Adivasis’ profound influence on modern Indian art: “The Triumph of Modernism” by Partha Mitter

Primitivism in modern Indian art drew on adibasis. […] At Santiniketan, art was to be an integral part of an all-rounded education; Tagore had long considered Abanindranath’s pupil Nandalal [Bose] the best person to give this shape. The triumph of modernism: India’s artists and the avant-garde, 1922-1947 by Partha Mitter (New Delhi, Oxford Unitversity Press, 2007), p. 79 … Read more

Video | The representation of tribal women in Indian cinema: A comparison between Assamese cinema and Satyajit Ray’s classic “Days And Nights In The Forest” – Assam & West Bengal

The immediate impression of Indian movies is that all are depicting an established formula, where the good woman is usually vulnerable and innocent, mostly good looking and also helpless or lacking in intelligence. The bad woman is either sensuous or scary and wicked even in appearance. But Assamese cinema, especially as seen through most of … Read more

eBook & eJournal | Reaffirming Indigenous Identity Through Narrative: Conference report

Tribes In Transition-II: Reaffirming Indigenous Identity Through NarrativeReport for the ICSSR-sponsored Two-Day National Conference organised by The Department of English & Outreach Programme Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi on 27-28 February 2017 Read or download the full report (printfriendly PDF, 560 KB) Concept Note: The term “tribe” – used synonymously today with other terms like … Read more

Mahatma Gandhi on industrialism and his appeal to capitalists of India to become “trustees to the welfare of the masses” – Young India 1928

GOD FORBID that India should ever take to industrialism after the manner of the West. The economic imperialism of a single tiny island kingdom (England) is today keeping the world in chains. If an entire nation of 300 millions took to similar economic exploitation, it would strip the world bare like locusts. Unless the capitalists … Read more

eBook | Jawaharlal Nehru’s “Five Principles” for the policy to be pursued vis-a-vis the tribals

Jawaharlal Nehru [1889–1964, first Prime Minister of India] formulated the following “Five Principles” [Panchsheel] for the policy to be pursued vis-a-vis the tribals: (1) People should develop along the lines of their own genius, and the imposition of alien values should be avoided. (2) Tribal rights in land and forest should be respected (3) Teams … Read more