Tribal Knowledge Systems, Values and Traditions: Papers presented for “Tribes In Transition-II: Reaffirming Indigenous Identity Through Narrative” (National Conference)

Parallel session 6: Tribal Knowledge Systems, Values and Traditions
Chaired by: Mridula Rashmi Kindo, Dept of English, IGNOU, New Delhi
Paper Presenters: Arun Kumar Oraon (JNU, New Delhi), Sandesha Rayapa-Garbiyal (JNU, New Delhi), Teresa Tudu (BHU, Varanasi), Shimi Moni Doley (JMI, New Delhi).
Arun Kumar Oraon presented a paper titled “Contribution of Tribal Society to Modern Medicine”. This paper focussed on the role of the upcoming foreign markets in research on indigenous medicine and unfortunate destruction of forest by mining companies. The indigenous knowledge has which mostly been in oral form is also being destroyed. The paper concluded with the idea of preserving forest, which is the abode of medicinal plants and tribal people and hence to make use of indigenous knowledge of medicine.

Sandesha Rayapa-Garbiyal presented a paper titled “Runglwo: Undergoing a much-awaited Paradigmatic Shift.” Runglwo is one the most endangered languages in India. There are only 8000 people who speak this language in three valleys: Chaudas, Darma and Byans. People migrate according to seasonal changes. The language faces acute problems of survival due to the influence of Hindi language and modern education system. The young now use new technology to preserve the language. The state government has recognized the language to teach in schools. This type of attempts is much awaited as the paradigm shift in preservation of the language.
Teresa Tudu presented a paper titled “Tribal Literature: Santhals and their Cultural Anxiety.” As tribal life has become a popular discourse in academia, the alien and fascinating indigeneity of Santhals has been always appealing to the non-tribal and attracted researchers and writers. These tribal have been portrayed as object of analysis, as hunger-stricken and uncivilized. Consequently, the socio-political mainstream that is unaccustomed to accept them as civilized human being, tries to subjugate them. They agree to accept non-tribal intellectuals at the cost of betrayal to their self-identity. The paper analysedthe literary works with Santhals and Hindu religion and their despair on the segregation from their community and culture.
Shimi Moni Doley presented a paper titled “Text, Context and Reader: An Ideological Reading of Miri Jyori.” Miri Jyori is an Assamese novel written by Rajnikant Bordoloi, published in 1894. The story is based on a folktale of the ‘Mishing’ tribe involving the tragic love of Jonki and Panoi. The paper analyses ideological self-evidences that the narratorial voice expresses overtly and camouflages covertly in the novel. The interpretation of the text demonstrates a privileging of the dominant discourse and exoticization of the other. The frame of values articulated in the narrative installs the hierarchical distance between the narrator and tribal folktale retold.
(Student Rapporteur: Ms. Kanu Priya)

Read the inaugural Speech by Dr. Ivy Hansdak: “Is tribal identity relevant in today’s world?” delivered during the conference titled “Tribes In Transition-II: Reaffirming Indigenous Identity Through Narrative” | Conference report | Video presentation “Tribes in Transition III” (September 2021): Inaugural Session & Keynote Speech by Prof. Anvita Abbi >>

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