Video | Santal Puppetry documented by Daricha Foundation: Chadar Badni (Chadar Badar) by Sahadev Kisku & group –  Jharkhand & West Bengal

Chadar Bad(o)ni is a form of traditional Santal puppetry, practised by just a few members of the community. Performance by Sahadev Kisku and his group. Chadar Badni often referred to as Chadar Badar is a unique form of puppetry that is practiced by just a few members of the Santal community. Practically extinct among the … Read more

Video | “Banam Raja”: Lutes and fiddles by Adivaani – Jharkhand and West Bengal

Banam Raja from adivaani on Vimeo. Banams are the lutes and the fiddles of the Santal people. They are made from locally available material–wood, vegetables and animal hide. The most common banams still made and played by Santals are the Dhodro Banam, the Reta Banam and the Phentor Banam. […]

Mundari, Oraon and Chik-Baraik dances: “Living together, keeping their dances distinct” – Jharkhand

A scholar pursuing his PhD in Ranchi University has captured the diverse beats of Jharkhand’s tribal dances in an academic study. Titled “Peculiarities of Folk Dances of Tribes in Jharkhand”, Sunil Baraik’s work on the rarely touched subject will be published by Indian Folklore Support Centre, Chennai. “It’s a booklet that should find readers among … Read more

Educational package for children of the Kadar community: Initiating children into formal education easily – Kerala & Tamil Nadu

An educational package for pre-primary children of the Kadar tribe incorporating their own language [has been] distributed in 22 anganwadis [in July 2012]. Dr. Amitha Bachan, the man behind the project says that it will help initiate the children into formal education easily They are not like any other children. These kids of the primitive … Read more

Jaipal Singh and the Adivasi (Adibasi) movement of modern India: A gifted speaker from Chotanagpur – Jharkhand

The first report on minority rights, made public in late August 1947, provided for reservation for Untouchables only. Muslims were denied the right, which in the circumstances was to be expected. However, one member [of the Constituent Assembly of India] regretted that ‘the most needy, the most deserving group of adibasis [tribals] has been completely … Read more