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Video | Through the Eye of the Ancestors: An exhibition of historical photographs organized with the Rathwa community – Gujarat

Image: Bhil husband and wife: 1953, Fürer-Haimendorf Collection (SOAS Library PPMS19_6_BHIL_0142) | More information >> Your ancestors and my ancestors existed together; therefore, we should also be together and live happily. – Muja Ratwa Source: subtitles of the concluding discussion of … Continue reading

Posted in Adivasi, Colonial policies, Community facilities, Cultural heritage, Customs, Dress and ornaments, History, Homes and utensils, Media portrayal, Modernity, Museum collections - general, Museum collections - India, Names and communities, Networking, Organizations, Photos and slideshows, Quotes, Seasons and festivals, Storytelling, Tribal elders, Video resources - external, Worship and rituals | Tagged , | Comments Off

International Day for Biological Diversity 2013: Tribal school programme in Kanyakumari district – Tamil Nadu

Photos: courtesy S S Davidson © 2013 Tribal Foundation (Nagercoil) The Hindu, NAGERCOIL, May 23, 2013 The International Day for Biological Diversity was observed at Tholady [Kaani] tribal settlement in the Western Ghats of Kanyakumari district on Wednesday. The United Nations … Continue reading

Posted in Customs, Ecology and environment, Education and literacy, Health and nutrition, Names and communities, Photos and slideshows, Press snippets, Western Ghats - tribal heritage & ecology | Tagged | Comments Off

Health and nutrition: Creating awareness among Adivasi children – Tamil Nadu

To read the entire report and view more photos, click here >> In the 1980s, the tribal people in our region came together and set up a group called the AMS. At that time malnutrition was a serious problem among tribal people … Continue reading

Posted in Adivasi, Childhood and children, Customs, Health and nutrition, Organizations, Quotes, Storytelling, Western Ghats - tribal heritage & ecology | Comments Off

Subscribing to the Gandhian way of life – Gujarat

I have often heard it said by some of the tribal activists that Gandhi had no take on the Girijans (his term for Adivasis). However, during my twenty years of work among Adivasis in Gujarat, I find a number of community … Continue reading

Posted in Gandhian social movement, Misconceptions, Quotes, Revival of traditions | Comments Off

Nirmala Putul: A Santal poet questioning ‘development’ and ‘progress’ in modern civilization

Mountain Child by Nirmala Putul The mountain child — a fragment of the mountain — plays in the lap of the mountain Toddling up the mountain he plants his feet in the mountain soil to rise like a mountain in … Continue reading

Posted in Adivasi, Childhood and children, Modernity, Poetry, Quotes, Women | Tagged | Comments Off

Bamboo is the lifeline of the Kaani tribe living in the forests of Kanyakumari district – Tamil Nadu

P. S. Suresh Kumar, The Hindu, NAGERCOIL, January 25, 2013 It is used as a knife to sever the umbilical cord of a newborn baby and as a cradle. It transforms into a bed (locally known as ‘padai’) that carries the … Continue reading

Posted in Crafts and visual arts, Customs, Ecology and environment, Education and literacy, Health and nutrition, Homes and utensils, Names and communities, Nature and wildlife, Press snippets | Tagged | Comments Off

Mahasweta Devi: A model in which activism and writing can reflect upon each other

Mahasweta Devi was born in 1926 in the city of Dacca in East Bengal (modern day Bangladesh). As an adolescent, she and her family moved to West Bengal in India. Born into a literary family, Mahasweta Devi was also influenced … Continue reading

Posted in Accountability, Adivasi, History, Literature - fiction, Literature and bibliographies, Modernity, Quotes, Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Storytelling, Women | Comments Off

Linking cultures, fostering environmental responsibility: World Sparrow Day – Nagercoil

A successful House Sparrow Project by S S Davidson The House Sparrow is strongly associated with human habitations, and can live in urban or rural settings. Though found in widely varied habitats and climates, it typically avoids extensive woodlands, grasslands, and deserts away from human … Continue reading

Posted in Ecology and environment, Education and literacy, Organizations, Photos and slideshows, Quotes | Comments Off

Supreme Court declares a buffer zone around the Jarawa Tribal Reserve Area: Protecting the safety, security and interests of the Jarawas – Andaman

J. Venkatesan, The Hindu, New Delhi, January 21, 2013 The Supreme Court on Monday banned tourists from taking the Andaman Nicobar Trunk Road that passes through the area where the Jarawas live. The road is used to reach the Limestone Cave. … Continue reading

Posted in Accountability, Government of India, Names and communities, Press snippets, Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Tourism | Tagged | Comments Off

A way to preserve biodiversity: India’s inspiring tradition of sacred groves – Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel

