History and tourism: A homeland for “tribals who had dreamed of a separate state for a long time” – Jharkhand

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History and Geography

Jharkhand which came into being on 15 November 2000 as the 28th State of the Union is the homeland of the tribals who had dreamed of a separate state for a long time. According to legend, Raja Jai Singh Deo of Odisha had declared himself the ruler of Jharkhand in the 13th century. It largely comprises forest tracks of Chhotanagpur plateau and Santhal Pargana and has distinct cultural traditions. In post-independence era, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha started a regular agitation which impelled the government to establish the Jharkhand Area Autonomous Council in 1995 and finally a full-fledged State. […]

The State is rich in mineral resources. The important available minerals are coal, iron ore, lime stone, copper ore, bauxite, pyrite, china clay, kyanite, fine clay, dolomite, graphite, bentonite, soap stone, quartz sand and silica sand. The nascent State of Jharkhand has the enormous potential for exploitation of coal, mica and other minerals particularly in Singhbhum, Bokaro, Hazaribagh, Ranchi, Koderma and Dhanbad. […]

Tourist Centres

There are many scenic attractions in the State, namely, Ichagarh Bird Sanctuary, Udhava Bird Sanctuary-Sahibganj (Pathara Lake), Chachro Crocodile Breeding Centre-Koderma (Tilaya Dam), Chandrapura Bird Sanctuary, Jawaharlal Nehru Zoological Garden (Bokaro), Tenughat Bird Sanctuary, Dalma Wild Life Sanctuary (Jamshedpur), Tata Steel Zoological Park (Jamshedpur), Palkote Wild Life Sanctuary (Gumla), Bhagwan Birsa Zoological Gardens (Ranchi), Birsa Deer Sanctuary (Kalmati Ranchi), Betla National Park (Palamau), Ranchi Aquarium (Ranchi) and Hazaribagh National Park, Tatoloi hot water stream (Dumka) and Saranda Forest.

Apart from the above, Jharkhand has some famous temples like, Jharkhand Dham, Lagnta Baba Temple/Majar, Bindhvashini Temple, Masanjore Dam, etc.

Source: Jharkhand – States and Union Territories – Know India: National Portal of India
Address : https://www.knowindia.gov.in/knowindia/state_uts.php?id=12
Date Visited: Sat Jan 31 2015 12:31:52 GMT+0100 (CET)

[…] Palash is an initiative to train Sabar artisans from Saraikela district to weave eco-friendly designer products to make a livelihood. Out of 32 tribes in Jharkhand, nine are endangered. Sabar is also one of the most primitive and languishing tribes in the country. Their strong resistance to British dominance resulted in the community getting listed among the 68 denotified tribes who were tagged criminals under the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871.

Most Sabar people in Jharkhand now live in Samanpur, a village surrounded by hills and forests. Situated 60km from Jamshedpur, it doesn’t have proper road connectivity. […]

“We practically lived in the jungle, ate whatever we could gather from the forests. Never knew of education and even today I am illiterate. We used to gather firewood and sell them to earn Rs 100-200 a month. There is still no road, hospital or anything,” said Sagar Sarwar, one of the 10 artisans who are present at the India International Trade Fair.

Things started turning around when Sinha saw a woman weaving a basket out of Kanshi grass in one of the huts. “I saw a huge potential in this intricate weaving. I was told that these articles had an unorganized market with meager incentives.” With the help of National Institute of Fashion Technology in Delhi, Sinha arranged training of 50 such artisans. And they now earn Rs 4,000 per month, said Vijay Sawar, an artisan. […]

Source: “Project Palash gives new life to Jharkhand tribe” by Manash Pratim Gohain, The Times of India, 1 January 2015
Address : https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Project-Palash-gives-new-life-to-Jharkhand-tribe/articleshow/45712451.cms
Date Visited: Sat Jan 31 2015 12:43:53 GMT+0100 (CET)

[Bold typeface added above for emphasis]

Brought up in a system in which all communications are by word of mouth, and hence used to trusting verbal statements, tribal populations get confused by constant reference to documents and written rules, which increasingly determine all aspects of rural life.

Tribes of India: The Struggle for Survival >>

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