In Partappur, a small village in Madhya Pradesh’s Panna district, Bhanu is known as the Panna ki Sherni. The title reflects not just her courage but a long journey of resisting fear, caste stigma, and violence to fight for justice for herself and her community.
Bhanu comes from a Dalit family with eight sisters and two brothers. Growing up in a deeply marginalized setting, she faced constant pressure from social norms that discouraged girls from studying or working. Despite these barriers, she continued her education and went on to complete a Master’s degree in Social Work, an achievement that itself challenged entrenched ideas in her community.
Her work as a social worker, however, was not free from discrimination. Bhanu recalls that people often dismissed her opinions because of her caste identity. To navigate this hostility, she adopted a different surname in her professional life and chose to reveal her identity only after building trust. This strategy allowed her to form strong connections with children, women, and youth, creating safe spaces where they could speak openly about their struggles.
For Bhanu, social change has always been the ultimate goal. With a firm belief in not giving up, she has worked across issues ranging from road development and access to education to fighting sexual harassment, advocating for Dalit and Adivasi rights, and addressing women’s health concerns.
One of the most defining battles of her life was her own fight against sexual harassment. When she filed an FIR, she faced intense backlash and repeated threats from the perpetrator. Despite the intimidation, she refused to withdraw. “I knew if I did not stand up for myself, I’d be letting down every woman who looks to me for courage,” Bhanu says. After four years of legal struggle, the perpetrator was sentenced to ten years in prison. Reflecting on that period, she adds, “It was one of the hardest battles, but I knew I could not let fear silence me.”
Bhanu’s work gained further strength after she attended the Samvidhan se Samadhan training by We The People Abhiyan in 2019, as a PHIA fellow. The training deepened her understanding of constitutional rights and duties and boosted her confidence as an advocate. She began writing clearer and stronger petitions, citing relevant constitutional articles, which compelled authorities to take her demands seriously. It also helped her connect community struggles directly to constitutional values and the freedom of choice guaranteed to citizens.
One of her significant achievements came in Shirsho Bhan village in Panna district. The village had only one kaccha road, which flooded every monsoon, cutting off access to nearby villages and preventing children from attending school for months. Bhanu mobilized villagers to collectively write a petition to local authorities, carefully referencing constitutional provisions. She followed up persistently until action was taken. Today, the village has a proper road, ensuring year-round school access for forty to fifty students.
Over the years, Bhanu has impacted more than five thousand people and continues to remain closely connected with four hundred to five hundred individuals who regularly seek her guidance. Despite her experience and recognition, she describes herself as a constant learner, always looking to deepen her understanding to serve her community better.
