Of revolution, liberation and agency: Aspirations and realities in the lives of women combatants and key women members of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA)

The Northeastern states of India share their borders with Bangladesh, China, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan, which makes this region geo-politically and strategically important for India. Roshmi Goswami, a prominent human rights activist and a well-known leader in the feminist movement in South Asia, conducted this research on the role of women as combatants in armed conflicts of the Indian Northeast, based on an ethnographic survey and interviews with women combatants of the United Liberation Front of Axom (ULFA) (Assam).

After providing a brief overview of the region, explaining the uniqueness of their different tribes and sub-tribes, natural resources and diverse inter-ethnic conflicts, Roshmi Goswami analyses the complexities and the challenges faced by women combatant in the protracted armed conflicts in the state, focusing on the 1990s.

Approximately, women constituted about 10 per cent to 12 percent of the total strength and each played varied roles in the ULFA. Most of interviewees expressed that their loyalty to the organisation were inspired by its politics and ideology. All of them perceived themselves to be revolutionaries to free ‘Mother Axom’ from exploitation.  Despite the pain of leaving their home and sincere contribution for their cause in ULFA, women members generally faced inequalities and hierarchies and could not take part in the decision-making process. Their life in jungle proved to be extremely hard and challenging that many were perhaps unprepared for the drudgery of long periods of waiting and watching the jungles. Overall, regardless of the women combatants’ point of entry, their options, roles and power relations were embedded within the broader gendered power structures and identities.