The WSU Humanities Center invites faculty, students, staff, and the community to a Research Seminar given by Meghna Dutta (Doctoral Candidate, Sociology) on the topic of, "The costs of being called a witch: Consequences of victimization of a ‘daini’ in Assam, India."

Abstract: This dissertation explores the practice of witch-hunting in Assam through a gendered lens and through application of feminist's theories, highlighting how deeply rooted patriarchy, superstition, and socio-political marginalization intersect to target women—especially those who are elderly, widowed, single, or assertive. Drawing on fieldwork in the Rabha community in Assam, India, this dissertation conducts 40 interviews with survivors, activists, and law enforcement, and a review of legal frameworks and community practices. The study also reveals how accusations of witchcraft often mask deeper motives such as land disputes, sexual rejection, or attempts to suppress women’s autonomy. It critically examines the cultural narratives and institutional gaps that enable this form of gender-based violence to persist, even in modern contexts. The dissertation also assesses the impact of grassroots interventions and legal reforms, including the role of state and non-state actors in prevention and rehabilitation. Ultimately, this research positions witch-hunting not as an isolated rural superstition but as a systemic tool for controlling women, calling for multi-level, gender-sensitive strategies to combat the practice.