TRIBAL CULTURAL RIGHTS

The tribal India or the indigenous peoples of pre-historic times had their own high cultural ideals, values, views and world views which they retain with pride in their oral literatures even today. They are not low as they are discriminately projected in the various writings in the country by mainstream society, or in the earlier centuries by the incoming Aryans, encroaching to their original ancestral territories, culture and societies calling them Asuras then killing and capturing their resources. The process of social and cultural encroachment, corruption of noble indigenous values still continuously goes on un-noticed and un-protected in various forms. The indigenous cultures of India are thus under no proper measures for their human rights protections. In the oral traditions of the tribal India and other ethnic groups, there are many similar accounts or literary documentary evidences of depiction of the indigenous social and cultural values, useful for the protection of their cultural, human or indigenous rights of tribal or indigenous India. The following poet-try or folk song is the result of such seduction from the part of the king is preserved in the oral tradition of the Bhils depicing strength of moral character of a Bhil maid and the fallen character of the local Rajput prince.

The Bhil Maid and the Raja

"O Bhildi ! If you would like to see the palace, come with me;

for I love you sweet girl."

"Your majesty ! My courtyards are just like your palaces,

I will not come to your palace."

"O Bhildi ! If you would like to see the horses, come with me;

For I love you sweet girl."

"Your Majesty ! My bulls are like your horses,

I will not come to your palaces."

"O Bhildi ! If you would like to see the nobles, come with me;

For I love you sweet girl."

Your Majesty ! My farmers are like your nobles,

No, I will not come to your palace."

"Then, if you would like to see the princesses, come with me;

For I love you sweet girl."

"My village maiden are like your princesses,

No, I shall never come to your papace."

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TRIBAL HUMAN RIGHTS SUPPORT

Rajiv Gandhi Chair for the contemporary studies situated at Barkatullah University, Bhopal (MP) India, has successfully organised three consecutive seminars for the human rights support of tribal or Adivasi communities of India, dealing with their social, cultural, economic and developmental rights, under the efficient chairmanship of Professor S.N. Chaudhary. These three national seminars of high standing are:

1. Tribes and Their Indigenous Knowledge ((2006)

2. Tribal Development (2008)

3. Tribal Economy: Status and Possibilities (2009)

All the three seminars dealing with the overall human rights of the tribal communities in India in which at least not less than three dozen senior and reputed social scientists from all major universities of India have participated for serious consultation with keen interest in shaping the future policies and programmes of the Central Government of India dealing with the tribes in the country. The scholars so far dealing with the subjects were found to be having highly sympathetic attitudes towards the overall development of the tribal communities. The papers presented in these seminars are edited and published regularly by Prof. S.N. Chaudhary the head of the Rajiv Gandhi Chair for the contemporary studies. Prof. Chaudhary has genuine interest in development of the tribal communities of India. It is likely that such studies and consultations will eventually through new lights on the shaping of the tribal developmental policies and programmes in India.

THE SYMBOLS OF TRIBAL HUMAN RIGHTS

If we see the social, cultural, religious and above all the political history of the Bhils and their struggles for survival in India, we find that among many tribal groups, the Bhils of North and Western parts of India have fearlessly fought most against more powerful invaders to their land such as Aryans, Muslims, Rajputs, Marathas, British etc, all through the history, loosing each time due to the lack of unity among them in spite of having bigger number against their better organised foes and also have no proper weapons to face them in battles. In all their social and political encounters, their weapons and strategies weaker than their more powerful enemies. The Bhil tribal heroes, saints and leaders, who led their Bhil people, some of their names can be mentioned to recall their memories.


They are:

Tantya Bhil
Begda Bhil
Kasumor Damor
Babo Halun
Valmiki Bhil
Dosara
Shabri
Muktaphal
Rajsingh Drashta
Bhilraj Yam
Lasodia
Galia
Vishvanath
Mauji
Gulia(Gulu)
Jyotishwar Maharaj
Bhagat Joria
Rupsingh
Bhima Naik
Khaja Naik
Bhagoji Naik
Kajar Singh
Puno Bhil
Limbaram
Mama Baleshwar Dayal and many others.


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HUMAN RIGHTS FOR EDUCATION

Since over a decade of years or more, all over India a strong urge is being felt among the tribal youth especially among tribal girls who being females, are badly deprived by the parents, and governments in imparting and letting the female children go to schools in proper age, owing to which the tribal girls suffer in their daily labourer's jobs in and away from their tribal habitats. In such a sensitive situation tribal girls from the Bhil region of Jhabua (MP), narrates their feelings in the folksong in this manner:

Uncle !
There is a school on the hill top
Of our village
Let me go to study.

