A GURU OF BHIL CULTURE AND ANTHROPOLOGY

BHIL CULTURE

So far there was not a single INDIAN ANTHROPOLOGIST who loved and lived among the Bhils whatsoever may be his or her motive, than Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Koppers of Vienna University, Austria. Prof. Dr. W. Koppers’ monumental works are mainly in German and English languages published in the form of books, monographs, research papers, etc. Most of his books were published from Vienna and research papers in the one of the most reputed journal of anthropology called ANTHROPOS, published from Sank Augustin, Germany.

Prof. W. Koppers monumental work for which he is internationally known much remembered till today is : DIE BHIL IN ZENTRALINDIEN which was later translated in English and published from Vienna as: Bowmen of Mid-India(1977) by L. Jungblut SVD. An Indian edition of his books and monographs is much awaited, besides the translation of the same in Hindi and some works even in Bhili the language of the place where he lived and worked as an eminent anthropologist.

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RAJEEV GANDHI MOBILE HOSPITAL FOR TRIBAL HEALTH RIGHTS

A hospital on the wheels has lately arrived well equipped, to one of the poorest district of Madhya Pradesh called Jhabua. The district of Jhabua mainly inhabited by the Bhils is well known in India and abroad for its poverty, misery, large level of exploitation and deprivation by politicians, administrators, NGOs and traders. The human and cultural rights, including the right to basic health provided by Central and state Governments is un-available to these tribals. Worst thing to be sadly noted is that, there is no one to question these exploitations and deprivations and bring the hidden facts to the world. Some international writers, media persons and human right agencies must rise to the scene so that the previous funds coming for these poor and the voiceless tribals may not strengthen the exploiters much more.

Rajeev Gandhi Life Line Express as the mobile hospital on railway wheels moving for the medical service of the tribals has arrived in Jhabua since 5th of January, 2009. But the representative of the Bhils for whom it came, namely Member of Parliament and State Minister for Agriculture Mr. Kantilal Bhuriya has not yet visited the Mobile Hospital for its moral and physical support.

The medical services shall be rendered efficiently till the 22nd of February in various stages for varying disease, incurable by the tribals for they are totally under the grip of deprivation, poverty and exploitation. The state government’s workers are actively involved in supporting the noble cause. Some of the generous civilians have come forward in timely support of the Rajeev Gandhi Life Line Express.

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BHAGORIA: Tribal Folkloric Cultural Festival

The largest folkloric cultural festival of indigenous Adivasi India appears this year in the month of March 2009, from 4th to 10th in the region of Bhagor or Jhabua and its surroundings. Much has been written by various people including in the adivasikaran in great details.

The schedule of the Bhagoria festival, the tribal Valentine(adivasi Valentine's day) week this year falls on the following days of the month of March 2009 in the following weekly markets prior to Holi the festival of Holi:

March 4: Wednesday, Chandpur, Barjhar, Bori, Umarkot, Machhalia, Karwad, Borayata, Kalyanpura, Khattali, Madrani and Dhekal.

March 5: Thursday, Phoolmal, Sondwa, Jobat, Para, Harinagar, Sarangi, Samoi and Chainpura.

March 6: Friday, Katthiwada, Valpur, Udaigargh, Bhagor, Beklada, Mandli and Kalidevi.

March 7: Saturday, Meghnagar, Ranapur, Nanpur, Umrali, Bamania, Jhaknawada, and Baledi.

March 8: Sunday, Jhabua, Chhakatala, Jheeran, Dholiawad, Raipurya, Kakanvani, Sorwa, Amkhoont, Kanawada, and Kulwat.

March 9: Monday, Alirajpur, Bhabhra, Petlawad, Rambhapur, Mohankot, Kundanpur, Rajla, Badguda, and Medwa.

March 10: Tuesday, Bakhatgargh, Ambua, Andharwad, Pitol, Khardoo, Thandla, Tarkhedi, and Barvet.

After the tribal Holi two more Adivasi festivals are held namely Gai Gohari and Gal. More details shall be served later about these two tribal festivals which are neglected and disrespected by the administration.

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HINDI QUARTERLY SUPPORTS HUMAN RIGHTS

KANCHANLATA a prominent Hindi Quarterly of the National language of India from Rajasthan based Hindi area, supported the article of Mahipal Bhuriya entitled ADIVASI DARSHAN (Adivasi / Tribal / Indigenous Peoples Philosophy). The articles strongly favouring the Human rights of the Adivasi / Gypsy / Tribal / Indigenous peoples various issues covering all the areas of their life. Some time back Mahipal Bhuriya was considered to be a controversial, progressive and revolutionary writer from the tribal regions of Central India since his first publication called Bhili Chetanana Geet (1977, 1978). But ever since Mahipal Bhuriya consistetly and regularly supported the tribal issues in Hindi literature, All India Radio, TV, press conferences, seminars, research papers, etc. Now his ideas are being highlighted in the form of Adivasikaran (tribalisation and aboriginalisation) meaning while the tribals remaining rooted to their adi (origins) or roots, should preserve, promote, innovate and integrate themselves in the national mainstream, maintaining their original identity with dignity and not become Dalits as the process is today through sanskritisation.

