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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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....?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.


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