I do not care,
Whether I study
Up to fifth class or eight,
I am but an ignorant girl.

If,
I go to school,
My mind will be enlightened,

Uncle !
You are
Smothering me,
With your possessiveness
And love
Which makes you
Keep me at home.

I may
Even study,
Up to eleventh class or twelve.

Cast aside,
Your paternal dominance
And,
Let me go to school!


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HUMAN RIGHTS TO WORK FOR FOOD

After a long time, nearly after 7 years of starvation and deprivation, the poor or the poorest tribals of India namely the Bhils who are the worst exploited in the history of North India, were seen working on the road sight near a small ancient Bhil town of Bhagoria Bhils called Bhagor. The towns of Bhagor, Jhabua, and many others in the surrounding were once upon a time foundation of the Bhils and their states, chiefdoms and kingdoms from whom in the course of history Marathas, Rajputs, British, Muslims and others snatched away their tribal establishments, a fact well known in the tribal history of North India especially in the writings of Brijraj Chauhan, S.L. Doshi, T.B. Naik, W. Koppers, L. Jungblut and many others. But today over the years of deprivation and degradation which continues up to this day in various forms the Bhils who ruled a vast region of land once upon a time reduced to total misery socially, culturally, administratively, linguistically, and in many more areas of life.
It is surprising to note that highest amount of funds allocated to this district by national and international agencies. But, it is doubtful whether they get even 2% of what is a given to them. But one can notice all around in the region of Jhabua and it surroundings JVC and other heavy machines are utilised to deprive them further of their basic funds. What is most deplorable that not a single major political party genuinely cares for them, their immediate needs and development, except the Hindi daily News papers? The Indian riche persons have grown richer and richer like this. Do the Bhils and other tribes have no right to work.... at least for relief funds which needless to say come for them....?

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GROSS VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

India is the land of gross violation of tribal human rights from very early centuries. Since Mahabharat and Ramayana, be it their geographical space, thumb of Eklavya, hospitality, chiefdoms, kingdoms, virgins and women, land, territorial rights and it's belonging, mutation of their names and surnames and, religion, languages, festivals and folklore, crops and seeds, relief and developmental funds, jobs, self respect and socio-cultural security, traditional culture and art, myths-folktales-legends and other forms of oral traditions, since centuries their property and now a day’s their innocent lives and human rights are under serious threats in sad to say in Free India. Mama Baleshwar Dayal a doyen of tribal human rights in Bhilanchal used to often say, the second slavery that is deshi, in modern India we shall never be able to over throw it. All over India similar cases are frequently repeating in-spite of Government of India has promulgated Atrocity Act to protect the tribal human rights in depth and honesty. So far it is good but on the grass root level its impact is far from satisfaction.

The recent incident that took place in Raipurya of Jhabua district (MP) on the 14th of January 2009 in the present day is but a representative one of the same horrible situation that is persisting today freely in the tribal areas since many centuries unnoticed. The Jhabua incident also shall be bypasses conveniently by the administration including many other cases or charges will be framed against the innocents, without punishing the guilty persons. Much worse in the present case, the policemen of Jhabua district beat up an innocent tribal Thavria Meda (40) mercilessly to death. The names of the policemen are Kartar Singh and Ishvarlal. At present there is a good Superintendent of Police (SP) in the district of Jhabua. But the culprits are not punished to give justice to the tribal human rights.

In normal life of the district police and other law enforcing authorities are literally chasing the tribals round the clock. During the folk festivals of the tribals' the police and administration are the least respectful of their celebrations such as on the occasions of Bhagoria, marriage, Gal, Gad, Gohari, weekly markets etc. Others also commit the crimes but police is not seen scrutinising them. The local MP Kantilal Bhuriya and newly elected MLA Valsingh Meda visited the badly affected village but to no satisfactory effects. It is good to keep the law enforcing authorities in the state and in the district of Jhabua as well. But in such lawless situation, who shall police the overall corrupt police force in the districts, and promote with honesty and dedication the tribal human rights....?

Posted By Mahipal Bhuriya

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ARE THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF BHILS AND OF OTHER TRIBES DENIED....?

