TANTIA BHIL HUMAN RIGHTS TRAINING PROJECT

Tantia Bhil together with his companions and Bhil Sena (Bhil army) was a great patriot, freedom fighter, lover and defender of Adivasi human rights in India against two great forces of that time opposed to the tribal communities. Being an Adivasi from the exploited community of Bhils of Nimar, he had much less resources at disposal. Had he been supported for this social actions to promote the sacred mission initiated on his own with an indigenously organised Bhil sena and local trained Bhil fighters together with his three other companions Bijania et, he would have achieved much more for the country and human rights of the Adivasis of that time. British rule in those days de jure and de facto opposed Tantia Bhil, the great Adivasi patriot of India. The high caste persons or the land lords instead of supporting Tantia Bhil sided with British Raj in Nimar. In the prime time of Adivasi freedom and human rights fighting moments, Tantia Bhil was betrayed by one his Hindu friends, on sacred feast Rakhi near Patal Pani Fall on Malwa-Nimar border.

There are many tribals and members of indigenous communities who are discriminated and denied their rightful status to be remembered and recorded in India history and society. Tantia Bhil is one of them who is not getting sufficient justice and honour for all that he has done for the Adivasi and Indian society. These programmes and proposals on the contrary support Indian society and development of the tribal communities in India much along the lines of many envisaging today.

The human right associations committed to the cause should promote the sacred mission of Tantia Mama to honour the hero of the Adivasi India, preserve and promote his legacy in the country today. Among many programmes and projects initiated in memory of Tantia Bhil could be concerning human rights such for example concerning Adivasi cultures, land, languages, education, food, fodder, drinking water facilities, irrigation, folk-dances, Adivasi art, trade, festivals, transparency, participation, planning, right to information, social auditing, relief work, markets, prices, commodities, shops, leadership, mines, contracts, permits, forest, public transportation, employment, schools, colleges, scholarships, health, or any other tribal human rights related issues which are systematically being denied or ignored to suite a few or others in the planning and development of the country. Tantia Bhil human rights training programmes and projects thus shall achieve commonly many aims and objectives. These could be:

1. It shall establish the image of tribal hero’s who stood for putting to an end of British Raj.
2. Instil in the hearts and minds of Adivasi youth of India patriotic spirit.
3. Human rights programmes will gain a momentum in Adivasi Anchals.
4. A sense of indigenous leadership among the tribals shall be genuinely fostered.
5. Love to work for own community with selfless zeal like Tantia Mama and his companions shall be fostered.
6. This programme should be conducted only in Adivasi languages, with printed material at hand, in each of the tribal blocks of in the country.
7. Tribal Atrocities act shall gain importance and tribal atrocities shall diminish.
8. Human rights in which highly neglected shall be respected at all levels especially in Adivasi regions.
9. Awards for those who excel in all good activities such as games, sports, human rights, etc should be instituted.
10. Tribal self esteem (Adivasi Swabhiman) which is diminishing to cultural contacts or cultural invasions, or Sanskritisation shall be protected and the Adivasis shall feel their self worth in all social and cultural matters worth.
11. Competitions in memory of this great Bhil Saint and deified hero Tantia Bhil should be on regular basis.

Is this not the right of the Adivasis and other indigenous populations in the country who are more than 80% to have 80% heroes, sages, monks, leaders, programmes ect. for and from their communities of their interests....? Then why is this great deprivation in all the areas of life......? Are there not many more good persons in other communities of indigenous origin?

Web 2.0 Development By Black Soft

HUMAN RIGHTS' EDUCATION IN INDIA

To Honour the Bhils and Perpetuate the Memory of Rana Punja Bhil, Senapati of Mewar

The Government of India has made beautiful act called Atrocity Act for the protection of tribals or Adivasis OF India who on record are 8.2 % in the country. The Atrocity law is also operative empowering courts and persons in authority concerned to protect the tribes of India. Ever since it has come into implementation, thanks to the Government of India for enacting such a law and much more for enforcing it in the tribal regions, but on the grass root level it has made hardly any difference for the tribals in India. Besides there are so many other laws too in existence to make no difference. When the tribal or the indigenous rights issues arise there is no one to stand by and the tribals have to pay huge price for the defence of their Adivasi rights. The land case of Orissa, Tata Nano case in West Bengal and now case of British Company's Mining rights in Chhattisgarh. It is said that some laws are enacted to keep on records in papers and not for implementation. The tribal human right laws appear to be of this category. The Bhils of Western India have laid down their lives for the defence of India for example when all the Rajputs had joined Akbar's Army against Haldighat War, it was only the patriotic Bhils of India stood by the worthy son of Rajputana. What an honour for the patriotic Bhils of Rajputana who stood by till the very end of Rana Pratap when every Rajpur had deserted him. Is it not fair to initiate Human rights education to perpetuate the memory of such loyal Bhils when the so called the great warriors had deserted the Maharana of Mewar?

To perpetuate the memory and the vision of the great tribal heroes such as the Bhil Hero Rana Punja should be initiated for the colleges and the universities very aptly. At the same time another course of the tribal human rights should be introduced for the Adiviasis of India which will enhance their lowered self image by denigrating them. One such venture in the adivasi areas of India could be rightly termed as Rana Punja human right education in India. Some may enhance their self esteem while ignoring the Bhils of Mewar but the history cannot be reversed.......!

Website Development By Black Soft

ADIVASI HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER

Tantia Mama the Greatest Bhil & Indian Human Rights Worker of Adivasis Today

In the written sources of India and oral tradition of the Bhils, we find many heroic characters depicted as great Bhils who left behind the traces of their footprints. Among these great Bhils are Prince Eklavya the greatest archer of his time, Shabari Bhilni who honoured God Rama by her hospitality, Bhil King Rana Punja who stood by Rana Pratap of Mewar when all Rajputs of Rajputana had deserted Rana Pratap and joined Emperor Akbar's army, Tantia Mama Bhil when the Landlords of Nimar were with British people a tribal stood against the foreign rule, and many others.
Tantia Mama the sole hero and freedom fighter of Nimar originally hails from Sirpur a small village some 20km East of Khandwa in Nimar region of Madhya Pradesh. The oral tradition of the Bhils and some written records concerning Tantia Mama's unknown life history say that due to the normal land dispute, about the division of ancestral property among the brothers and nearest kins, he left the birth place and went to Aulia some 18 km away from Khandwa and settled down temporarily in a small Bhil village called Pir Pokhar.

The Muslim sage or the Holy man of Pir Pokhar sheltered Tantia, taught him many lessons to face life and not to welcome escapism. The teachings of the Muslim saint strengthened the will and character of Tantia and he gradually began to take initiatives in solving the village land disputes, recovery of higher loan interests charged by the local land lords and annexation of the Bhil land by them. One problem the tribal Bhils suffered from the Nimar land lords was concerning the loans given on higher interests to the poor Bhils which they were helpless to repay due to failure of crops, natural calamities, manmade problems owing to which the tribals suffered serious social, physical and economic harassments in the hands of the Nimari land lords. Tantia couldn't tolerate these atrocities any longer afflicting Adivasi society, economy and self-esteem of his fellow Adivasi Bhil Brothers. He began to defend them and get justice for the tribal Bhils of Nimar by taking back the land from the land lords, illegally taken away and the same way money collected from the Bhils by these land lords who were charging higher interests from the Nimari Bhils. Thus Tantia Bhil proved to be the Robin hood of Nimar. This particular role of human right defence by the emerging Bhil hero and the leader the Nimari land lords could not accept.

