Category Archives: Assimilation

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

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

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

Adivasis (Scheduled Tribes) are the largest tribal population in the world – World Directory of Minorities

From “Adivasis of India” (dated 2008) | Read the full article >> Alternative names: Scheduled Tribes, various tribal names e.g. Santhals, Hos, Mundas, Oraons, Gonds, Konds, Bhils etc. [...] The Adivasis (original inhabitants) is the collective name used for the many tribal … Continue reading

Posted in Adivasi, Anthropology, Assimilation, Education and literacy, Figures, census and other statistics, Forest Rights Act (FRA), Government of India, Languages and linguistic heritage, Misconceptions, Names and communities, Quotes, Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Worship and rituals | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off

Memories of life in a remote Bhil hamlet on the Narmada river: “poor but not impoverished” – Maharashtra

Simple ways of life Yoginder Sikand, Dec 23, 2012 : Reflections It was almost three decades ago and I have only very hazy memories of the trip. We, a batch of university students, accompanied our Anthropology professor to a remote tribal … Continue reading

Posted in Anthropology, Assimilation, Commentary, Customs, De- and re-tribalisation, Dress and ornaments, Economy and development, Education and literacy, Government of India, Health and nutrition, History, Misconceptions, Modernity, Music and dance, Names and communities, Nature and wildlife, Press snippets, Worship and rituals | Tagged | Comments Off

Video | Learning from one another: An international exchange programme “for a new future for the Ainu people” – Japan

In January 2012, a Maori leader, Te Ururoa Flavell visited Ainumosir (Hokkaido) and Tokyo and witnessed the work Ainu people are doing in their communities to revitalize their culture, language, and rights. He immediately suggested that Ainu youth come to … Continue reading

Posted in Assimilation, Cultural heritage, De- and re-tribalisation, Dress and ornaments, Figures, census and other statistics, History, Languages and linguistic heritage, Media portrayal, Names and communities, Networking, Organizations, Photos and slideshows, Quotes, Revival of traditions, Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Tribal culture worldwide, Video resources - external | Comments Off

Workshop report: Modernisation rooted in Santal Heritage – West Bengal

Slideshow >> MODERNISATION ROOTED IN SANTAL HERITAGE A workshop for the youth of Ghosaldanga Bishnubati Adivasi Trust A two-day workshop for the youth from various villages around Ghosaldanga and Bishnubati was held on 19th and 20th of December 2012 at … Continue reading

Posted in Assimilation, Cultural heritage, Education and literacy, History, Modernity, Names and communities, Networking, Organizations, Quotes, Revival of traditions, Tribal identity | Tagged | Comments Off

What is my identity…? – Santal story by Sunder Manoj Hembrom

Oprom do cet’ tin…? What is my identity…? Joidhon Soren lies, limp and listless, on a railway hospital bed. It is one of the big hospitals of the industrial town of Mahuapara, so his condition is clearly serious. He is … Continue reading

Posted in Assimilation, Childhood and children, Literature - fiction, Modernity, Names and communities, Quotes, Storytelling, Tribal identity, Women | Tagged | Comments Off

Textbook for tribal children awarded – remedy against child labour

The Hindu – JAIPUR, August 14, 2011 A unique book authored by a civil servant for bringing the Vagadi-speaking tribal children in southern Rajasthan to the mainstream of education and helping them learn Hindi and English has been selected for … Continue reading

Posted in Accountability, Assimilation, Childhood and children, Community facilities, Education and literacy, Figures, census and other statistics, Gandhian social movement, Government of India, History, Languages and linguistic heritage, Maps, Names and communities, Organizations, Photos and slideshows, Press snippets, Revival of traditions, Rural poverty, Tribal elders | Tagged | Comments Off

Nomadic and semi nomadic tribes urged to address problems and issues and through their own voice – Rajasthan

The Times of India, Jaipur, 1 September 2012 JAIPUR: Chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday announced that his government is setting up a separate board for inclusive growth of de-notified, nomadic and semi nomadic tribes in the state. Addressing a … Continue reading

Posted in Assimilation, Colonial policies, Community facilities, Democracy, Education and literacy, Figures, census and other statistics, Government of India, History, Organizations, Press snippets, Rural poverty, Seasons and festivals | Comments Off

