“We are nothing without the forest, and the forest is nothing without us”: Kattunayakans in the Nilgiris, one of the last few remaining honey gathering communities of the world – Tamil Nadu

Living in the Nilgiris, the Kattunayakans are one of the last few remaining honey gathering communities of the world. Over many generations they have mastered the skills required to tap …

“A multi-tribes state very rich in folk songs, music and dances”: Festivals that promote intercultural connections (February) – Arunachal Pradesh

[…] “Arunachal Pradesh being a multi-tribes state is very rich in folk songs, music and dances. However, the resonance of folk music and such performances are diminishing owing to the …

“Democracy and caste system can’t go hand in hand”: Paying attention to the enforcement of India’s 1989 act to prevent the commission of offences of atrocities against members of SCs and STs (Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes)

Hardly anyone seems to have paid attention to India’s dismal showing at the UN Human Rights Council’s universal periodical review when the latter alleged that India is “all words, no …

“When your neighbour is a tiger”: A healthy ecosystem involves tribal communities as tigers thrive in areas inhabited by people – World Tiger Day 2020

Picture a world where tigers are a distant memory. Majestic beasts of old legends and fairytales, that later generations will never get to witness. With development projects encroaching deeper into …

The Right to Information Act (RTI): Legislation that empowers citizens to prevent illegitimate concentrations of power

The basic object of the Right to Information Act is to empower the citizens, promote transparency and accountability in the working of the Government, contain corruption, and make our democracy …

Santali and related tribal languages of the Chotanagpur region: Mundari, Ho & Birjiya – Jharkhand

Courtesy: Dr. Ivy Hansdak, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Jamia Millia Islamia University New Delhi (email 17 March 2017)

The status and spread of Santali in different regions of India: A flourishing language hardly in need of being “revived”

Source: personal messages by Dr. Ivy Hansdak, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Jamia Millia Islamia University New Delhi (21 & 22 January 2017) responding to Two tribal villages in Bengal revive …

“The world sells humans. What kind of world is this?” – Hindi Movie “Kamla” revisited

“Tribals are subject to oppression and cruelty even after independence and still picked up by the investigating officers to cover up shoddy investigations” – D.Y. Chandrachud (Chief Justice of India since 9 …