© Thinkworks Pvt Ltd – An Adivasi school teacher from Bastar, Soni Sori was framed in eight cases, jailed for two and half years, tortured and raped on charges of acting as a conduit for Maoists. After her release from prison she plunged into activism and has since then campaigned for the rights of tribal communities caught under the crossfire between the Maoists and the Indian Police. Soni is also a member of the Aam Aadmi Party.

Despite all the struggles and atrocities, Soni Sori has gone through, she still believes in fighting with the pen. “Fighting with guns gives birth to violence but fighting with ideals leads to peace and that’s why I never took to arms. As a teacher I use my pen as my weapon,” she says.