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The Primitive Bogey

Tribals all over India struggle to keep their way of life alive

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The Primitive Bogey
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There are many other tribes in India struggling to survive as development clashes head-on with their ancient worlds and belief systems. These include the Jarawas in Andaman (around 350), Cholanaikans in north Kerala (less than 400) and the Totos in north Bengal (around a thousand). Even tribes with larger numbers find their livelihood snatched away as land is acquired for development and over-exploited forest resources dry out. And as tribal traditions dwindle, along with it disappears a rich heritage of indigenous knowledge ranging from herbal medicines to the art of forecasting natural disasters (some tribals reportedly did this before the tsunami hit them).

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Moreover, land deeds given to them under the Forest Rights Act remain illusory. “Many Bondas got deeds last year but demarcation of land, giving them physical possession hasn’t begun,” says tribal researcher Paresh Rath.

The tribal development commissions have repeatedly called for a development approach built around demands made by the tribes. “But the economists hijack all the programmes, making them interventionary, unsympathetic. This deracinates the tribals and leaves them without any anchor,” says retired professor D.K. Bhattacharya. “It is because of this that many tribals today end up being sucked into the throes of the Maoists. I think the state shouldn’t confront them but run along with them and respect what they represent,” he adds. Exclusion of the word “primitive” used by the state to describe these tribes can be the first step. With its blatant denigrating overtone that relegates them to a “lesser evolved” status, the state’s interaction always ends up being top-down and not one between two equal partners.

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