Lingamma was a woman who lived hundreds of years ago. She was often asked by family and friends for help when someone was under the weather or in need of some other assistance. She was a wonderful mother to her large family and showed intelligence to boot.However, as can almost entirely be the case in all witch
accusation situations, Lingamma was so wonderful and respected that a few other women felt jealousy toward her. And as E. E. Evans-Pritchard says in his book in 1937:In a study of Zande witchcraft we must bear in mind, firstly, that the notion is a function of situations of misfortune, and secondly, that it is a function of personal relations.Nevertheless, hundreds of years ago and indeed to this very day in 2010, a woman who can help others gain health and love is automatically a witch. Lingamma's son protected her the best he could after she was accused of being a witch -- all it takes is an accusation.
A woman Lingamma was to help felt she had not done her best and since she was also jealous of her, she say an opportunity to bring Lingamma down a notch. But Lingamma, being a well-loved mother to her children, had someone to stand up for her. Here is what he eldest son did.He took his aunt Chennamma, who had accused his mother of witchcraft, to court and won. He defended his mother on the grounds that she has helped nearly everyone in the village and Chennamma had not. The judge also gave him the power to take any case before the police in which someone in the town even discussed the witchcraft accusation openly.
This was such an unusual story about witchcraft and the outcome of being accused of witchcraft that I had to share it with you.