The land lords of Nimar the Choudharies jointly accused Tantia Bhil as it happens even today, for looting and robbing them. The British Government took action against Tantia Bhil depicting him in their records as a thief and a plunderer of Nimar. Now the wrath of Tantia Bhil turned against British rulers too who were directly doing injustice to him and supporting the land lords. His anger doubled in revenge against both powerful enemies. The British after a long struggle arrested Tantia Mama and after trying in Jabalpur court hanged the hero of Nimar unjustly. Thus one more Bhil leader, great hero and lion of Nimar, fighting ceaselessly also a great freedom fighter vanished for defending Adivasi human rights of India against the tyranny of the land lords and anarchy of the British peoples, together with his companions. Much more than the freedom fighter, Tantia Mama the great Bhil was the Adivasi human rights fighter of Nimar giants the local landlords. The government of Madhya Pradesh has not done sufficient justice to the great hero of the Bhils in the state especially in Nimar. Today Tantia Bhil is the greatest hero of Nimar, ideal Nimari, freedom fighter, defender of Adivasi human rights in India, and deified hero of the Bhils of Bhilanchal especially in Nimar. This very sacred task Mama Baleshwar Dayal did for the Bhils of Bhilanchal from Bamania in Jhabua, MP. A fact for both, the state government of Madhya Pradesh and Indian Government are yet to recognise these two Adivasi human rights fighters of Bhilanchal.

Even though the greatest hero of the Bhils, Adivasi human rights defender and a great tribal freedom fighter the hero Nimar is no more, but his spirit and the spirit of his opponents still prevail in the land of Tantia Bhil and Bhilanchal. There is a strong fight still goes on between these two spirits. New Tantias are emerging but socially, culturally and legally still crushed in an unknown way. Due to the significant contributions made by Tantia in the precarious conditions fighting against two strong enemies, British Government and the land lords of Nirmar made him a hero, saint, freedom fighter and an Adivasi human rights defender and fighter of India. The selfless sacrifice, dedication and the spirit with which he fought with the Bhil sena (Bhil army) against the British raj, many of the high caste persons of Nimar are yet to dream. The reward Tantia Mama and his companions got in their own life time that they were hanged and a lonely and unknown figure of Tantia Bhil stands near the bus stand of Jhabua(MP) in a dirty place amidst the thela gadis of hammals.

Web 2.0 Application

ADIVASI HUMAN RIGHTS FOR FOOD: UNDER REGULAR DENIAL

Once upon a time Bhagoria Bhils were famous throughout India for their folklore and tribal festivals in India. Tourists who came from within the country and abroad returned home with unforgettable memories of Bhilanchal. Today, even though part of it remains but the tribal charms that existed not earlier than just two decades ago, has vanished and a gloom has spread over the land of the glamorous Bhagoria land. The media persons have time and again noticed and highlighted, but as the expression of the Bhils of the Bhagoria land says the administration does not do 'oonha' to take a slightest not of it. Today these Bhils folks are wandering in neighboring towns, cities and states.

Where are those human values disappeared....Mama Baleshwar Dayal called once upon a time to these Bhils of Bhagoria land 'Anndata'(giver of food) of non tribals in this very regions of Malwa, Palwad, Vagod, Mayod, Bhagor, Rath and Gujarat of the Bhilanchal. The Bhils of these regions have become semi-nomads (and some places beggars), as many of the reports say, from 40% to 70% or hundred % nomads of the yea or seasons of the year. Where lies the human considerations, relief work and Rojgar Guarantee (employment) programmes...? If one goes to the remote regions of the Bhils finds nothing reaches them, and hunger, drought, starvation, palayan(migration) as media constantly depicts, persists months after months and year after year...not only today.

In the local Bhili of this section of the Bhilanchal the Bhils say ' Mara hahra upar na upar khai jae ane nisun kain ni ava de...'( The merciless fathers-in-law or persons in authorise eat up in high places and never let the relief percolate a bit down ward.....). In this region 90% of the NGOs who are consistently increasing in number and funds share evidently the same philosophy of denial and deprivation, with no exception, for tribal resources and opportunities what so ever. Even if they work for another 60 years, with 5 times larger funds the situation of the Bhils of Bhilanchal will only regress and not progress ....only non tribals shall continually progress as consistently in opportunities, wealth and all the rest as it is now..!

SEO BY Black Soft

TRIBAL HUMAN RIGHTS: Languages Denied

The tribal languages of India are mainly grouped as Austro-Asian, Dravidian, Indo-Chinese, Chinese-Tibetan, Tibetan-Burman, etc. Some tribal languages such as Santhali, Munda, etc are older than Aryan languages. From very early times the others have not done justice to the tribal languages. Centuries onwards they have been denied tribal human rights in this context linguistic rights of the vast majority of of indigenous peoples by imposing themselves and their languages. This has been occurring all through the history of India even today the tribal languages are being weakened. There are over 1200 tribal languages from which over 100 languages have been sufficiently and efficiently being spoken by large tribal groups such as Bhils, Gonds, Santhals, Munda, Oraon, Khadia, Munda, Warlis, Bhilalas and many others. But the state governments have done irreparable damage to linguistic heritage of the Adivasi Languages' human rights. Many of the major tribal languages are very musical, poetic, literary, rich in literature and indigenous knowledge, human rights and value oriented, recreational, having various elements absent in the major languages of the country, practical for initiating formal education in schools at early age, etc. What a great cultural disaster to the tribal human rights in India today which is still in process. This is one of the factors among many tribes why formal education, information of the economic development, health, and media could reach them. In other words Adivasi human rights concerning languages are systematically denied!

Powered By Black Soft

SPOKEN BHILI LANGUAGE

Bhili language is one of the ancient and the most beautiful languages of tribal India. Dr. Nemichand Jain a linguist, scholar of ancient Indian languages of North India like Sanskrit, Pali, Prakrit, Apbhransh, Malvi etc. was a great scholar of Bhili. Dr. N. Jain was a specialist and lover of Bhili of Jhabua and its adjoining territories in Rajasthan, Gujarat and part of Maharashtra of Bhilanchal. He was of the opinion that Bhili has potentiality of being a language since it already has rich and vast heritage of literature behind. He was of the conviction that it is vastly being neglected by the administration and due to the ignorance of its own members of Bhil community it is losing its golden chances of developing into a rich language. Dr. Nemichand Jain left behind a three published volumes in the form of:

(1) BHIL: Bhasha, Sahitya aur Sanskriti
(2) Bhili-Hindi Kosh (Dictionary of Bhili)
(3) BHILI ka Bhasha Shastriya Adhyayan (Vol. I)
(4) BHILI ka Bhasha Shastriya Adhyayan (Vol.II) unpublished

Besides Dr. Nemichand Jain a few other scholars and writers contributed for the preservation and promotion of Bhili the language of the Bhils like Rev. Thompson(Rudiments of Bhili), George Grierson (BHILI : Linguistic Survey of India), Leon Jungblut ( A Short Bhili Grammar), Devprasad Ganawa ( Bhili Vyakaran), Sharma (Bhili Grammar), etc

Now Mahipal Bhuriya is bringing out a Bhili Grammar together with a short working dictionary of the Bhili and sample sentences for spoken Bhili. The Bhili course that he offers at the Centre for Tribal Culture and Art, Jhabua (MP) is useful for administrators, scholars, researchers, tourists, social workers, and others. Soon the course shall be available on audio and video cassettes.

BHILI : THE MOTHER TONGUE OF THE BHILS

According to the George Grierson, Rev. Thompson, Dr. Nemichand Jain, Dr. Stephen Fuchs and many linguists of India the Bhils had their own language spoken over a large region of the Bhils. In the course of time others imposed their own language and literature on them. What is Bhili known under various forms is changed version of the original Bhili. But the syntax, cultural elements, forms of expressions and many other elements still preserved and promoted by the Bhils.

