Giving a fresh impetus to endangered tribal customs: “Art forms are aboriginal and yet scientific” – Jharkhand

A cultural renaissance of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) of Jharkhand is not a distant dream. In an attempt to prepare a directory of their dying livelihood skills, art forms and forgotten rituals as well as to revive the same, the state art and culture department has decided to organise a five-day workshop-cum-festival soon. […] … Read more

Adivasi societies – a heterogeneous set of ethnic and tribal groups in South Asia

Adivasi (a Hindi word that literally means the original inhabitants) is a term for a heterogeneous set of ethnic and tribal groups believed to be the aboriginal population of India. Adivasi societies are present in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and other South Asian nations. Adivasi is officially recognized by the Indian government as “Scheduled Tribes” … Read more

Video | Growing interest in rural and tribal culture: Where men, women and children dance together on many occasions

Sample from the search results for “santal dance video”: Women and men practicing  “Santal Folk Dance” together in a public park – Published by ansigovin on Nov 2, 2012 “Traditional Dance in South Asia” by Rolf Killius Dance and music are the oldest and most original art forms in the world and especially numerous and developed in South Asia. Thus … Read more

Tip | “He has no choice”: On Adivasi survival and living in the global economy

The moment an adivasi in the remotest village plants tea or coffee, he is connected with the market in London. He has no choice. He is already living in the global economy. The issue is how to help him understand the global economy because if he can’t understand the mainstream, he is going to be … Read more

“Where art imitates life”: Gond artists recognized – Madhya Pradesh

Gond tribal painting is an integral part of tribal festivities, rituals, and day-to-day living When one lives amidst nature, one’s life is the life of nature, one’s thoughts are the thoughts of the birds, deer and the rivers and one’s expressions are full of nature’s form and gestures. The exhibition of Gond tribal paintings from … Read more