Two novels on West Ghat tribal cultural heritage: Changing perceptions of land and its ownership – Kerala & Tamil Nadu

Two novels that capture local history in English translationEach novel is written from a different angle, yet both chronicle the lives of people attached to their land and customs while facing the pressures imposed by mainstream society: one by male Malayalam writer ‘Narayan’ who hails from Kerala’s Malayarayar community; and the other by Rajam Krishnan … 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

Mahasweta Devi: Bhasha’s life time mentor remembered at the Adivasi Academy Tejgadh – Gujarat

An indefatigable crusader for tribal rights, eminent litterateur Mahasweta Devi was keen to be laid to rest at Tejgadh, a tribal village in Gujarat and also the site of the Adivasi Academy, says noted literary critic, linguist and tribal rights activist Ganesh Devy who wishes to bring some of her ashes to the academy that … 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