back since then for him.

Today Munda is the most illustrious farmer of his village, who not only earns handsomely but also provides direct employment to 30 odd young men and women of his village.

The journey from a rebel to a law abiding agripreneur wasn’t a rollercoaster ride for him.

For several months, his former colleagues in the ultra outfit kept chasing him after declaring him a ‘traitor’, but he successfully managed to keep himself safe. Frequent surrender by local Maoist leaders and intensified police patrolling made his life further secure.

“I feel proud of what I’m doing now,” Munda told The Avenue Mail at his makeshift farm-house amidst his lush green fields.

“I want my region to flourish. I was wrong to believe the Naxal movement was for the betterment of villagers. When I realized my mistake, I quit.”

Munda’s journey into the world of insurgency began in 2017, lured by promises of revolution. “Maharaj Pramanik influenced me to join his platoon. I became a bodyguard to Anal Da and even met Kishan Da,” he recounted. But disillusionment crept in, and I changed my path for good.”

Starting with just one acre of ancestral land, Munda’s organic farming initiative has expanded to 14 acres. His farm thrives with seasonal vegetables and fruits—watermelon, tomato, brinjal, capsicum, okra, and more.

“During peak seasons, over 30 people work on my farm. Even in off-seasons, 10-15 remain engaged,” said the former rebel, his voice tinged with pride.

His income has been surging every month. I manage to save at least Rs 6 lakh annually after meeting all expenses.

“With my earnings, I have purchased a Bolero SUV, a pick-up van for transportation of raw materials and the crops to the market. I have also purchased a couple of motorcycles for my teammates.”

Currently, his fields are lush with peas, tomato, brinjal, radish and capsicum. Soon, he would be venturing into poultry.

“This project is in its final stages. To begin with, I would be hatching 2000 chicks,” he said while serving cut vegetables grown in his farm.

Munda considers Pravin Tiwary his mentor. “But for Tiwary Sir’s brave initiative in getting me out from the outlawed group, I would have died long back in any encounter with security forces,” he stressed.

Tiwary says Munda helped Jharkhand police in a lot of ways, without divulging further.

“I am happy to see him prospering as an entrepreneur. He is an inspiration for several others of his clan. Munda has proved that guns are no solution to any problem.”

Munda’s transformation is a testament to the power of redemption and the Jharkhand government’s efforts to reintegrate former extremists into society. Where fear once reigned, fields of green now flourish. Munda’s story is not just one of personal triumph—it is a tale of hope for a region scarred by conflict.

“If I canchange, anyone can,” he said, his eyes gleaming with determination.

Eminent Ranchi based businesswoman and social worker Vijeta Verma has come forward to support Munda in his philanthropic initiatives. “I appreciate his dedication and efforts in the uplift of his local community. I am doing my bit to support him,” she said while distributing blankets in the village.