Motivated to preserve, activate and enjoy, propagate and develop Santal tribal culture – West Bengal

Excerpt from “Ghosaldanga Adibasi Seva Sangha – Did it make a difference?” by Martin Kämpchen [Lecture held at Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, in a seminar on 12th February 2012 evaluating the work of  the Ghosaldanga Adibasi Seva Sangha on the occasion of its … Continue reading

Posted in Assimilation, Community facilities, Crafts and visual arts, Education and literacy, Modernity, Music and dance, Names and communities, Nature and wildlife, Organizations, Photos and slideshows, Quotes | Tagged | Comments Off

Video | Jarawa and Onge – Andaman Islands

Uploaded by journeymanpictures on Jul 8, 2008 Source: Endangered Jarawa – India – YouTube Address : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlRSsvB4iLE&feature=relmfu Date Visited: Mon Nov 12 2012 16:52:48 GMT+0100 (CET) Samir Acharya heads SANE, an Indian environmental organization based in Port Blair in the Andaman … Continue reading

Posted in Anthropology, Assimilation, Commentary, Community facilities, Customs, Dress and ornaments, Ecology and environment, Figures, census and other statistics, Government of India, Health and nutrition, History, Misconceptions, Modernity, Names and communities, Nature and wildlife, Organizations, Tourism, Video resources - external | Tagged , | Comments Off

A View of Higher Education in India” – public lecture by Prof. Ganesh Devy

The dramatically adverse ratio between India’s rural population and the institutions of higher education relegates the entire rural population to the category of ‘educationally disadvantaged’.  [...] In democracies all over the world, electoral politics inevitably envelopes public institutions, and the … Continue reading

Posted in Accountability, Assimilation, Colonial policies, Community facilities, Democracy, Education and literacy, Gandhian social movement, Government of India, Literature and bibliographies, Modernity, Organizations, Quotes, Rural poverty | Comments Off

On equality and sharing: “a truly amazing sight” – Tamil Nadu

By Mari Marcel Thekaekara, The New Internationalist, September 14, 2012 Culture is a tricky thing. How do we define it? Who decides when customs and traditions, even ancient, cherished ones, can be dispensed with? These and many other similar questions have … Continue reading

Posted in Adivasi, Assimilation, Childhood and children, Colonial policies, Commentary, Cultural heritage, Customs, De- and re-tribalisation, Education and literacy, Health and nutrition, Languages and linguistic heritage, Names and communities, Organizations, Quotes, Revival of traditions, Western Ghats - tribal heritage & ecology | Tagged , , | Comments Off

Santal community-based organisations – West Bengal

Self-determined village development by Boro Baski Our fate in our hands India’s indigenous Adivasi tribes are among the most disadvantaged people south of the Himalayan mountains. To improve their lot, some have begun to set up community-based organisations. [...] We … Continue reading

Posted in Assimilation, Childhood and children, Community facilities, Cultural heritage, Economy and development, Education and literacy, Health and nutrition, Languages and linguistic heritage, Names and communities, Networking, Organizations, Quotes, Rural poverty, Women | Tagged | Comments Off

Clearing core forest areas of people who have always lived there: in the name of the tiger – Chhattisgarh

Meena Menon, The Hindu, August 1, 2012 New Jalda is an example of how, in the name of the tiger, clearing core forest areas of people who have always lived there does not work well for them For a tribe … Continue reading

Posted in Accountability, Assimilation, Customs, De- and re-tribalisation, Figures, census and other statistics, Forest Rights Act (FRA), Government of India, Health and nutrition, Names and communities, Nature and wildlife, Press snippets, Rural poverty, Tiger | Tagged | Comments Off

Tribal culture a living example of the Gandhian concept of trusteeship – Human Ecology by Lachman Khubchandani

Tribal heritage needs to be respected on its own terms. It will be disastrous to aim at absorbing tribal communities into the ‘mainstream’. Nehru had forewarned us against following such ‘interventionist’ policies, “There is no point to make them a … Continue reading

