Gender, culture and capital:
Unpacking witch hunts and ritual violence in India

Speaker: Dr. Govind Kelkar (Introduced by Dr. Keith Silika, INAWARA)

Date: 04 September 2026

Video: Watch on YouTube

Overview

Why do practices like witch branding and ritual violence persist in modern, developing societies? In this presentation hosted by INAWARA, renowned feminist scholar Dr. Govind Kelkar shares compelling insights from her field research that covers 14 Indian states, with over 1,200 qualitative interviews.

Moving beyond traditional anthropological views that dismiss these phenomena as mere cultural tradition, Dr. Kelkar reveals how gender inequality, property rights and economic anxieties are directly driving ritual violence against women in indigenous and rural communities.

Key highlights & themes

• The economic motive behind accusations: Dr. Kelkar explains how land disputes, inheritance claims and male family members attempting to dispossess widows or assertive women frequently lead to accusations of witchcraft.

• Jealousy and social friction: Discover how modern economic shifts, such as diaspora remittances improving a household's status or sudden livestock loss, can trigger suspicion and targeted claims.

• The role of ‘witch-finders’ (ojas): Dr. Kelkar does an analysis of how traditional healers manipulate social vulnerabilities and community fears for financial gain or influence.

• Female agency as a trigger: How women asserting political power in local village councils or claiming legal rights are threatened with witch branding to suppress their voices.

• Pathways to eradication: Drawing parallels to European history and past health crises like cholera, Dr. Kelkar outlines a 7-point reform agenda, including legal enforcement, decentralised healthcare, unmediated land rights for women and universal social security.

Why you should watch

This talk is essential viewing for anyone interested in social justice, gender equality, human rights and political economy. Dr. Kelkar blends rigorous academic research with deeply moving field accounts, offering a grounded perspective on how human rights frameworks can challenge harmful cultural norms without disrespecting indigenous heritage. The video can be watched below or via the YouTube link above.