Responding to indigenous narratives in an interdisciplinary manner: M. Phil Course “Indigeneity in Literature and the Arts” & Recommended Reading – New Delhi

“Indigeneity in Literature and the Arts”List of study materials provided by Course-Coordinator: Dr. Ivy Imogene Hansdak for M.Phil students at the Dept. of English, JMI, New Delhi Select Primary Reading: Ao, Temsula. These Hills Called Home: Stories from a War Zone. New Delhi: Zubaan & Penguin Books, 2006. Bhaskaran, translated from the Malayalam original by … Read more

The Adivasi way of life: Utopian or worth emulating by ‘mainstream’ society? – An ongoing debate

Anyone who has had some meaningful interaction with India’s indigenous or adivasi people, cannot fail to be touched by the encounter. There is a directness in them, an absence of artifice or guile, an almost childlike innocence, born of simplicity combined with a lack of greed and avarice. The more interior and untouched a village, … Read more

“Speech communities deserve dignity and respect”: Linguist Prof. Ganesh Devy on ways to avoid “global phonocide” – UNESCO lecture

Indigenous languages by GANESH N. DEVY | Full text | Backup (PDF, 100 KB)Excerpts from the modified version of the text of UNESCO lecture, October 2008 RECOGNIZED as ‘Aborigines’ in Australia, as ‘Mâori’ in New Zealand, as ‘First Nations’ in Canada, as ‘Indigenous’ in the United States, as ‘Janajatis’ in India, or as ‘tribes’ in … Read more

Tiruvalluvar revered as ancient king among the Kaani of Kanyakumari district – Tamil Nadu

It is interesting to learn that a hill in Kanyakumari district is named after Tiruvalluvar. […] The Kanyakumari Historical and Cultural Research Centre recently brought to light the existence of Valluvan Kal Potrai in Koovaikkadu hamlet, Surulodu panchayat, Kalkulam taluk, Kanyakumari district. The author, along with two others, went to the hilltop to speak to … Read more

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

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 … Read more