Bhili and its oral heritage such as myths, legends, folktales, proverbs, riddles, mimicries, and its usage is most interesting among all the languages of India. One greatest harm being done by the Government of India is discouragement of the tribal languages. Of course some of the languages of the tribes are spoken by the negligible number of its users let us say. That is not the point of reference to preserve an ethnic group's language alone. Tribes like Bhils, Gonds, Santhals, Oraons, Warlis, Bhilalas, just to mention a few have large number of tribals and non tribals to speak their languages. Since the non tribals who are responsible for these linguistic heritage of India do not encourage the age old beautiful tribal heritage is vanishing due to the negligence of the cultural policy makers alone.

For the Bhils of Madhya Pradesh, Rajastan, Gujarat and Maharashtra where the Bhilanchal territory falls, it is most convenient and possible to develop the Bhils , their culture, economy, language, literature, art, music, paintings, costumes, music and many other elements concerned with their society through Bhili which is again neglected and ignored. Among these one such thing can be easily and must be preserved, developed and promoted in written and oral forms of Bhili for education, development, cultural heritage etc. Bhili the mother tongue of the Bhils. Then come all other languages because they learn it from their Bhil mothers.

How much linguistic harm and disrespect or dishonour to their cultural rights or linguistic rights is being done by the responsible non tribals. Ignoring by the state governments and Government of India is one can say a greatest linguistic and cultural harm is continuously being done to them in the context of their human rights or tribal human rights or Adivasi human rights. Commonly one can say that this is the language of the 1.5 million Adi Nivasi Bhil peoples language. Then why Government is ignoring the language that is Bhili which belongs to the cultural heritage of the indigenous peoples of India.....?

SEO By Black Soft

Center For Tribal Culture and Art, Jhabua (MP)

Innovative Attempt for Rooting Tribals in their Cultures for Holistic Development

Ever since India got its independence from British raj, more than 6 decades ago. For the SC, ST & OBC communities in the country, one raj has ended but second raj has begun which is gaining deeper roots in their indigenous societies and cultures unquestioningly which is stronger an worse than the British raj, possibly it shall be difficult to over throw if not impossible. And what is that second raj.....? The Indian imperialism as the Progressive Writers in India and Mama Baleshwar Dayal the father of Bhilanchal also referred to it in his last days in the nineties of the last century when he actually witnessed the fact of it by himself. This is so to say the second slavery for the Indian Adivasis in the hands of their own countrymen in the form of society, language, culture, economy, policies, etc. Mama Baleshwar Dayal always said to the Bhils, that the second slavery will be more dangerous than the first one. Very true, His prophecy has come to be real today.

Ever since the India independence much has been thought, planned, reflected, even executed by the people of good faith. But little has been achieved over the last six decades which is a long period of time. In the earlier days these facts were hidden but today they are explicit and evident. No one needs prolonged scientific researches, consultations, seminars for the tribal developments and debates because the life the people as an open mirror portrays a glaring picture of what has been achieved over the years.

On the other hand, tribals know exactly even though they are illiterate but they have traditional and folk wisdom for their own, that they are betrayed year after year, by Governments, NGOs and other organizations systematically, and their leaders are only onlookers and puppets in the hands of those who have vested interests, who actually are in need of the tribal funds, but they have no alternatives. This is because they are voiceless. In the past Rajiv Gandhi did raise the issues in favour of the tribals but due to him untimely death they lost him. Prior to him Mama Baleshwar Dayal did take the tribals issues on the local, regional and national levels, but not many tangible results appeared of Mama's efforts. No doubt the situation of the indigenous peoples in India is deteriorating since the allocated funds do not reach them. Today, they are in search of a Messiah, a fourth front in the present circumstances BSP only who has vowed to alleviate the problems of the SC, ST and OBC communities of the country. If we try to see the alternatives in the other national political parties’ one cannot envisage easily a hopeful situation.

The main objectives of the Centre for Tribal Culture & Art is basically to bring in this hope to protect the tribal rights and thus tribals being assimilated in the main stream a process in the near future shall render them ultimately as Dalits, shudras or chandals. Hence through the process of Adivasikaran we animate them to root to their origin, innovate their cultures to adjust with the requirements of today, preserve and promote them as the inseparable heritage of the country and thus integrate them in the national mainstream of the society as dignified citizens. What is being done is totally against all forms of human, legal, religious, cultural linguistic and other rights in the country. Lose of all forms of identities are taking place in the tribal societies while the upper castes and classes are retaining their original identities, names, surnames history, languages, culture and all the rest. The present form of integration is taking towards unhealthy assimilation. Unless there is relationship of Roti (food& rituals) and Beti (daughter & marriage) with all castes, groups and sects in India society, it shall lead the tribals and other groups of India to greater harm than ever. Should we move towards becoming Dalits, shudras or chandals....?

Powered By Web30application

ADIVASI CHRISTMAS

A Real Threat for Adivasi Social Survival...?

For many in India, the Celebration of Christmas in Adivasi style appears to be a clear matter of religious contradiction for no other reason but the fundamentality context. This is more these days where the religious, cultural, social, folkloric rights or the tribals in Orissa and other places are almost suspended or not respected at all, where not only freedom for religion but the right to exist itself is under question in a religious or spiritual country like India. Then it is easy to understand that how Christmas of 2009 especially can be celebrated in Adivasi style.

The indigenous peoples of India namely the Adivasis, including of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Other Backward Communities (OBC) are originally not Hindus even though they are Hinduised or converted to Hinduism in the course of History as Dr. S. M. Michael a Professor of Sociology in Bombay University says that the maximum conversion to other religions of the tribals is done by Hindus to Hinduism and not by Christians to Christianity. Here comes the freedom of fundamental rights of the tribals are at stake.

But this being the Christmas season, even though the celebration of the feast of Christmas is threatened directly or indirectly by the people of the vested interests, the Adivasis are celebrating the Christmas in their own indigenous or folkloric manner. On this occasion, the tribals sing the Christmas carols on the eve of Christmas in the adivasi style, in their own folk or tribal languages, folk music, accompanied by their own folk instruments. Before and after the mid night service such as Holy Mass, they drink home brewed alcohol, sing folksongs , perform folk dances throughout the night and make merry in the indigenous manner to honor the Baby Jesus. For the celebration of Christmas one can say there are thousands of tribal folksongs throughout Adivasi India, de-icing the Christmas themes, such as fall of man through the committing of original sin, the promise of Messiah in the form of Jesus Christ, coming the messengers to the Jews in Israel such as prophets, judges, kings and other holy men preparing the way for the coming of Jesus, final signs of Christ coming in Jewish society in Israel, and then finally the birth of Jesus Christ himself.

Tribals being originally monotheistic even their theology is totally different, find closer affinity with Christianity because the redeeming values for the suppressed and oppressed peoples like them are much more in Christianity than in any other religion. But the freedom to religion for the SC, ST and OBC is very much restricted either by law or social pressures. In such contradictory situation, can we easily say that there is freedom for religious rights, cultural rights, social rights, right to freedom to choose the religions of their own likeness without the present day social pressures for Adivasis in India today....?

Powered By WEB 2.0

MAMA BALESHWAR DAYAL

CONTRIBUTION OF MAMA BALESHWAR DAYAL FOR THE BHILANCHAL

A Brief Comment

Two years back on 26th of December, 2006 the disciples of Mama Baleshwar Dayal celebrated his birth centenary. A huge crowd of the Bhils, Bhilalas, Dalits and OBC folks had gathered in Bamania in the District of Jhabua (MP) to commemorate the day and to pay respect to their great Master and the only and the last hope for their development, liberation, etc. Many national, regional and local level leaders were present to pay tribute in the Ashram of Mama next to the Bamania railway station. For the Bhils of Bhilanchal Mama was a local Gandhi a solid hope in th4 hopeless situation. Due to Mama the Bhils had chance to associate personally with Mahatma Gandhi. An old ruling tribe of Western and North India, which was considered once upon a time, to be violent due to their certain historical deprivation by the non tribals in ancient Nishad land and later the Bhils regions of today.

