Daltonganj: Shyama Singh, a prominent tribal social activist from Latehar district who gained national recognition after appearing on Aamir Khan’s television show Satyamev Jayate in 2014, died on Wednesday, 18 days after being bitten by a cobra. She was 50.Singh was cremated on Thursday near Sat Hi Nullah in Namudag panchayat. Among those who attended her funeral were noted economist Jean Drèze and scores of social activists.A former mukhiya of Namudag panchayat under Manika block, Singh was bitten by a black cobra that had reportedly hidden inside a drawer of a dressing table at her residence in Sadhwadih village on July 18. She was rushed to a missionary hospital in Tumbagara, where she remained under treatment before succumbing to the snakebite on Wednesday.“She was shifted to the nearest available hospital within minutes of the incident. The bite was severe and, despite prolonged treatment, she could not survive,” said James Herenj, Jharkhand NREGA Watch convener and Singh’s long-time associate.For more than two decades, Singh was a prominent grassroots voice on issues of rural poverty, hunger and employment. Her work earned her national attention when she was invited to Mumbai to participate in the recording of Satyamev Jayate. The episode featuring her was aired on March 23, 2014.Despite the recognition, friends and colleagues remembered Singh as a deeply grounded activist who remained closely connected to her village and community. She was known for powerfully articulating the hardships faced by the rural poor and had also participated in discussions on hunger and nutrition alongside noted economist Amartya Sen.Her husband, Pachathi Singh, said the family had no idea a cobra had entered their home. “It was around 3.5 feet long. This was the second time a venomous snake had sneaked into our house,” he said.
