A Bhil Tribal Poem from Jhabua
I went to the storage barn
And measured out a quintal of rice
I husked it and cleaned it ever so fast
And showed it to my mother-in-law.
But she was most sullen and disapproving!
She beat me with with the husking pestle!
So I fled to the mountains and hid there.
The she became frightened
Lest the wild animals should attack me.
Nervously, she called out aloud:
"Oh Bahu! Come back home;
This house needs you.
I am only a withered leaf on the tree,
Which will be blown away by the wind any moment,
And then you will be mistress of the house."
Considering the social, cultural and economic situation of the Bhil tribe of India, the Bhili poem has many lessons to offer them.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
HUMAN RIGHTS FOR INDIGENOUS FOLKLORE
Folklore is the most important nerve of the indigenous ethnic societies of Indian sub-continent, that generates and communicates social solidarity, social sympathy, and creates a strong sense of cultural and social belongings that binds all its members together. While it rejuvenates in them positive energies, through the folk performances and up-keep of their physical, verbal and performing elements of their ancient folklore, that kept them together in the strong bond of social, cultural and psychological unity, it also sustains and supports them not letting them break in the bad times especially during their oppressions, discriminations and exploitations by the more strong and able ones, in the difficult days of their dark history.
These sacred and sublime elements of traditional folklore have kept the tribals / Adivasi / indigenous societies uncorrupted and united into their cultural bonds, all through the hard days of their unrecorded history. Now such a beautiful, rich cultural, social and most precious heritage of their folklore either being replaced with corrupt and futile practices, or being geared to be forgotten in the course of time sooner or later by sanskritisation and forced modernism which will necessarily and consequently engulf the noble, divine and rich heritage of their folklore.
There are tremendous social, cultural, political and administrative interferences in the tribal / Adivasi / indigenous peoples' folklore in all the areas, such as in their feasts and festivals, recitals of folk-songs, oral literatures, ethno medicines and healing practices, tribal dances and other performances, folk astronomy, indigenous knowledge, physical or material forms of their folkloric elements, rites and rituals, by the main stream society mostly.
It appears that even the existence of these folk societies shall vanish in the course of time, after the total social and cultural pollutions have taken place. Keeping the indigenous folklore alive and uncorrupted, would amount to keeping these 80 % folks of the country happy, healthy and alive in the days to come. But it is not so......It is the urgent need of their basic human rights, thus to preserve, promote, restore, innovate graciously and integrate them in the national mainstream in a dignified and healthy manner. What is happening at the moment is certainly unhealthy, dangerous and definitely more dalitisation and dehumanisation leading them in a hidden way, in the direction of social, cultural and biological annihilation.....!
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These sacred and sublime elements of traditional folklore have kept the tribals / Adivasi / indigenous societies uncorrupted and united into their cultural bonds, all through the hard days of their unrecorded history. Now such a beautiful, rich cultural, social and most precious heritage of their folklore either being replaced with corrupt and futile practices, or being geared to be forgotten in the course of time sooner or later by sanskritisation and forced modernism which will necessarily and consequently engulf the noble, divine and rich heritage of their folklore.
There are tremendous social, cultural, political and administrative interferences in the tribal / Adivasi / indigenous peoples' folklore in all the areas, such as in their feasts and festivals, recitals of folk-songs, oral literatures, ethno medicines and healing practices, tribal dances and other performances, folk astronomy, indigenous knowledge, physical or material forms of their folkloric elements, rites and rituals, by the main stream society mostly.
It appears that even the existence of these folk societies shall vanish in the course of time, after the total social and cultural pollutions have taken place. Keeping the indigenous folklore alive and uncorrupted, would amount to keeping these 80 % folks of the country happy, healthy and alive in the days to come. But it is not so......It is the urgent need of their basic human rights, thus to preserve, promote, restore, innovate graciously and integrate them in the national mainstream in a dignified and healthy manner. What is happening at the moment is certainly unhealthy, dangerous and definitely more dalitisation and dehumanisation leading them in a hidden way, in the direction of social, cultural and biological annihilation.....!
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AVITOLI G ZHIMO
Lecturer of Cultural Anthropology in the University of Delhi
Avitoli G Zhimo (28), appointed as lecturer of cultural anthropology at the University of Delhi, India, in January 2009. Avitoli has already joined the newly asigned post to her. Prior to this appointment, she had been pursuing her Ph.D. In the same University on the topic of ‘Customary Law and the State: The Case of the Sumi of Nagaland.' She herself belongs to Sumi Naga tribe of North-East.
Avitoli G Zhimo has many publications and work experience to her credit. Besides being excellent student in her graduate, post graduate, and M.phil. studies, she had undertaken many work projects with national and international associations, co-ordinating their works and presenting research papers in national and international seminars. Her new appointment comes as a reward in consideration to her work, achievements, experience and publications as a young and budding cultural anthropologist in the country. It is believed Avitoli will make a good contribution towards the fresh understanding of the tribal communities in India which not only will enhance knowledge of the tribal communities in India but also help in national building.
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