Celebrating the unity in the diverse culture of India – Punjab & Odisha

Puri, May 25: The annual folk fair celebrating the tribal culture of the country and the rural heritage of different states has started off in Puri today. Members of different communities from all over India are taking part in it. […]

During the five-day festival, which entered its 13th year, dance forms from various tribal and folk communities will be presented.

Punjab’s bhangra and Gujarati dandiya are very popular at the fair. This year, two dancers from the two states have taken part. Artistes from Northeast will also showcase their talent.

Tribal communities such as Saura, Kondh and Santal will display their festive celebrations that are marked by a community gathering, dancing and singing.

“Odisha is known for its tribal communities and their culture. It feels great to watch their performance,” said Parmeet, a Punjabi dancer. […]

“Through the folk fair, which is a dance and song festival for tribal groups and folk communities, we wish to establish the unity in the diverse culture of India. The exhibition provides opportunities to people, who take interest in agriculture for their living, to buy various things,” said Rajesh Kumar Mohanty, general secretary of the host organisation Shree Shrikshetra Soochana.

Source: “Toast to diverse tribal culture” by Namita Panda, The Telegraph, 26 May 2015
Address: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150526/jsp/odisha/story_22034.jsp#.VjtpeqIkJ2w
Date Visited: Thu Nov 05 2015 15:37:30 GMT+0100 (CET)

A detailed 350-page report, prepared after a survey of the 12 communities in Punjab, has confirmed that eight tribes – seven ex-criminal (de-notified) and Gurjars – fulfill the parameters of “tribe” laid down by the Union government and social anthropologists. A first comprehensive study of its kind in the state, it says the conditions they live in are dismal, as compared to the major Scheduled Caste communities – Adharmis and Balmikis. To make matters worse, they have been denied the benefits of reservation.

For record, the study refers to the annual report (2003-04) of the Union ministry of tribal affairs, which says that Punjab has no tribal population. The ethnographic study of the de-notified and nomadic tribes of Punjab was entrusted to the department of sociology and social anthropology of the Punjabi University, following several representations to the Centre from these communities that they be recognized as STs. Interestingly, some of these communities are recognized at STs in other states, in Punjab they were clubbed in the SC category.

“Out of the 12 communities studied by the six-member group, seven – Sansi, Bauaria, Bazigar, Barad, Bangala, Gadhile and Nat– were de-notified,” said Birinder Pal Singh, professor of sociology and social anthropology of Punjabi University and chief coordinator of the project.[…]

Source: “8 tribes in Punjab match Scheduled Tribe category: Report” by IP Singh, Times of India, 2 September 2009
Address: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/8-tribes-in-Punjab-match-Scheduled-Tribe-category-Report/articleshow/4961528.cms
Date Visited: 10 November 2020

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See also

Adverse inclusion | Casteism | Rural poverty

Childhood

Crafts and visual arts

Demographic Status of Scheduled Tribe Population of India (Census figures 2011)

Denotified Tribes, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes – Report and Recommendations (Technical Advisory Group)

Fact checking | Figures, census and other statistics

Human Rights Commission (posts) | www.nhrc.nic.in (Government of India)

Imprisonment & rehabilitation

Search tips | Names of tribal communities, regions and states of India

State wise population of Scheduled Tribes (ST) and their percentage to the total population in the respective states and to the total STs population

“What are the Rights of Scheduled Tribes? – Government of India (National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, NCST)

“What is the Forest Rights Act about?” – Campaign for Survival and Dignity

“Who are Scheduled Tribes?” – Government of India (National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, NCST)

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