The Bhils, Gonds, Santhal, Nahals, and many such ancient tribes of India are the most Adi and the indigenous peoples of this country. They known with many generic names as autochthons, sons of the soil, Deshaj, Adi Nivasi, Adi Vasi, Adivasi but not vanvasi. They lived here from the time immemorial, even before coming of the Aryans, to this subcontinents, at least to their adi nivases of home lands, or to their deshes. In the context of the Bhils, Gonds and Santhals, their present home land, was not the one in which they are living present times. In many cases and areas of the Adivasis, they were forcefully treated by armed and aggressive peoples who invaded their lands. The Adivasis never invaded or did atikraman (encroachments) of alien territories in history but shared and sheltered others in their land and with their own resources to the incoming peoples, a hospitality matchless with any ethnic groups in India today. But these, in the course of Indian history deprived them of their total resources, forcing them to take shelters in the remotest parts of hilly gorges calling them with derogatory terms such as vanvasis and others as well, prohibited by Atrocity Act of India. Thanks to the Indian Government today for this legal protection. The Bhils, Gonds, Santhals, Mundas, Bhilas and many others are the original peoples of the past. Some of whom have lived in the valley of Ganges even from where they were unseated. The history says that the home of the Nishads or Bhils was Northern, Centre and Western parts of India which was their original and fertile land. In the prehistoric times, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Upnishdas, Puranas, ancient Indian history of the princely states, Mogul history, Rajput history, Maratha History, British history and in the rest of the records, we find glorious records of the Bhils, Gonds, Santhals and other tribes. Even some of the languages like Bhili, Santhali, Khadia, Munda, Nahali etc are older to Sanskrit the linguists say. In the case of the Bhils, Gonds and Santhals their original land is divided by the later coming peoples in various states. In the case of the Bhils Rajasthan (old Rajputana), Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh, similarly in the case of the Royal Gond tribe whose princely days' antiques or remnants still present, such as a Minister of state Government of Madhya Pradesh Kunwar Shah and few others, still one can see and their royal and undeniable past can be traced. Gondwana too is divided in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Jharkhand. Similarly Santhal land too.

When their ancient geographical space is so badly shrunk socially, culturally, linguistically and politically today, in context of their dear Adivasi/tribal cultures, languages, religions, art, music, songs, myths, legends, folktales, games, indigenous knowledge, world views and values which is vastly influenced over the period of more than 20 centuries, and they are totally subjected today for everything and in everything, then how their overall human rights can be respectfully upheld........? On the contrary they have to learn Sanskrit at the cost of their own tribal languages. When all take English education, excelling in higher studies, in English, only tribals are forced to learn in Hindi and regional languages by state education boards. What a discrimination...? Already in the first stage itself. It is a prime time to revive the ancient tribal histories, cultures, languages, religions, art, symbols, and unite them under tribal geographical regions the Bhils in Bhilanchal, Gonds in Gondwana, Santhals in Santhal Desh, etc, for the preservation, protection and integration of the ancient denied overall human or Adivasi tribal rights. Or else even their names shall be conveniently wiped out from the antique pages of ancient Indian tribal and other histories as the attempts are being done all over India in connection with the tribal/Adivasi names and surnames who shall be rendered soon as Dalits/Shudras or Chandals. Would any tribal or the indigenous peoples like their presence be wiped out from the face of ancient and present day history...? If we do not protect ourselves according to the rights given by the Constitution of India, the Bhils and other tribals shall be vanished for ever from the face of ancient Nishad Desh and present Bhilanchal and similarly other tribes in the same way.

In order to protect our tribal/Adivasi humanity in the Bhilanchal and other tribal respective regions, for the overall Bhil or tribal/Adivasi rights of their ancient origin, ancient Adivasi regions prehistory, history, culture, ancient Nishad Deshes, encounter with other peoples, look into the transferring of their land into the hands of incoming aggressive and militant peoples, suppression and oppressions of their ancient sublime Adivasi cultures and societies, exploitations today, diminishing of their developmental opportunities, inappropriate division the Bhil, Gond, Santhal and other Adivasi lands in four or more present states of these respective tribes, they should be meticulously studied in equal justice and social eaqualities. If these rights are not protected according to the rights and privileges given in the 5th and 6th Schedules of the great constitution of India, according to the great vision for the indigenous peoples of the country seen by our country's Constitution maker Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, then their total rights shall appear to be systematically denied, and we shall appease ourselves eating only crumbs. Many minor tribes have been given with their own tribal states. Then why not Santhals with Santhal Desh, Gonds with Gondwana and the Bhils with BHILANCHAL for the protection of their tribal/Adivasi human rights in dignified way of national integration....? In the present political scenario, only one party seems to be respecting the human rights of the indigenous peoples. But many media persons are awakened to look into these issues. The tribal intellectuals and other scholars have begun to enlighten the nation. We suppose the dawn of Tribal/Adivasi human rights is appearing gradually.

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