In November 2020, Indigenous politics in India took a new turn as the Jharkhand government passed a resolution to recognise Sarna as a different religion for Adivasis. The recognition of Sarna dharma has been a long-time demand in a state that, according to the 2011 Census, has a 26.2 per cent tribal population.
The objective of the Sarna code bill though was to get a separate column in the 2021 Census, but due to the prolonged delay, its future is currently uncertain. Still, Adivasis of Jharkhand write back. They assert their identity as indigenous people of the country - as the believers of nature's religion - Sarna.
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Outlook India has been extensively following the politics of indigeneity for years. And now, on the occasion of Jharkhand Adivasi Mahotsav, coinciding with the International Day of Indigenous Population, the Editor of Outlook India will have a conversation with Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren. The son of legendary Adivasi leader Shibu Soren, Hemant Soren throughout his career has contributed to the Adivasi causes. Starting from the Jharkhand statehood movement to the fight for Adivasi rights, he has been at the forefront.
Against this backdrop, the discussion, set to begin at 5:25 PM today, will bring up issues ranging from Sarna to Adivasi rights, and from the preservation of culture to assertion of identity.
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Watch the discussion live here:
