“I’m Saali Rudavath, and I hail from a small tribal hamlet near Nagar Kurnool district. We’re lambadas, surviving off farming and tending to our sheep and goats. Life wasn’t easy, especially living in an area with a strong Maoist presence. We were cautious, never venturing out after dark, unsure of what lay beyond.

I’m a mother to five sons and three daughters, and despite the challenges, I was determined to see them educated. We made ends meet by selling fruits and vegetables we collected from the forest, exchanging them for maize, wheat, and millets – our staple foods.

One of my proudest moments was seeing one of my sons become a nursing officer in Hyderabad.

• 

It wasn’t easy, but we never gave up hope. Our lives revolve around hard work, but there’s joy in it too. The Teez tribal festival in Telangana is a time of celebration and remembrance for us, a connection to our roots amidst the struggles.

Now, surrounded by my grandchildren during summer vacations, I find solace in passing on our traditions while learning from them about the city life they experience. Despite the differences, we’re united, and that gives me the strength to face each day with a smile.”