History

“Since the days of remote past, the diversified art and cultural forms generated by the tribal and rural people of India, have continued to evince their creative magnificence. Apart from their outstanding brilliance from the perspective of aesthetics, the tribal/folk art and culture forms have played an instrumental role in reinforcing national integrity, crystallizing social solidarity, fortifying communal harmony, intensifying value-system and promoting the elements of humanism among the people of the country.” – Final Report “Evaluation Study of Tribal/Folk Arts and Culture in West Bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhatisgrah and Bihar” submitted to SER Division Planning Commission Govt. of India New Delhi by Gramin Vikas Seva Sanshtha West Bengal
https://indiantribalheritage.org/?p=29938

On stereotypes and “three kinds of knowledge” (universal, community and individual knowledge): Papers presented for “Tribes In Transition-II: Reaffirming Indigenous Identity Through Narrative” (National Conference)

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[Bold typeface added above for emphasis] Parallel Session 2: Land, Identity and Tribal Autobiographical NarrativesChaired by: Sandesha Rayappa, JNU, New DelhiPaper Presenters: Mahi S. Thavarathu (JNU, New Delhi), P. Rajitha Venugopal (JMI, New Delhi), Vasundhara Gautam (BML Manjul University, Gurgaon), Rakesh Soni (IGNTU, Amarkantak).Mahi S.Thavarathu, through her paper: “Diminishing the Stereotypes: Re-presenting the Tribals of … Read more

India’s first community getting its forest rights recognised: living in the core area of a tiger reserve – Karnataka

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Amoolya Rajappa, 5 October 2018 | Read the full report and view more photos here >> The Soligas created history by becoming the first tribal community living in the core area of a tiger reserve in India to get their forest rights recognised. Soligas are an indigenous tribe of Karnataka, inhabiting the peripheral forest areas near … Read more

Forest communities: Their role throughout Indian civilization – Hastinapur (Delhi) & Bihar

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<span data-mce-type=”bookmark” style=”display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;” class=”mce_SELRES_start”></span><span data-mce-type=”bookmark” style=”display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;” class=”mce_SELRES_start”></span><span data-mce-type=”bookmark” style=”display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;” class=”mce_SELRES_start”></span> Forest dwellers in early India – myths and ecology in historical perspective – Hastinapur (Delhi) & BiharThe forest was never far away from habitation. … Read more

An inspiration to many young girls from the Koya tribe: Jayanti Buruda, “the first female voice from the tribe to enter the mainstream media” –  Odisha

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Girls among the Koya tribe have a staggeringly low literacy level. “Girls hardly go to school, the literacy rate among girls is below 15 percent,” she adds. With little infrastructure for education and a strong tradition of early marriages within the community, most girls are bereft of any formal education. However, encouraged by their father, … Read more

“The most beautiful dioramas illustrating tribal life”: Bharatiya Adimjati Sevak Sangrahalaya museum inspired by Mahatma Gandhi – New Delhi

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“AV Thakkar, a Gandhian nationalist and the one-time head of of the Harijan Sevak Sangh […] advocated for bringing tribes into the Hindu fold.” – Richard Kamei (doctoral candidate at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai) in “Uncivilising the Mind: How anthropology shaped the discourse on tribes in India” (Caravan Magazine, 1 March 2020) … Read more