Traditional music instruments of the Santals at the Museum of Santal Culture – West Bengal

Tirio bamboo flute * Dhodro banam bowed instrument * Madol or tumdak double-sided barrel drum * Photos: Boro Baski, Museum of Santal Culture; photo credit: Ludwig Pesch © 2012 Information on these and other music instruments provided by the Wesanthals E-Group * Tirio: The instrument most favoured by Santals, is bamboo flute with seven holes. It is … Read more

Adivasi art “A Disappearing World” – Gandhi Foundation (London)

The exhibition, “A Disappearing World: Ancient Traditions Under Threat in Tribal India” [held at the Brunei Gallery at SOAS from April 13 to June 25, 2011]. Seminars are also being held to discuss the suffering of the tribals. The photographs have been taken by an American, Robert Wallis, who said: “The adivasi artists are using … Read more

Video | “Rasi Nato” (Big Village): Song 5 from Santali video album “Ale Ato” (Our Village) – West Bengal

5 Rasi Nato (Big Village) [Starting from 16:25, continues/ends in Part 2] ThemeA group of women recall their bygone days:In our big village we girls and boys were together in pairs. But the pairs of our friendships are no more. Some of us have shut ourselves up indoors. Some of us have chained ourselves and … Read more

In search of a development that preserves the best parts of Adivasi culture and collectivity: Imagining an alternative “Discovery Of India”

Call us adivasis, please If Adivasis were to start writing their own Discovery Of India, it would be something like this: There are those who talk of India’s “5000 year-old culture,” there are those who talk of its “timeless traditions.” If India has a timeless tradition, it is ours. The cultures running back for tens … Read more

“Everyone wants to learn”: School programmes devised by expert members of the Santal community to facilitate development from within – West Bengal

Baski, who holds a doctorate in education and a master’s in social work from Viswa Bharati University, says he is happy being an educator. He has become a strong voice of the community not just in India but elsewhere, writing articles and books, and representing his community at conferences. He is also dedicated to preserving … Read more