In the context a prominent Hindi quarterly edited by Dr. Bharat Misra Prachi from Jaipur (Rajasthan) has carried a more than 5 page paper highlighting the issues of the adivasikaran.

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ADIVASI SOCIAL SERVICE SOCIETY PRAGATI HONOURED

The District Collector of Jhabua(MP), Mr. Jagdish Sharma awarded a self-help group(SHG) of Pragati, called Jyoti run by Adivasi Bhil women, on the Republic Day of India in Jhabua, on 26th January 2009. Jyoti is successfully animated and guided by Pragati a social service society dedicated for the upliftment of the poorest tribals of India. The Pragati is headed by Malhing Kattara who is a Bhil himself. Pragati has so far 620 active SHGs in the Districts of Jhabua, Alirajpur, Dhar, Ratlam, Mandsaur, Neemuch,etc in MP. As such the district of Jhabua is infested by commercialized NGOs who have no love for the tribals but for their funds certainly. It is keeping in mind such imppressions the district Collector honoured a dedicated and local NGO called Pragati since it is of the Bhils and run by the Bhils. Among many awards Pragati got in the past one important award was given by the Collector for Pragati's performence in Varod village of Jhabua Block is Rs. 20,000(twenty thousands) for their best SHG in producing organic manure for their own fields and also to sell in the local market.

Because of their production of organic manure they reduced their total dependency on the corrupt bank system, money lenders(Banias), recovery in their health, paid their debts, they have money to spare for children's education, proved to be an data (giver f food )for supplying unadulterated one for the higher castes and moneyed people who sell them adulterated food and medicine. The Pragati is the only one so far in te district of Jhabua among all the NGOs to enjoy this honour and status.

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INDIGENOUS TRIBAL FARMERS AWARDED

The Jhabua district (MP) a predominantly inhabitated by the poorest, deprived, indigenous tribals of India called Bhils. The district has one of the most ancient indigenous tribals or Adivasi communities of India. Their main profession is agriculture of traditional type, solely depending on the irregular rains. The rains too fail more regularly than the availability of Central and state Government funds in Madhya Pradesh. Last year there was extremely access rain and this current year much less. In the both extreme situations the tribals regularly and punctually migrate due to the non availability of Government relief funds which does not give them even partial relief but it goes to some others. In these cases 60% to 70 % of the famine and drought affected Bhils regularly migrate to the nearing states for most parts of the yea, proving the tribal Bhils were self-supporting and self-sufficient indigenous tribal communities who did not depend ever since the droughts and famines began to haunt them for nearly last 30 years.

In such a deprived conditions the two farmers were awarded for risking their efforts and money, who proved to be advantageous from their infertile and unirrigatable land. Raphael Bhuriya (59) from the Mohankot village from Petlawad tehsil of the district for mixed cultivation that is with cultivation horticulture for which the district Collector Jagdish Sharma IAS awarded Rs 10,000=00(ten thousands) and a similar amount was awarded to Maria Damor who is a simple and uneducated housewife of Navapada village (Panchkui) for developing and using Gobar Gas Plant(cow dung pit) for cooking, light and manure for healthy life and cultivation compared to chemical fertilisers. Maria ia a member of a Self-help group(SHG) of her village, guided by a well reputed and dedicated social service society called PRAGATI based in the Bhil region of Jhabua and its surroundings.

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BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS OF WOMEN

The emotional urge to make love and romance, in familial and domestic atmosphere is well known in the traditional folklore and the oral tradition of the indigenous peoples in India. It was also considered to be based on the pure relationship of Bhabhi (sister-in-law) and Dewar (husband's younger brother), family ethics and unconventional norms. A time when the pure relationship turned into too personal, emotional and intense love affair, then the problem would arise naturally between the inner circles of a household, leading to separations and doubts. But family ethics in a community would still demand enough tolerance among their members and unconditional forgiveness.

A beautiful example of the same is expressed here in a romantic and spirit of forgiveness manner. These folk-songs are popular among the Bhils of the adjoining territory of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat of Bhilanchal:

The Bangles

The bangles are shining on my hands
And my husband cannot bear to see them so.

He asks me repeatedly, “My sweetheart,
Who has given these bangles to you?”

“Beat me if you like, but spare your younger brother;
For he has made these bangles for me."

“If I kill my brother,
I lose a friend and a companion;

If I kill wife,
My house shall be desolate."



My Lost Ring
Dewar, there is little gold in the house,
Make a golden ring for me with it.....

For I have lost my ring.
Where Bhabhi milks the buffaloes
And dewar brings in the calves.

If my husband should
Come to kwon of our relationship;
He may cut off our heads
And play with them like Bhil Honkey.

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