Ambitious e-governance scheme for tribal welfare ashram schools and hostels – Andhra Pradesh

An ambitious plan is on the anvil to bring the administration of as many as 74 tribal welfare ashram schools and 45 tribal welfare hostels in the Bhadrachalam Agency under e-governance from the coming academic year. With a view to ensure transparency, the Tribal Welfare Department has initiated the process of bringing e-governance to the … Read more

An experiment in intercultural communication: “Learning from the people in the villages, value their way of life” – West Bengal

Since the beginning of my work with people of the Santal villages, Ghosaldanga and Bishnubati, close to Santiniketan, it has been important to me that it is not a one-way street. Giving and receiving should be equally important. This means that I, an outsider, was willing to share my experiences and my knowledge while remaining … Read more

The Gond community: Discoveries in Indian history – Indus Valley, Chhattisgarh, Telangana & Karnataka

Gonds living in central and southern India could have migrated from the Indus Valley civilisation – KarnatakaPossibly “a revolutionary find” that links the adivasi Gond tribe to the Indus Valley civilisation, which flourished between 2500 B.C. and 1750 BC. Eleven of the Hampi pictographs resemble those of the civilisation, according to Dr. K.M. Metry, Head … Read more

Video & eBook | Reviving the Huka Banam: Fiddle of choice for the Santal communities – West Bengal

The Huka Banam has been a Santal tradition, particularly among the community in Purulia and Bankura. Since the last two decades or so however, the tradition has gradually become extinct. Only a handful of old timers are still familiar with or continue to play the instrument, with possibly a few younger exceptions. This workshop was … Read more

Video | “Please sister, pluck me a flower”: Santal puppetry and dhodro banam exponent Damon Murmu documented by Daricha Foundation – West Bengal

Daman Murmu is a Santal puppeteer and Banam artist from North Dinajpur in West Bengal. He performs the rare Chadar Badani form of puppetry which is practically extinct among the Santals themselves. 69 year old artist, Damon Murmu of Mahanandapur village in Dakshin Dinajpur became properly acquainted with the unique puppetry form of Chadar Badani … Read more