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....?

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