It was a great success of Mama Baleshwar Dayal the great Guru and selfless leader of the ST, SC & OBC of the region, to convert them into non violent, submissive or docile citizens in favour of the rule of law. Kamaji Bhai Bhabar, a senior disciple of Mama once said that their Guru Mama Baleshwar Dayal was a dam god for them. Even if Mama told them to go and jump in the flooded river Mahi, they would blindly obey him. Mama was a man of SC, ST & OBC and if he was alive today definite he would be supporting none of the national political parties we but one like BSP which caters the basic needs of the poor of the poor in the country.

Mama led the Bhils and other lower class of peoples suffering injustices on all the fronts to raise their voices. As a result his disciples learn from him clean politics which later got corrupted due to his old age and inflow of funds to this region. He succeeded to promoting 5 Members of Parliament and 16 MLA in various states without the backing of major political parties and their funds to influence the voters. For adult education, economic upliftment, unification of the Bhil region or Bhilanchal unjustly divided in four states, Panchayati raj, Bhili, Bhil Panchayats, herbal medicines, tribal employment, Adivasi Human rights, Adivasi cultural rights, Adivasi rights for food, tribal rights over their historically owned land, forced labour, etc. revenues, he made a massive contribution which needs to be highlighted in a successful way. Three smarikas were published by some of his followers, but these did not do sufficient justice to his contributions in Bhilanchal. An objective and elaborate volume on the life, teachings and works of Mama Baleshwar Dayal is awaited. Possibly Mamayan a book written in Bhili by Mahipal Bhuriya as narrated by the Bhils of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat is still awaited which may do justice to the Mama of Bhilanchal.

SEO Services

BHILI CHETANA GEET

A Unique Bhili-Hindi Compilation of Poetry from Jhabua

The Bhil indigenous and tribal people of India are oppressed and exploited in all possible ways since prehistoric times. Eklavya and many such historical characters in Ramayana, Mahabharata, and other period of history are gleaming examples of the dark period of Bhil history. Later the mediaeval and British history is also has no less description of oppression of the Bhil tribe. The same situation persists even in the present time and not many people are there to speak in Bhil's favour.
Bhili Chetana Geet, is the voice of such voiceless Bhils which brings out in the latest and new edition of 2009 in over 150 such poems the inner and deeply felt problems of the Bhils suffering within and without. The first abd second editions were brought out by Dr. Nemichand Jain through Hira-Bhaiya Prakashan pf Indore (MP) in 1977 and 1978. The media people both in Hindi and English including All India Radio at Indore and Bhopal highlighted very much the first venture and unique compositions of Mahipal Bhuriya at first instance. In a year's time over 50 reviews had appeared all over India. Now the book's next volume shall appear in January 2009 which is much awaited in the scholarly circle of Hindi literature. The author has many books along this line on which many colleges and universities have written theses or dissertations. Shri Ramshankar Chanchal has written an overall evaluation of the reviews of Bhili Chetana Geet of the last three decades proving the volume to be of unique importance and a rare creation in Bhili and Hindi literatures.

Website Development

CHIEF MINISTER SHIVRAJSINGH CHAUHAN

An Able Servant of Madhya Pradesh

In the past years as the Chief Minister of the state of M.P., Mr. Shivrajsingh Chuahan has not projected himself as a manager or administrator of the state but a humble servant(sevak) of people in the state un like his former counterpart Mr. Digvijay Singh of the opposition party. Both were dedicated to the state of Madhya Pradesh undoubtedly. But, Mr. S. Chauhan time and again projected an image of a Sevak of the poor in the state, committed to the development of the state and much more to the honesty and total humility. This helped him to get established among the masses. Thus, inspite of attacks from the opposition, over some crucial issues in the matter of administration from his party members and others, he excelled as a person wanted by the people in M.P. This reminds us today of Mama Baleshwar Dayal a humble Sevak of the Bhils in total Bhilanchal as a selfless leader in the state. If Mr. Shivrajsingh Chauhan follows meticulously in walking on the footsteps of Mama Baleshwar Dayal in future in serving the people, the opposition however able and strongly united, they are shall not be able to take away the helm of the state from Mr. S Chauhan.

SEO India

BHIL BHAGORIA HAAT JHABUA

It's National and International Touristic Importance

For the cultural projection of the tribal cultural heritage of India particularly the Bhil Bhagoria Haat of Jhabua in Madhya Pradesh has a unique cultural importance in India. But one can sadly observe that even though Bhil Bhagoria is given sufficient importance by the media and folklorists of the country, the Department of Tourism of Government of India has neglected it's impotence from several perspectives. Surprisingly, the Government of Madhya Pradesh, under the table leadership of Mr. Shivrajsingh Chauhan did attempt to increase its touristic importance in the state in the year 2008. One must accept also that Mr. Manoj Srivastava IAS, then PRO of the state Government of Madhya Pradesh did a commendable job in the last moment, but it was not enough for the much needed promotion of Cultural and human rights of the Bhil tribe as well. Promoting it in scheduled time, will further enhances not only the touristic value of Bhil Bhagoria, but the social and cultural values of the tribe will also be strengthened sufficiently which are being weakened these days due to social pressures. Tribal cultural inhibitions which are induced phenomenon’s by the vested interest peoples, will necessarily diminish and a confidence to assert themselves as the dignified and respectable tribal citizens of the country will positively grow if the festival is given due importance. This will pave path for their social, cultural and Psychological development as the tribal’s valuable peoples of the country. As such the Government of India and other state governments, have done very minimum for much needed promotion of tribals cultures in the country, leave aside he today's 8% Scheduled Tribes' populations, which was once upon a time part of 80% indigenous peoples, who once dominated the demographic scene throughout the country. It is sheer negligence of human and cultural rights of the indigenous peoples in the country particularly of Bhil Bhagoria Haat of Jhabua and the surrounding regions.

Tribals Today, in this case the Bhils have sacred and constitutional right to preserve, promote and innovate their age old cultural heritage such as Bhili their dear language, folksongs, folkdances, tribal costumes and other elements of their folklore. If the Government of India, together with the state governments of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra in which the Bhilanchal the land of the Bhil Bhagoria falls, make sufficient and honest efforts to promote Bhil Bhagoria Haat of of Jhabua region, together with their off-shoots or sub-groups for instance Bhilalas, Rathias, Barelas, Vasavas, Patelias, Gamits, Malvis, Palwadis, Vagodis, etc, shall communicate to the tribals positive message due to the vanishing and threatened elements of their folklore and culture. This way the Department of Tourism of Government of India and the four states in the Bhilanchal, o shall make a significantly supportive contribution. We also see in BBC advertisement in the context of incredible India, for the promotion of tourism in the country, the tribal cultures and folklore is being neglected. It is an unfair gesture to the indigenous peoples of India who have rich folklore in the country the fact cultural anthropologists and folklorists also accept. As one tribal leader once remarked that how long the non tribals shall make us keep dancing for their entertainment without integrating us and our cultures in respectable and dignified way in the country. Let us hope that this year in 2009, at the time of Bhil Bhagoria Haat of Jhabua; the departments concerned will promote tourism l without being unfair and discriminatory.

Website By Black Soft

INDIGENOUS VISION ON ADIVASI

Our attempt to summarize Adivasi karan, its logistics also its folk philosophy is based scientifically and fundamentally on these main social, cultural, economic, political, educational, religious, psychological, aesthetics, personal and futuristic concerns of the tribals, Adivasis indigenous peoples, Gypsies all other sub-alter societies. If we go deeper we can define our concerns along these points

1. A search for genuinely original and ideal tribal identity which is socially sustainable and culturally for them to survive in the course of time which is being disillusioned today.