Posted in Adivasi, Assimilation, Customs, De- and re-tribalisation, Figures, census and other statistics, Gandhian social movement, Languages and linguistic heritage, Literature and bibliographies, Modernity, Quotes, Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Tribal identity | Comments Off

Adivasi: People on the Edge – Wayanad District, Kerala

Interviews with members of tribal communities in one of the most developed regions of India: Wayanad District in Kerala. Returning to the forest with abundant resources that shaped the ancestral tribal lifestyle is no longer feasible for these women and … Continue reading

Posted in Assimilation, Customs, De- and re-tribalisation, Dress and ornaments, Ecology and environment, Health and nutrition, Languages and linguistic heritage, Misconceptions, Nature and wildlife, Rural poverty, Video resources - external, Women, Worship and rituals | Comments Off

Schooling the World – a documentary on the world’s last sustainable indigenous cultures

SCHOOLING THE WORLD from naturalway on Vimeo. SCHOOLING THE WORLD takes a challenging, sometimes funny, ultimately deeply troubling look at the role played by modern education in the destruction of the world’s last sustainable indigenous cultures.   The controversial award-winning … Continue reading

Posted in Anthropology, Assimilation, Childhood and children, Ecology and environment, Economy and development, Education and literacy, Globalization, History, Quotes, Tribal culture worldwide, Tribal identity, Video resources - external | Comments Off

“Democracy and caste system can’t go hand in hand” – paying attention to the enforcement of India’s 1989 act to prevent the commission of offences of atrocities against members of SCs and STs (Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes)

Pankaj Mullick, Hindustan Times, New Delhi , June 09, 2012 Hardly anyone seems to have paid attention to India’s dismal showing at the UN Human Rights Council’s universal periodical review when the latter alleged that India is “all words, no action” … Continue reading

Posted in Anthropology, Assimilation, Commentary, Customs, De- and re-tribalisation, Democracy, Economy and development, Education and literacy, Figures, census and other statistics, Government of India, Media portrayal, Modernity, Press snippets, Women | Comments Off

Constructive action is our only future – Prof. Ganesh Devy on the “adivasiness of the tribals” in Gujarat

By Prof. Ganesh Devy [...] For about a decade now the Sangh Parivar has been active in the tribal areas in every state. Through one of its sister organizations, the Vanavasi Seva Sangh (VSS), it has been spreading the message of … Continue reading

Posted in Accountability, Adivasi, Assimilation, De- and re-tribalisation, Democracy, History, Misconceptions, Quotes, Revival of traditions, Rural poverty | Comments Off

Center for World Indigenous Studies (CWIS) & The Fourth World Journal (FWJ)

The Center for World Indigenous Studies (CWIS) is an independent, non-profit [U.S. 501(c)(3)] research and education organization dedicated to wider understanding and appreciation of the ideas and knowledge of indigenous peoples and the social, economic and political realities of indigenous … Continue reading

Posted in Accountability, Anthropology, Assimilation, Colonial policies, Commentary, De- and re-tribalisation, Democracy, Ecology and environment, Economy and development, Education and literacy, Globalization, Health and nutrition, Languages and linguistic heritage, Literature and bibliographies, Media portrayal, Misconceptions, Networking, Organizations, Quotes, Suggest a resource, Tribal culture worldwide, Tribal identity, Video resources - external | Comments Off

Video | Adivasi Traditions Re-Emerge – Gund tribals of Chhattisgarh

Posted in Assimilation, Childhood and children, Cultural heritage, Customs, Ecology and environment, Figures, census and other statistics, Modernity, Music and dance, Names and communities, Quotes, Seasons and festivals, Video resources - external, Women | Tagged | Leave a comment

Museums of Happiness – an example described in Resurgence Magazine (UK)

Museums can inspire a re-imagining of a society that values cooperation and stewardship of our surroundings as much as it does economic wellbeing, writes Tony Butler. The inspiration to re-imagine the purpose of museums was born out of the observations … Continue reading

Posted in Assimilation, Commentary, Community facilities, Cultural heritage, Ecology and environment, Economy and development, Education and literacy, History, Modernity, Museum collections - general, Organizations, Quotes, Revival of traditions, Suggest a resource | Leave a comment