Names & communities

Communities with populations spread across state/linguistic borders are often known by different names by local authorities while “some of these communities figure in various classifications in the states” according to the National Commission for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes: “There are many anomalies in terms of identification of these communities, from state to state. Many people also do not know what is denotified tribe and which authority is looking after their grievances. […] In some states they are called ‘tribal settlers’. In some states they are called ‘hidden tribes’ etc.” – Bibek Debroy in “An unfortunate legacy” (Indian Express, 5 January 2017)
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/crime-criminal-act-racial-discrimination-non-bailable-offence-criminal-tribes-act-an-unfortunate-legacy-4459258/
https://indiantribalheritage.org/?p=12284

Marketing authentic tribal artefacts in cooperation with tribal craftsmen from every State in India – Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation (TRIFED)

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Handicrafts and tribal arts’ enthusiasts will soon have much to cheer about. Coimbatore will soon get the 30 exclusive ‘Tribes India’ showroom that will offer a variety of tribal arts, crafts, and other products from all over India. […] Inking a memorandum of understanding with TNAU, the Managing Director said the showrooms in other parts … Read more

New gallery to showcase exquisite tribal and folk art: Recognizing an important yet neglected side of the Indian heritage”: National Museum – New Delhi

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The Hindu, NEW DELHI, February 7, 2014 The National Museum has got another newly-designed gallery – Tradition, Art and Continuity – which is displaying about 200 exhibits of ethnographic interest. It was inaugurated on Thursday by Union Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch. The displayed objects include Rahi palanquin (marriage litter) from the Santhal community and … Read more

Sustaining a linguistic heritage: The Bagatha language and alphabet explained on Omniglot – Andhra Pradesh & Odisha

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To view the script for Bagatha devised by Professor Prasanna Sree, click here >> Bagatha is spoken in the Paderu, Sujanakota, Karakapalli, Tajangi, Devarapalli and Peddavalasa hills in India by the Bagatha, also called Bhakta, Bhagada, Bogatha and Bhagatha, a Scheduled Tribe numbering 87,994, according to the 1981 Census.. Being expert archers, the Bagatha served the … Read more

Apatani tattoos in a global context: A custom that preceded modern fashion by centuries – Arunachal Pradesh

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Sanghamitra Baruah, Times Crest, 12 June 2010, June 12, 2010 Centuries before rockstars and celebrities, tattoos were used by tribal men and women across the world, whether it was the Maoris of New Zealand or the Apatanis of Arunachal Pradesh, to mark out identity and territory. […] While body art is a fashion statement for Michi, … Read more

Recognizing the value of archival photos for community engagement in India and Africa: School of Oriental and African Studies London – Jharkhand

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We have finished our work with our African and Indian communities successfully. […] Our community engagement programme is now beginning to bear fruit. Among the five groups we are working with are the Santal tribe in eastern India and the Mende group in Sierra Leone, where Methodist missionaries took photos in the 1920s-1940s. In both … Read more