2. Retaining of their age old historical and ancestral heritage.

3. Preservation and promotion of their enthnic, physical and geographical identity.

4. Political restoration in some forms of their glorious past in the light of
5th and 6th and other schedule of the constitution of India.

5. Revival of Adivasitva (Tribalness) to protect them from being enforced to dalitisation, shudrakaran and unhealthy assimilation.

6. Help them realize to lead human life as dignified citizens of the country.

7. Providing a strong base against the social and cultural onslaught or invasion made.

8. To prevent further erosion of tribal funds, talents and manipulations in various forms.

9. To protect and promote tribal human and civil rights.

10. To increase quality of life and leadership which will sustain the tribals of india through their own human and rightful natural resources.

11. To improve vehemently health, hygiene and life expectancy thus reducing physical degeneration.

12. To restore and a waken human and tribal adivasi dignity, tribal empowerment, initiatives and a sense of deeper security in historical perspectives.


Powered By Black Soft

BHIL BHAGORIA

INTERNATIONALLY RENOUNED TRIBAL FESTIVAL OF LOVE, ROMANCE AND ELOPEMENT

One has often heard and seen the scenes of love, romance and even elopement among the youth of the modern societies of western world. But what the Bhils the largest and the former ruling tribe of ancient India has been doing until today, is not only fashionable for the youth of today, but socially and culturally a more progressive thought and behaviour. Than even as compared to the youth of America and Europe with no exaggeration. A weeklong festival of love, romance and elopement begins in the ancient Bhil Land around the ancient city of Bhagor in the present district of Jhabua in Madhya Pradesh. Bhagor the ancient city of Bhagor region of the Bhils, had been the city of Bhagor Bhil, a name very common even today among the Bhils of Western India. The Bhils of Western India, inhabiting from the prehistoric times around the ancient city of Bhagor are called Bhagoria Bhils. One of the anciet folk saying among the Bhils of Bhagoria says, ' Bhagi bhagor vahi Ratalam ane Indore.' (Only after the dismantling of the city of Bhagor, the present day cities of Ratlam and Indore were inhabited).

A German speaking cultural anthropologist from Vienna, Austria Dr. Hermann Matthias has written a massive volume in German language, on the origin, history, culture and the folklore of the Bhils of Bhagor region called Bhagoria Bhils. In fact the Bhils had a great culture of their own, who after the coming in contact with Aryans, Muslims, Rajputs, Labhhanas, Marathas and others suffered massive regression; memories of the ancient and the past glorious old days of the Bhils are still prevalent in their oral tradition. What the western youth from the modernised societies including India are doing today, in the matters of sex and ethical practices or morality, the Bhils always practised with no feelings of guilt and inhibition. The guilt and inhibition came to the Bhil regions with the sensitisation which adulterated the tribe today.

The Bhagoria festival is actually begins in the region of Bhagor on the last weekly market of the place, prior to the Hindu festival of Holi which the Bhils also celebrate but in their own fashion. So this is a weeklong festival of love and romance not heart being celebrated with so much enthusiasm, glamour, cultural pride, love and romance. Only now a day’s one can see the police and administration has spoiled by unduly interfering in the inner matters of the bhil tribals, a breach in the human right matters of society, their cultural and social values. Jhabua-Alirajpur are the main centres of the great Bhagoria festival. In one day at least in 3 to 5 last weekly markets prior to Holi festival Bhagoria is celebrated in this great ancient festival of Bhagoria in the Bhil Land. In a day some 200 thousand to 500 thousand Bhil youth or more with the elderly people will be drinking and dancing, singing, playing, music, romancing, loving, eloping, and making merry, which is the customary tribal right of the Bhils and it is conventional or unwritten law of the tribal youth select their of their liking and and elope with the clear intention to be future husband and wife. Parents of such partners come together mutually with the members of the clan, lineage, bilaterally and settle the matter amicably. But the administration and police has respected the tribe and their customary laws especially of Bhil folk or conventional marriage and make the matter worse by making cases punishable according to their norms disrespecting the tribal’s.

On this day the police should restrain and respect the tribe. Not disrespect and violate their human, marriage, social and cultural rights granted to them by their own societies. It is a great honour for the tribe to celebrate, sing, make merry in their badly placed social conditions of oppression, exploitation, to rejuvenate their lost psychic energies for recuperation to further face the hardships of life. Will the non tribals respect the folk festivals of Adivasi India in socially and culturally conditioned perspectives in an honourable way....?

SEO By Black Soft

KOTTHI OF MALHING KATTARA

Malhing Kattara is an indigenous Bhil, social worker, social analyst and social activist from the Bhil dominated District of Jhabua, MP, India. There are over 70 social work organisations claiming to serve the Bhils under the pretension of social work with negligible results over decades or one century. More than 90% of these bogus NGOs who are often unchecked, in the districts of Jhabua - Alirajpur have made a prosperous business out of these the social works. Most of them are non tribals, do not know their language and culture, nor they have love for the Bhils due to their prejudices towards the tribal way of life, language, culture, geographical setting, facilities in this geographical region of the Bhils but love to remain willingly and joyfully under the difficult conditions, due to the easily availability for tribal funds, in the name of tribal development, since there can help themselves because there is no transparency, local participation, social accountability, right to information’s, etc. Hence they are thriving on the tribal developmental funds achieving nothing over the years and decades. Malhing is uniquely exceptional among them developing some of the indigenous approaches to the tribal development of the Bhils under the influence of adivasikaran of Mahipal Bhuriya.

Kotthi is an earthen vessel indigenously made by moulding mud for storing grain and other agricultural products by the Bhils other tribes of western India. Malhing Kattara takes very appropriately the symbol of Kotthi for the sustainable development and under the basic concepts of Adivasikaran of M. Bhuriya. He develops some of the concepts of development around it in the context of self-help, indigenous forms of organic fertilizers, irrigation, social justice, utilisation of local artifacts, language, music, orchestra, food-items, clothes, fruits, accumulation of agricultural products for the difficult time, local alcohol and its use in modest way, which is healthier and in purer form than the western brands or brought from outside of tribal habitats, logical reasoning, and so on. Malhing Kattara is one of the social workers in the district of Jhabua applying adivasikaran for the sustainable development and finding encouraging results.

Malhing Kattara is the most successful social worker. Yjis enthusiastic young man is not only social worker, social activist, social analyst, but a singer, Bhil mandal player, dancer, folklorist, singer, folk-writer, poet, writer, editor of Samanvaya Magazine and so.

Website By Web30Application

CONGRESS CANDIDATE XAVIER MEDA WON FROM JHABUA

Xavier Meda the youth Congress President of the Bhil dominated district of Jhabua, MP, India won with huge majority defeating his many nearest rivals both from Congress and BP parties. Among many Congress expectant candidates and few deserving ones, Xavier Meda too put up his candidacy in opposition to a Congress leader Madam Kalawati Bhuriya the Congress President of the same district. Till the last moment nothing was sure as to whom the party's top leaders would award the seat for the contesting of election. In the last moment the Congress Party High Command favoured Xavier Meda against Kalawati Bhuriya. This was a crucial moment for Lalawati Bhuriya and her uncle who is also a Congress leader and sitting Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) besides being s state minister for agriculture of Government of India. Since it turned out to be an emotional and prestige issue for the Congress leaders and the party workers in the district of Jhabua especially in the Jhabua constituency of the assembly elections, it was feared that the opposition party candidate Mr. Pavesingh Pargi the sitting MLA of the BJP would win. Beisides there was a controversy being spread and was being strongly feared that Xavier being a Catholic from Anthonpur Parish of a Bhil Catholic Diocese of Jhabua, the vested interest people were strongly advocating the voters to choose between Rome Rajor Rama Raj. The local Christians feared that if Xavier failed it was end of their happy and peaceful period. Hence many withdrew from the active participation in support of the Congress candidate fearing that if at all he lost what would happen to the Christians both Catholics, Protestants including the members of Free Churches. Adding to these many rumours and controversies, in the midst of all these Mr. Rahul Gandhi too appeared one fine day to appeal the voters in the MP state assembly constituency of Jhabua.