In commissioning a High-Level Working Group headed by the space scientist K. Kasturirangan to study the recommendations of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), the Ministry of Environment and Forests hoped to resolve an impasse. It now appears that … Continue reading

Posted in Accountability, Colonial policies, Commentary, Ecology and environment, Economy and development, Figures, census and other statistics, Government of India, Media portrayal, Modernity, Nature and wildlife, Press snippets, Western Ghats - tribal heritage & ecology | Comments Off

Tip | Search articles on tribal history, politics and literature on Ramachandra Guha’s website

Type “adivasi”, “tribal”, “Mahasweta Devi”, “Verrier Elwin”, the name of place or a tribal community or similar combinations of words in the the Quick Search field seen on Ramachandra Guha’s website >> Guha’s books include a pioneering environmental history, The … Continue reading

Posted in Accountability, Adivasi, Anthropology, Assimilation, Colonial policies, Commentary, Customs, De- and re-tribalisation, Democracy, Dress and ornaments, Ecology and environment, Economy and development, Gandhian social movement, Health and nutrition, History, Internet, Literature and bibliographies, Media portrayal, Misconceptions, Modernity, Names and communities, Nature and wildlife, Quotes, Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Seasons and festivals, Tips, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Academy of Tribal Learning: Ramachandra Guha on its inauguration by writer-activist Mahasweta Devi – Gujarat

In the first week of February 2002, I got a call from the writer Mahasweta Devi. I had met Mahasweta only once—in a boarding house in Delhi where we both happened to be staying—but knew, of course, a great deal about … Continue reading

Posted in Adivasi, Community facilities, Cultural heritage, Education and literacy, Languages and linguistic heritage, Museum collections - India, Names and communities, Organizations, Quotes, Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Women | Tagged | Comments Off

Lending a voice to the nation’s indigenous population: Adivaani, a trust that publishes books written by Adivasis – Jharkhand and West Bengal

Garima Mishra, Indian Express New Delhi, Sat Apr 27 2013 | Read the full article >> “Why don’t we have an Adivasi voice?”, “Why don’t we have a ‘for and by’ Adivasi publishing house?”, “Where is the authentic Adivasi narrative?” … Continue reading

Posted in Adivasi, Childhood and children, Community facilities, Cultural heritage, History, Languages and linguistic heritage, Media portrayal, Modernity, Names and communities, Press snippets, Revival of traditions, Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Storytelling, Tribal culture worldwide | Tagged , , | Comments Off

Early Buddhist Sanghas valued outlook of tribal society: Democratic functioning, gender equality and knowledge of medicinal plants

Lobsan Payat (Newsfinder.org) Posted by Anandajoti on Tuesday, 19th October, 2010 Adivasi traditions and practices pervade all aspects of Indian culture and civilization, yet this awareness is often lacking in popular consciousness, and the extent and import of Adivasi contributions … Continue reading

Posted in Adivasi, Democracy, Ecology and environment, Economy and development, Health and nutrition, History, Languages and linguistic heritage, Names and communities, Quotes, Women | Tagged | Comments Off

Egalitarian culture leaves Adivasi youth unprepared for competition: On the challenge of balancing tradition and modernity

Boro Baski is a teacher and social worker with the community-based organisation Ghosaldanga Adibasi Seva Sangha in West Bengal. Read the entire article >> Boro Baski, 13/05/2013 The young generation of India’s tribal communities is struggling with different problems than the college-educated urban … Continue reading

Posted in Accountability, Adivasi, Assimilation, Commentary, Economy and development, Education and literacy, Figures, census and other statistics, Government of India, History, Misconceptions, Modernity, Names and communities, Quotes, Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Worship and rituals | Tagged | Comments Off

Western India’s cotton-growing and -dyeing technologies traced to Indus Valley civilization

  The western region consists of the desert states of Gujarat and Rajasthan as well as Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and western Madhya Pradesh. [...] The region is home to a wide variety of people with different religious ‘s and … Continue reading

Posted in Crafts and visual arts, Customs, Dress and ornaments, Economy and development, Fashion, History, Modernity, Names and communities, Photos and slideshows, Quotes, Women | Tagged , | Comments Off

Indigenous Peoples of the World: National Consortium of Tribal Arts and Culture – Gujarat

The term indigenous peoples is the term used here in connection with all ethnic groups inhabiting a geographic region with which they have the earliest historic connections, before colonization or annexation and who have maintained a distinct language, culture and … Continue reading

Posted in Anthropology, Museum collections - India, Organizations, Quotes, Resources, Tribal culture worldwide, Tribal identity | Comments Off

