Raipur: In a remarkable change of life, nine former women Naxalites from Bastar walked the ramp at a National Handloom Day event in Raipur on August 7.
The women, who had once been part of the Maoist movement in the forests of Bastar, appeared in traditional Chhattisgarh handloom outfits, including Kosa silk. They walked alongside professional models at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium and received loud applause from the audience.
The fashion show was organised to celebrate India’s handloom traditions and promote local textiles. For these women, however, the event meant much more than fashion. It marked a new chapter after they surrendered and began rebuilding their lives through rehabilitation programmes.
The women underwent training before the show and said it was their first experience of walking on a stage like this. Their journey from the forests of Bastar to a fashion runway offered a powerful picture of change — from an armed past to a life focused on peace, skills and new opportunities.
The event also highlighted the rich handloom traditions of Chhattisgarh, while showing how rehabilitation can help former Naxal cadres return to mainstream society.
For the nine women, the ramp was not simply a fashion stage. It was a chance to step into a very different future.