Many Hindus of good standing, senior lawyers, intellectuals, media persons, youth, sarpanches, government workers, and Hindu voters from the town of Jhabua favoured in Xavier Meda an honest, simple and genuine person who served and works for Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Jains and Adivasis equally. From the Districts of Jhabua - Alirajpur about of five , four Congress candidates have won, but the state assembly of Madhya Pradesh has BJP majority due to the good administration of the former chief minister Mr. Shivraj Chauhan.

SEO BY Black Soft

ADIVASIKARAN

Tribalisation & Aboriginalisation



There are various approaches and methods being used by the non Adivasis in India for the Tribal Development, prominent among whom are isolation, assimilation and integration proposed from the time of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and besides few others present day in modern India. All these methods are playing down the total and ideal tribal or indigenous peoples development in the country as you see today, where participation, transparency, accountability, right to information, felt needs, in other words roles of indigenous populations of India(SC, ST & Adivasis) are either denied or absent, leading Adivasis towards more backwardness, degradation, alienation, dalitisation, ultimately a breach of their total human rights in terms of culture, religion, languages, self-rule, participation, equality, justice, indigenous laws, indigenous knowledge, many others and then a possible biological extinction which appears imminent in near future. The non tribal’s are developing and controlling, further accumulation and manipulation of indigenous peoples over all resources in terms of almost everything. Hence the tribal’s are becoming Dalits and over all totally impoverished even in the working areas of reputed NGOs where funding agencies in India and abroad loosing their 90% of their funds spent in the names of SC, ST & OBC, because non tribal’s are depriving them almost of away everything, which was never before. Today as it is apparent, non tribal’s are becoming more powerful and resourceful even in the tribal matters which was never before even in the working of NGO and the tribal’s and tribal’s are becoming holistically poorer and poorer which was not there earlier. In the best method proposed for tribal development that is Integration, basically something wrong. Because unless all in the country of India establish the relationship of Roti (bread7food) and Beti (daughter) from bilateral or both sides this method is a bogus or fake one. Total sansritisation or Brahanisation is imposed one sidedly on these 80% populations of the country.

A total way of social and cultural life, language and literature, folklore and other practices of a small minority, in the name of national integration is being imposed of a small minority. A huge breach of human rights for these 80% folks of the country, in India, uncaring, denying, the social and cultural ways of Adivasis, Dalits and OBC communities in India who are original Adivasis of India or the indigenous peoples. Hence to reverse this process of impoverisation of 80% peoples of the country, and bring in the empowerment in the field of social development we are introducing the method of Adivasikaran for the Adivasis as Professor Sachidananda said in one of the anthropological conference that this is the best method of tribal development in India besides many other scholars are appreciating and accepting this idea. If in this crucial juncture of time the SC, ST & OBC peoples of India do not envisage their own future destiny , they all 80% of them shall be not in less than 30 years or even in less period of time shall be socially, biologically, culturally, geographically will be totally impoverished and vanished. It appropriate time to reflect on what the Constitution maker of India Baba Saheb Ambedkar has said in the context of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes(ST) and today also in terms of Other Backward Communities(OBC) let us preserve our roots, promote ourselves, innovate and integrate in the national mainstream of India as respectful citizens of the country maintaining our identities for the sheer protections of Total Human Rights or else we shall be vanished as you see the processes are taking place in the clandestine way in the country.

Powered By Black Soft

THE BHILI GRAMMARS

The Bhili language is the great oral and ancient language of over 70 million Bhil speakers of the Bhilanchal spread over this vast Bhil region of Western India. These different Bhil folks or the peoples of Bhilanchal densely inhabit in the adjoining region of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra. Their negligible population is even found in various other parts of the country including in North East and Pakistan. Today due to the facilities provided by the Constitution of India, in the form of reservations in educational institutions, jobs, political representation, migration and education, they are loosely also found not only all over India, also in some parts of the world in the countries like England, Canada, USA, Germany, Japan, Portugal, etc looking towards very much for the cultural and social identification in the context of their origin. As such the Bhils all over India will be over 150 millions. Today one should excavate a Bhil territory for their human survival, for the due promotion, protection and innovation of their largely denied cultural, linguistic, human and other rights. Hence it is good to envisage a Bhil territory like Bhilanchal or Bhil Desh within the 5th and 6th Schedule of the Great Indian Constitution, establish language links with each Bhil group especially in densely populated Bhil regions and other areas throughout the country. Doing this for the Bhils shall be a great and noble job by the genuine NGOs.

In this context of the present day, it is good to search, research and restore the great Bhil linguistic, social and over all their rich cultural heritage, which is vastly under damage and distortions’ by non tribals, due to large ignorance and also denial of recognition for Bhil cultural heritage, which was and is the prideful historical wealth of their antique Bhil society in whose language, values, oral literatures and folklore the Bhils found securities, consolation, rejuvenation in all through their suppressed and oppressed centuries from the time of Eklavya, in the great upheaval their social and cultural history, in which context not much is being done even the best of NGOs working in the Bhilanchal.

To start with the first Bhili Grammar was prepared by a Dutch missionary called Leo Jungblut SVD in early thirties of the last century and published in Mission Press, at Mhow, Indore (MP) India in 1937. It had less than 100 pages but the small volume served well the purpose for the linguists, administrators, scholars, missionaries, admirers of Bhili as a language, colleges, universities, research institutes, individuals, etc. The author Leo Jungblut SVD who lived and worked among the antique Bhils of Jhabua (MP) India, Rambapor, studied meticulously like a professionally trained linguist, even the nuances of Bhili phones and morphemes’ together with their syntax. Much more than this he brought out the beauty of Bhil culture, language, literature and their living Bhil folklore. The Bhili Grammar prepared by the author Leo Jungblut SVD served it purpose till his death, while he was revising the manuscript with M. Bhuriya. Now the same Bhili Grammar due its demand in the scientific, administrative and popular fields will have its second enlarged and revised edition by Mahipal Bhuriya. Later Dr. Nemichand Jain a scholar, Hindi Pandit, writer, Hindi critic and linguist brought out a sort of two volumes of Bhili Grammars, with similar nature but for different and vaste felt need among the members of the tribe and also in the mainstream society. Then in early eighties, later Deveprasad Ganava a Bhil from the same region of Jhabua, inspired by the beauty of the Bhili language and Bhil culture, published from Meghnagar, an important volume of Bhili grammar, called BHILI Vyakaran (Bhili Grammar).

Website Developed By Website 4 SEO

SUBLIME VALUES OF ADIVASI INDIA

The prehistoric or the ancient India was the land of Adivasis or indigenous peoples of Indian sub-continent, who in the course of time till today were invaded, won over, enslaved greatly sansrkitised. The sublime values those are in India, are largely found in the rural, Adivasi or among the indigenous peoples of India, where these indigenous populations of the country are still retaining these values and exhibiting through their social, cultural and various aspects of their folklore in-spite of hardships which are to great extent man made such as modern day oppressions and exploitations. Even though they are struggling for their survival, and yet they portray these innate and God given sublime values in their day today life. If corruption is found in their social habitats, it has come from outside of their geographical spaces or territories.

