WISDOM IN TRIBAL CULTURES

The Indigenous populations of India have age old wisdom and values which has remained up to today; uncorrupted unlike among the literate ones of the country. This tribal cultural is preserved in their oral traditions (vachik parampara), and promoted from one generation to the next by the word of mouth, for the maintenance of their traditions, social and day today's cultural needs. All the tribes or Adivasi groups have practical wisdom in the form of their Proverbs known among the tribes of Western India as Kewat (proverbs / kahawat) as their indigenous literary genre would call it. These kewats are largely based on the age old practical wisdom, well tested by the elders of their clans and societies, to guide their Adivasi community members in good and especially in bad times. Among the Bhils there are over a thousand such pieces of practical collected by Mathias Bhuriya, over the last three decades of time. Many of these pieces of beautifal and practical wisdom are not found in the literate societies even.

Two proverbs of the Bhils, one of the most ancient tribes of India, have been preserved in their Bhili language are:

1. Bholan no Bhagwan se. (God is on side of the righteous.)
Dr. Nemichand Jain a great scholar and linguist of Bhils and Bhili, was a great admirer of this kewat (proverb) of the Bhils. This piece of wisdom he highlighted in his several writing, formal and informal talks etc. The Bhils of all the regions of Bhilanchal are highly oppressed, suppressed and deprived unjustly by all the non-tribals who came in their social and cultural contacts all through the history. The Bhils quote this kewat in the times of their psychological and physical frustrations and other forms of harassments. Rajputs, Marathas and others as well other incoming peoples, have tortured the Bhils in various forms besides depriving and degrading them.

2. Sat Sandeinyin Jhalake.(Truth glitters in the moon light.)
This kewat (proverb) too was much appreciated by late Dr. Nemichand Jain, L. Jungblut and others. The Bhils are innocent ones. Even if they robe, it is only in the form of goats or chicken and not the billions which are cleared away from various funds , relief works and of some other developmental programmes given by national and international agencies for tribal benefits. In such a situation when they are accused and harassed for small or negligible robberies by agencies concerned, in such a helpless situation s, to support their mental and physical aches they quote this kewat (proverb).

Should the ethical, value oriented and noble traditions of Adi or real India, which the most beautiful and sublime, be lost in oblivion....?

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