ABSTRACT
In recent years, indigenous movements and rights-based struggle has become a focal point of research on resistance. In the context of India, Adivasi struggles in pre- and post-colonial times have been centered on the issues of jal, jangal and jameen (water, forest and land). In 2018, what became known as the Pathalgadi movement emerged in various villages in the state of Jharkhand. Pathalgadi, a traditional practice of erecting stone slabs for various purposes, was refurbished as a means to claim rights to local-level democracy and management of resources. This paper explores the strategies of resistance employed by the movement in Simdega district, where the raising of Pathalgadis primarily focused on claiming forest rights through existing legislations. The first section seeks to situate forest governance and struggle in the region, revisiting contributions from subaltern theories to shed light on the current and historical context of resistance. Based on four empirically driven categories of resistance, the second section brings forward an analysis of the movement, demonstrating how resistance occurred primarily through legal means, with strong discursive elements. As such, the Pathalgadi movement is seen to be working within the letter of the law, merely claiming rights previously granted through legislation.