Which are these innate and sublime values which make them ideal citizens, living saints and sages in India are the following:
1. Love for God
2. Mellanerium
3. Hope for survival
4. Social solidarity
5. Simplicity
6. Sense of Social justice
7. Honesty
8. Loyalty
9. Love of neighbours
10. Hospitality
11. Social equality
12. Love of Nature
13. Equality of both sex
14. Empowerment of women
15. Water conservation and irrigation
16. Cleanliness
17. Devotion to their indigenous deities
18. Simple living and high thinking
19. Tribal Unity, 20. Perseverence
21. Genuiness
22. Largeheartedness
23. Freedom
24. Oral Tradition
25. Love for singing, dance and Music
26. Tribal aesthetics
27. Consistent
28. Hard Working
29. Loving & caring
30. Social sympathy
31. Self-employed
32. Self-sustaining
33. Love for oral literature
34. Respect for physical and social environment
35. Respect for women
36. Clan & village unity
37. Serviceable
38. Love for independence
39. Ideal Panchayati raj or local self-rule
40. No alienation or encroachment in other land or territory.

Against this social, cultural and historical background one can view that if at all there is corruption it has come to them through outsiders in their regions, as the media people have time and again pointed explicitly, including the social and cultural anthropologists. Governments in all honesty should preserve and promote these social and cultural values of Adivasi India through formal and informal education, mass media, etc, instead of bringing in corrupt systems in the name of administration, maintenance of law and justice, national integration, etc

Powered By Black Soft

THE INCREDIBLE VALUES OF ADIVASI INDIA

Some time back, Dr. Stephen Fuchs SVD a a great and pioneering cultural anthroplogist of India persuaded me to me study and affirmatively write about the tribal heritage or Ancient heritage of Adivasi India specifically about their innate values which are unique in the country.. He further mentioned that the rich heritage of Adivsi India in the form of their persisting social and cultural values from remote past should by no means be lost in the process of modernisation. Some of these values coming down from the centuries are so unique that they are impossible to be found in the mainstream of the Indian society. Due to this significant and unique aspects of this antiquarian tradition, these values at this juncture of modernisation, be preserved, promoted and innovated. In those day, like any other tribal or the indigenous Indian youth of today, I had inferiority complex and lack of will, to positively acknowledge the cultural heritage of ADIVASI INDIA and bit of aversion towards this particular tribal heritiage of India to uphold as vauable cultural tradition in the country against the powerful process of sanskritisation which is sweeping away the good old traditions of indigenous peoples and replacing only with the Bramenic ones Even though in the heart of heart I had desire to resist the devastating process which ruined my Adivasi cultures but no ecourage to say boldly anything in this connection. Today when after three decades of my obervation and studies of tribal cultures of India and aquiring many of the elements of Brahmenic cultures , and loosing over these decades many uniquely valuable elements of tribal cultures , I regrette much in doing so. I feel that the Adivasi heritiage of this sort is not aquired by human efforts, but endowed on these simple and innocent folks of the country by God, the Creater himself to the Adivasis of India, who are genuine saints and sages, andata (giver of India as Adivasi heritage of India possess today, even the main stream society inspite of their best efforts possibly may not achieve them. Each Adivasi group of India is the living embodiment of innate, uncorrupt and unsullied values which others have either not noticed or ignored, on the contrary try to imposed the corrupted values through social encounters, weekly markets, public administration, maintenance of law and order and so on spoiled the tribal cultures of India. The Indian print and electronic media has certainly pointed out this fact positvely and a times very explicitely.

Which are these innate Adivasi values of India,....? Let us take time, look around in the remote parts of the country, positively, with no feelings of caste prejudices and superiority complex and then one will see the image of divine light always buring, unixtingvishable, in the present days of colossal exploitation, edprivation, suppression and alienation, poverty, miseries by all walks of peoples including reputed NGOs. Others have taken away from them, in great measures, but given, today their life, ligacy and silent history is speaking.

SEO By Black Soft

TANTYA MAMA A MUCH REVERED TRIBAL HERO OF THE BHILS

Tantya Mama, Tantia Bhil or Tantya as he is called in the Oral Tradition of the Bhils, is a great unknown saint of the Bhils or the ancient indigenous peoples of India Tantia Bhil was a selfless leader, Indigenous hero and dauntles freedom fighter of the national rank who fought against the British Powers, in his own way organising the local armies of the Bhils, This great hero today who deserves to be nationally honoured by placing this honourable leader's life size portrait, in the Central Hall of the Indian National Parliament. Tantia hails from the illiterate Bhil society of Nimar. Some centuries back the whole region of Malwa, Nimar, Khandesh, Nagar, Gujarat was densely populated by great Bhils who had encounters with Marathas, Britishe peoples and others They were local powers, hence proved to be imminent threatsor threats to the emerging powers as in many walks being seen even today and hence as a consequence in the past centuries, suffered suppressions alll through in the history. A fact visible even today in the different Bhil regions even in the working of the NGOS But Tanya Bhil and his patriotic Bhil companions, over looking over looking his own resources and the histoical enemity with the rest of the castes and folks in the nation, saw the foreign enemy as a threat to the country and battled fearlessly all through his shorlt lived life. Even though he was illiterate but whad great vision and daring.

Madhya Pradesh Government has rightly recognised his worth and brought out much literature both on audio-video and in print as well. Many schoars have paid attention to this forgotten but significant personality of the indigenous people in the nationa, as a national hero. Today a lots of literature is availabe on Tantia Bhil in Hindi, English, Marathi and Gujarati including in the oral tradition of the Bhils. And much more is in preparation. A good feature film in Hini, English, Marathi, and Gujarati awaits to inspire and awaken, affirm and encourage, also associate with the patriotic values found in the indignous populations of India for the youth of today Tantia Bhil needs to be introduced as a National and indigenous hero in the school and college text books. His spirituality to be introduced to the nation which exceeds even many of the political leaders and even christian missionaries of today in tribal region espcially in the Bhil regions. What has been done for Tantya Mama or Tantya Bhil today is only a drop in the ocean and not enough for honouring Tantya the Great Bhil and recognising indigenous peoples of India namely SC, ST & OBC and in particular context the Bhils. Important roads, building, markets, valleys, schools, colleges, research institutes, games awards, tribal olympics, copetitions, must be named instituted and initiated in justice and equality to perpetuate the rightful memory of Tanya Bhil including his his self sacrificing cmpanions. He was the father of the indigenous peoples as a whole. And much more remains to be done locally for Tantia Bhil and other Bhil or Indigenous heroes from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.This fact also equally applies to the other tribal or the indignous peoples heroes in India who are unjustly ignored by the other peoples in the indigneous peoples area. A great injustice is being done this way to the lacking social, cultural and psychological affirmation. Only this way we can restore the dignity to the indignous peoples and harm done tothem in the past. This will pave way to restore partially the cultural and historical rights of the Bhils, SC, ST & OBC. Also this will be perfect model of the national integration of the indignenous communities in India. Will the present national political parties give hid to the human, social and cultural rights of the indignous peoples of India in this way......?

Promoted By Web30application.com

A GREAT PROMOTER OF BHILI AND BHIL CULTURE

DR. NEMICHAND JAIN : A GREAT PROMOTER OF BHILI AND BHIL CULTURE

It was in early sixties of the last century, when people in Bhilanchal or Bhil Desh disliked the Bhils, Bhili, Bhil culture and the rest a man called Nemichand Jain from Badnagar a small town in the region of Malwa,(Madhya Pradesh),a Bania(merchant) by profession took up an upheal task of of studying systematically on his own the language, literture and culture of a great and hsitorical tribe called the Bhils from whom the Rajputs inherited many of their chiefdoms, states and places,in perilous social conditions of Western Madhya Pradesh. No one valued the initiatives and contributions later Dr. Nemichand Jain would make to the study of lesser known tribal cultures of the largest ancient and Indian tribe of Asia. In those days the Bhils were looked down and called or nicknamed as 'Mama, Bhilda, langotiya, Jungli.......etc in a very derogatory manner. The names still resound with hatredness in the minds and hearts of the senior Bhils of today in Malwa the Western parts of Madhya Pradesh. Of course, there are few more scholars whose names should be recalled such as Rev. Thomson, Russel & Hiralal, Leo Jungblut, T.B. Naik,S. fuchs, W. Koppers, Y.V.S.Nath, G.S.Aurora, Iravati Karve, S.D. Kulkarni, S.L.Doshi, J.K.Doshi, etc. But among all these scholars the contributions made by Dr. Nemichand Jain is a unique and memorable one.

