“History had a place for Adivasis, but it slowly disappeared,” says Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, highlighting the long and continuous fight for Adivasis to gain recognition around the world. Speaking at a discussion with Outlook’s Editor-in-Chief Chinki Sinha on the second day of the Jharkhand Adivasi Mahotsav, the chief minister, who is the son of legendary Adivasi leader Shibu Soren, spoke about the importance of recognising the way of life of indigenous people.
“From the very beginning, this state has taken forward the issue of tribals. But for the first time, after our government came to power, in 2022 and 2023, we are witnessing this event,” Soren says speaking about the grand festival organised by the Jharkhand government to recognise and celebrate Adivasis around the country and world.
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Ahead of the discussion, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren and other chief guests on stage were felicitated with a sal plant, traditional turban and stole and a memento. The sal tree is sacred for many tribal communities in eastern India and holds a special significance for Jharkhand is the most important source of timber in the state.
When asked about the Sarna code bill, a resolution passed by the Jharkhand government to recognise Sarna as a religion for Adivasis, the chief minister points out that throughout history, there have been many attempts to eliminate Adivasis and their way of life. He notes that Jharkhand is among the first states that have taken the issues of Adivasis to Parliament.
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“Can 13 crore people can disappear,” Soren asks. “Till the time we are here, it can’t happen… It is a long fight and the fight will continue.”
Soren also agrees to the politics that surrounds the Adivasi community, in terms of the recognition they get. He accuses the central government of putting up a show by creating a ministry but failing to actually recognise the people.
“People don’t really consider Adivasis as Adivasis. They give them different names... For the Centre, too, Adivasis belong in their Mantralaya, but they don’t really recognise them. We take forward this as a political movement like my grandfather did. It is a long road, probably longer than my life,” Soren says, recalling the struggles of the tribal rights activists and forefathers like Birsa Munda, Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu and Sobran Soren.
“Jharkhand is different from any other state… people have been displaced here for over 100 years but there has been no improvement for them. So when our government came to power, we tried to look at the root problem. We found that these issues were rooted in very important factors. We have coal, mineral, electricity…. It has been an organised attempt to end Adivsis not just in Jharkhand but all over the world.”
Highlighting the steps taken by his government against the discrimination faced by the indigenous people’s community throughout generations, Soren says, “Nobody would have thought that our (Jharkhand’s) children would go abroad to study. But we announced at this event that 25 Jharkhandi children, including Dalits and Adivasis, are being sent to a foreign country on a scholarship granted by the government.”
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On the issue of climate change and how the Adivasi community has been fighting, Soren says, “There are big posters on climate change, global warming. Big organisations speak on the issue but they have not been able to stop climate change from happening. There are some clever lawmakers who instead of stopping climate change, worsen the situation.”
“Laws are made to uproot these indigenous people but if we don’t take care of this issue first, then it is useless to talk about climate change,” Soren notes.
The second day of Jharkhand Adivasi Mahotsav was celebrated with pomp and splendour, song, dance and celebration. The festival ended with a spectacular drone, laser and fire VFX show.