Video | Hul Sengel: The Spirit of the Santal Revolution (1855) – Jharkhand

Watch a film produced on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Santal Hul ["Santal revolution" of 1855-56] >> Director and Producer: Daniel J. Rycroft, University of East Anglia Co-Director: Joy Raj Tudu (Indian Confederation of Indigenous & Tribal People) Co-Producer: D. … Continue reading

Posted in Adivasi, Childhood and children, Colonial policies, Crafts and visual arts, Cultural heritage, History, Languages and linguistic heritage, Maps, Media portrayal, Music and dance, Names and communities, Revival of traditions, Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Storytelling, Tribal elders, Tribal identity, Video resources - external, Women | Tagged | Comments Off

Tip | Publication: The Politics of Belonging in India: Becoming Adivasi

edited by Daniel J Rycroft, Sangeeta Dasgupta (2011) Source: The Politics of Belonging in India: Becoming Adivasi – Google Books Address : http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=z_Pe0z1ta_8C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false Date Visited: Mon May 13 2013 18:24:39 GMT+0200 (CEST) Related posts Adivasi Colonial policies History Literature and bibliographies … Continue reading

Posted in Adivasi, Anthropology, Colonial policies, De- and re-tribalisation, History, Literature and bibliographies, Names and communities, Resources, Tips, Tribal identity | Tagged , | Comments Off

Collective of tribals successful in initiating and maintaining a sustainable commercial cultivation of coffee – Andhra Pradesh

G. S. SUBRAHMANYAM, The Hindu, VISAKHAPATNAM, January 29, 2013 Coop society creates steady source of income for over 11,000 farmers The ability of the collective of tribals in Paderu Agency area in initiating and maintaining a sustainable commercial cultivation of coffee … Continue reading

Posted in Ecology and environment, Economy and development, Globalization, Maps, Nature and wildlife, Organizations, Press snippets | Comments Off

The Irulas’ Natural Products Corporation: Providing employment to several hundred Irula women – Tamil Nadu & New Delhi

Times of India, 29-3-2005 The Irulas’ Natural Products Corporation is a partnership firm located in the ITWWS campus, which produces, promotes and markets Irula health-care products. It provides employment to several hundred Irula women. [...] A team of experienced vaidyars … Continue reading

Posted in Adivasi, Customs, Economy and development, Government of India, Health and nutrition, History, Maps, Names and communities, Organizations, Press snippets, Women | Tagged | Comments Off

Call for respect to indigenous peoples and an end to gender discrimination: India’s first National Dalit and Adivasi Women’s Congress

Dalit and Adivasi Women Warriors Question Caste and Gender Oppression Sujatha Surepally | Read the entire report with more photos >> (Impressions from the first National Dalit and Adivasi Women’s Congress held on February 15-16, 2013, at Tata Institute of Social … Continue reading

Posted in Accountability, Adivasi, Community facilities, Democracy, Ecology and environment, Education and literacy, Health and nutrition, Modernity, Networking, Organizations, Photos and slideshows, Quotes, Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Rural poverty, Women | Comments Off

Encouraging centuries-old life-skills of Irulas: Eking out a living outside forests – Tamil Nadu

APARNA KARTHIKEYAN, The Hindu, 11-12-12 Janaki Lenin’s book [My Husband and Other Animals], a compilation of her popular column in The Hindu MetroPlus, offers insights into her husband Rom Whitaker’s fascination for animals, particularly snakes  When he came to Madras, Rom … Continue reading

Posted in Assimilation, Ecology and environment, Economy and development, Literature and bibliographies, Misconceptions, Modernity, Names and communities, Nature and wildlife, Organizations, Press snippets, Rural poverty, Women | Tagged | Comments Off

Seminar on the issue of trans-border Asia’s trans-border communities: Struggling to preserve their social and cultural characteristics – National Atlas & Thematic Mapping Organisation

Ipsita Pati, The Hindu, Kolkata, February 24, 2013 Tribal groups have to relocate themselves to create new identities or merge with bigger nations as an adaptive strategy to preserve their inherited social and cultural characteristics, said National Atlas & Thematic Mapping … Continue reading

Posted in Anthropology, Assimilation, Government of India, History, Modernity, Networking, Organizations, Press snippets, Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Tribal culture worldwide, Tribal identity | Comments Off

Call for providing children’s literature in Jharkhand’s endangered tribal languages: Sahitya Akademi’s seminar – Ranchi

The Telegraph, Kolkata, November 28 , 2012 Eight languages spoken by tribals of Jharkhand are among the world’s endangered list of 1,763, including 171 in India, according to a Unesco report. In this context, Sahitya Akademi, which hosted a two-day … Continue reading

Posted in Childhood and children, Education and literacy, Figures, census and other statistics, Globalization, Government of India, Languages and linguistic heritage, Modernity, Organizations, Press snippets | Comments Off