But, this man, called Dr Nemichand Jain, engaged sustematically with a missionary zeal, to study the language, literature, festivals, folklore, customs, proverbs, riddles, vocabulary, hermeneutics, popular and particular usages, history, origin, social encounters, suppressions, exploitation, education, values, world views of a great tribe like that of Gonds, Santhals, Munda and the rest in Indian subcontinent. He saw in the wholistic culture of the Bhils a God given gifts and values, persisting from over two milleniums, inspite of suppressions and oppressions because it was very significant.

As the result of his painstaking research in Bhil region, Dr. Nemichand Jain published many research papers and articles in Nai Dunya, Navbharat, Indore Samachar, Tirthankar, Veena, Rituchakra and broadcast many talks(vartas) from All India Radio(Akashvani), at Indore and Bhopal.
Among the books he contributed through a publication instituted in the loving memory of his loving mother and father called Hira-Bhaiya at Patrakar Colony at Indore, he published several volumes, authored by him and his disciples. They are:
1. BHIL : Bhasha; Sahitya aur Sanskriti
2. Bhili-Hindi Kosh
3. BHILI Ka Bhasha Shastriya Adhyayan(For this he was awarded Ph.D and later D. Lit.)

Besides these significant and rare publications he promoted many scholars and writers who had real interst for the love of the oppressed, exploited and great ethnic society like that of the Bhils for which Dr. Nemichand Jain's father, Hiralal Jain had left behind the funds for instituting this publication. Some more works of Dr. Nemichand Jain remains to be published.

Not many people and scholars appreciated the contribution and the rare venture that Dr. Nemichand Jain made. But today his writings are very much valued and appreciated by students, scholars, Government officials and research scholars both from India and abroad. The Bhil society shall remain alway indebted to this great and pioneering scholar who laid down a strong and unshakaeable foundation for the study of Bhil language, literature and culture on which Bhil society and Bhilanchan can stand with great pride.

Powered By Black Soft

THE BHIL HEROES

A great pre-historian, Hindi scholar, linguist and over all Bhil scholar Dr. Nemichand Jain mentions in his two famous books ' Bhili ka Bhasha Sahitya-Adhyayana' and 'BHILI.: Bhasha Sahitya aur Sankriti' about one of the versions of Ramayana in Gujarati called Bhilodi Ramayana. It is composed accoriding to the oral tadition of the Bhils and of the region that it was composed by one of the great Bhil heroes, called Valmiki. Valmiki from the region of Nishad Desh clearly appears to have been a Bhil poet ,not only a rogue but also a scholar who later in his conversion days, composed Valmiki Ramayana. Similarly Eklavya who was more expert that the Pandwas especially Arjuna,,in the military skill of archery in those days, to defeat and dampen him the great Guru Dronacharya in his great wisdomasked for the thumb of right hand in return of his gurudakshina (tuition fee) and ever since the Bhils do not use the thumb of the right hand for the archery. Eklavya was a local prince and a Bhil hero. In Ramayana and Mahabharata and Puranas we find many Nishad or the Bhil heroes.Tulsi Das in his Ramcharitra Manas says that the Nishad king Guha went to welcome Rama with his council of ministers near present Shrungverpur when God Rama was approaching towards forest for vanvas and Shabari was 'parangat' (expert/specialised) in shastras (sacred books). Rana Punja Bhil the right hand of Maharana Pratap, the great hero of the Rajputana when deserted totally by his fellow Rajputs was attended and supported by the Rana Punja Bhil in the great war against the Mugals in Haldighat not only during the war but later in his las days as a defeated and deserted hero by the great patriotic Bhils. When the army of Akbar attacked Agra a Bhil chief of the opposite army faced the Mogul army. And today we are fmiliar with the Great patriot and Tribal hero of India Sant Tantia Bhil. Such national heroes of the Great Bhil tribe are over a hundred in the written and the oral tradition of the Bhils of Charans, Dholis(Bhil Bards), Ravalyas(Bhil Historians) and vartaryas(story tellers). A famous tribal historian of Rajasthan, Hariram Meena has been doing a valueable research along this line. The two tribal journals 'Aravali Udghosh'and 'Mangargh Sandesh' are aslo making significant contribution in this field.

In the oral tradition of the Bhils and in the life of the Bhils heroes the innate and uncorrupt values of the Bhils is exhibited in a sacredway, against the corrupted values which are percolating in tribal areas today in the social, cultural and political encounters with other castes, The Central Government and state governments of India, must promote the innate, sublime, and sacred values of the Bhils in the Bhilanchal regions,by the written and oral tradition of India, the life and values for which these great Bhil heroes stood firmly and did not support the invading Muslims and the British like many castes and other groups did contrary in the political history of India. Not only this, India should not promote only non tribal heroes who belong to the minority population of India, but should represent 80% of the national heroes from the 80% population of India who are SC, ST & and OBC folks. It today great discrimination, injustice and damage to the human rights is being done to the Great Bhil heroes, the Bhil community and these SC, ST & OBC who are originally80% indigenous peoples of India.

SEO By

BHILS

It is believed that some 67 % of the indigenous folks of the world live in Asia and good many are in the form of Scheduled Tribes whom we can Adivasi. Adi means original and vasi meaning residents, inhabitants of this Nishad Desh. This name was given to these Deshaj or original peoples or inhabitants by no other than the 'outsiers' who came to their geographical habitats as invaders as the histry and prehistory suggests or indicates. Ever since this name has rightfully stuck to them, though due to some reasons these names are being played or under mutation.

Among these indigenous folks of Indian Subcontinent the oldest and largests among them are the autochthons , indigenous of those days are the Nishads the pre historic people of the good old or bygone days whose main remnats are the Bhils of today who are also known with many regional and local names in these states. These are actually speaking not the very people who were called Asuras, Rakshas or giants in the ancient days. They were the people of this category such as the kings, princes and community chiefs of those days who are indiscriminately narrated so, Eklavya, Shabri and many others are the remnants of them. Due to the social enounters with the invading races, castes and people their culture regressed, they were suppressed and they lost or deproved totally of their language, cultures, religion, land, states, status, dignity, identiy and illogically assimilated . This Nishad Land streched far and wide a territory beyond the comprehension of today's mind. They occupied a territory streching today Uttarpradesh, Punjab, Pakistan, Sindh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Chhatisgargh, Parts of Andhra, Tripura, Assam and so on. One can no longer imagine the area they ocupied in those days without having the idea of history of these Nishad Desh peoples. They are the original adivasis of this subcontinent whose physical, cultural, social hsitory needs to be revived, respected and to some or geater extent restored.

Their life, culture, society, folklore, relgion, values, world views, dignity, needs to be recognised and restoed within the Constitutional framework of India in view to their social, cultural human and other rights as 5th and 6th Schedule also supports. Today this section of the people in the Indian subcontinent are under serious threats of survival due to the oppression and negligence by the mainstream people. Similar status should be restored for more than 500 Adivasi folks of India who are seriously suffering for their basic human survival against the onslaughts of the stronger ones in India where progressive policies are being framed for the survival of competent and doom of the weaker ones.

SEO By Black Soft