Abujhmad (also spelled Abujhmarh, Abujhmaad, or Abujhmadh) is a remote, densely forested hilly region in Chhattisgarh, central India. The name originates from the Gondi language and carries multiple interpretations:
• “Abujh” means “unknown” or “incomprehensible” and “marh” means “hills”.
• In Hindi, it translates to “incomprehensible plateau”.
• In the local Gondi dialect, it means “sal forest”.
The region spans approximately 4,000 sq km across Narayanpur, Bijapur, and Dantewada districts in southern Chhattisgarh’s Bastar division. It forms part of the larger Dandakaranya forest, which extends over 92,000 sq km and is referenced in the Ramayana as the abode of the demon Dandaka.
The Indravati River separates Abujhmad from the rest of Bastar, intensifying its isolation. The terrain consists of rugged hills of the Satpura Range, dense sal forests, bamboo groves, and numerous streams. Elevations range from 600–1,000 meters above sea level. The region experiences a tropical climate—hot summers, mild winters, and heavy monsoon rains from June to September.
Historically, only narrow forest pathways connected Abujhmad to nearby towns such as Narayanpur, Bijapur, and Basroor, keeping it inaccessible for centuries.
According to the 2011 Census, Abujhmad is home to around 40,000 Abujhmadia tribals, a subgroup of the Gond tribe. Population density is below four persons per sq km, and the region accounts for nearly 27% of Chhattisgarh’s total tribal population. About 233 small villages are scattered across the area.
Major tribal groups include:
• Gond (majority)
• Muria
• Abujhmadia/Abujhmarhia
• Madiya
• Halba
The Abujhmadia are officially recognized as one of the seven Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in Chhattisgarh.
The Abujhmadia maintain one of India’s most pristine pre-agricultural lifestyles, living as hunter-gatherers closely attuned to the rhythms of nature. Their philosophy embodies a profound sense of naturalism — a life rooted in simplicity and ecological balance.
Minimalist Material Culture:
Their possessions are few — an axe, bow and arrows, knives, a snare, bamboo pots, and a gourd ladle. Daily needs are fulfilled using forest resources. Clothing is minimal, often limited to a loincloth or a lugga for women. Material wealth holds little meaning in their worldview.
Economic Life:
Food, thatch, and bamboo are freely available in the forest. The Abujhmadias neither produce goods for sale nor engage in trade, except for rare exchanges of tamarind for salt or cloth with outsiders.
Language and Counting:
Their dialect is simple, marked by brevity and silence. Counting traditionally goes only up to five — “because more is not needed.”
Philosophy of Work:
Work is minimal — occasional cutting, digging, or gathering. The blacksmith is the only specialized artisan, serving clusters of villages. Carpentry, pottery, or weaving are virtually unknown.
Spiritual Connection:
Verwakot Hill holds deep religious significance as the mythical origin of human life. The territorial god Rao Pen is believed to guard every village. Boundaries here signify shared well-being, not ownership.
Relationship with Land:
For the Abujhmadia, the forest itself is home. Their huts are mere shelters — temporary spaces symbolizing detachment and harmony with nature.
During British rule, Abujhmad was classified as an “excluded area” under the Government of India Act, 1935. Local folklore recalls how the deity Rao Pen prevented the British from crossing the Indravati by conjuring dust storms and fire, forcing them to retreat.
After independence, Abujhmad’s inaccessibility made it a haven for Maoists, who declared it a “liberated zone.” Civil administration remained absent for decades until 2009, when entry restrictions imposed since the 1980s were lifted.
Due to its dense forests and lack of governance, Abujhmad became a major Maoist stronghold. The banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) ran a parallel administration, including the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), “people’s courts” (jan adalat), schools, and small irrigation projects. Following their ouster from Andhra Pradesh after 2003, Maoists made Abujhmad their operational hub.
In May 2025, security forces conducted Operation Black Forest, the largest anti-Maoist action in decades. The encounter resulted in the neutralization of 27 Maoists, including General Secretary Nambala Keshava Rao. Home Minister Amit Shah hailed it as the “most decisive breakthrough” since the 2010 Dantewada ambush.
In October 2025, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai declared Abujhmad and North Bastar completely free from Naxal influence. The achievement was credited to the Naxalite Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy 2025 and the Niyad Nella Nar Yojana. Sixty-four new security camps have been established, leading to a 76% decline in left-wing extremism incidents since 2010.
Under the National Policy and Action Plan (2015), over 4,000 km of roads, 1,333 telecom towers, 1,214 post offices, and 297 bank branches have been added in LWE-affected blocks. In August 2022, Abujhmad gained access to 4G internet for the first time.
Solar-powered irrigation pumps have been installed, providing much-needed support to farmers who previously practiced rain-fed cultivation without formal land titles.
The Union Home Minister announced plans to eliminate Maoism by March 2026 through a three-pronged approach of trust, development, and security. Improved connectivity and livelihood opportunities are central to this strategy.
Recognizing its rich biodiversity, the Ministry of Environment and Forests proposed designating Abujhmad as a biosphere reserve in 2007–2008. However, formal protection measures remain pending.
Abujhmad embodies one of humanity’s last truly pre-agricultural societies, raising deep questions about the meaning of progress. Its people, with their minimal tools, limited language, and profound harmony with nature, challenge modern assumptions about civilization and development.
Security: Declared Naxal-free after decades of insurgency.
Development: Rapid expansion of roads, telecom, and irrigation networks.
Cultural Vulnerability: PVTG communities face growing pressures from modernization.
Conservation: Ecological and anthropological heritage still lacks protection.
Central Tension: Balancing security and development with cultural and environmental preservation remains the core challenge.
The story of Abujhmad is a microcosm of India’s broader development dilemma — between ancient wisdom and modern ambition. Its people, who believe that counting beyond five is unnecessary and that idleness is not laziness but balance, remind us of a world where simplicity and nature coexist in peace.
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