“While benefiting from affirmative action in some cases, Adivasis or indigenous people in India also feel the claustrophobic confines of their identity which has been imposed on them by others, be it the colonial administrator, the colonial anthropologist, the missionary or the neo-liberal, neo-imperialist forces that rule global economy today.” – Santali poet, scholar and translator Ivy Imogene Hansdak in “Is tribal identity relevant in today’s world?”, Inaugural Speech, National Conference “Tribes In Transition-II: Reaffirming Indigenous Identity Through Narrative” (2017)
https://indiantribalheritage.org/?p=23032
When it comes to protein and calorie counts, milk and bananas do not match up to eggs, particularly for [Madhya Pradesh], where development indicators are among India’s worst: Almost 51% of children under five years of age are underweight, and 49% are stunted. The state has India’s highest infant mortality rate, i.e. the number of … Read more
Source: “Review: Three new children’s books on the Irulas” by Neha Kirpal (who writes primarily on books, music, films, theatre and travel), Hindustani Times, 19 July 2024URL: https://www.hindustantimes.com/books/review-three-new-children-s-books-on-the-irulas-101721397538195.htmlDate Visited: 10 March 2026 “Our dream is to ensure that every child in India is equipped with access to quality education, and we believe stories can make … Read more
3.10. Cultural Forms of the Irula People The life cycle rituals of the Irulas are markedly different from that of the other Hindu or Christian communities. They perform the life cycle ceremonies with the help of their women by well-established cultural patterns and do not depend on outside intervention to keep itself going. They celebrate … Read more
Source: “Adivasi honey harvesters demand forest control and criticise ‘unfriendly’ conservation measures”URL: https://india.mongabay.com/2022/11/adivasi-honey-harvesters-demand-forest-control-and-criticise-unfriendly-conservation-measures/Date Visited: 25 December 2022
Until there is a widespread change of attitudes towards tribal people in India, where they are still often viewed as ‘primitive’ and ‘backward’, tribes such as the Jarawa will never receive the respect they deserve. The Jarawa’s land and resources must be protected so they are safe from exploitation. It is only when they are … Read more