Tag: adivasi

This Adivasi Filmmaker Is Making A Real Difference, Read To Know More

The author writes about the screening of a film made by Adivasi Filmmaker Sneha Mundari and what he learnt from it.

On International Indigenous Day, which was yesterday, my sister and I went to Bangalore International Center to watch a film screening of “Through the Adivasi Gaze”.

It was a superb experience. 

In that film, I saw what I experienced in my own village back in Bankura, West Bengal: our (adivasis’) lifestyle, our way of thinking, similar rituals to ours, etc.

It felt like someone of our own had made the film. 

And so did she, Sneha Mundari, a filmmaker and visual anthropologist.

In the film, I watched the famous Munda martial arts and dance; I don’t recall what it’s called. But it was indeed fascinating.

I also got to watch many of the stories of the Munda community.

After the film screening, a discussion took place between Sneha Mundari and Nandini Tank on stage. (Nandini Tank is an assistant professor in the Department of English and Cultural Studies, Christ University.)

The discussion was enlightening even for me because I learnt about various other tribes, their cultures and histories.

One story from the discussion stuck with me. 

It was about how one community’s festival was slowly forgotten and how, through social media, they organized a kite-flying competition. 

And for the last 3-4 years, they have seen their festival being revived.

I also learnt that many Adivasi youth use social media to share their stories about their tribes, cultures, and backgrounds. 

After the discussion, the panel was open to questions. 

And I learned more about our Adivasi cultures and communities through their answers.

And it was a fun experience. 

After that, some of us went to a restaurant and talked more about how the Adivasi gaze works and so on with Sneha Mundari.

Sneha also said that how you place the camera is political. Whether you place the camera below or above, it matters.

Honestly, it was a good time.

So yeah, my sister and I had a great time at the film screening of “Through the Adivasi Gaze” and at dinner with Sneha Mundari. 

I would like to end this blog with a few lyrics from the famous Santhali song-

“Ol minatama,
Ror minatama,
Dhorom minatama, 
Aam ho minam”

It means: Your script(Ol) exists(minatama), your language(Ror) minatama(exists), your religion(Dhorom) exists(minatama), you(Aam) exist(minam).

Thank you for reading this line! It means a lot.

Education: Show them by excelling in your studies, not money or power

The author writes how education, not money or power, is the only way to overcome oppression by the privileged castes.

Education is the only way.

Story Time

When I was in class 5 or 6, a classmate called me abusive names along with my race’s name “adivasi”. 

When I was in class 11, my class teacher said to our entire class that SC/ST people are taking away their seats.

When I was in college I was asked “what are you?” because I liked a girl from another religion.

Who Am I?

Well let me tell you what I am. 

I’m an Adivasi. I’m from the great community Santhal, who started the Santhal Rebellion(Santhal Hul) of 1855 against the British East India Company. I’m from the religion of Saridharam(which means “truth religion” in English).

And we owe our existence to great people like Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.

The funny thing is whenever I asked my mother why they called me “adivasi”, my mother proudly said “So what they called you “Adivasi”, tell them yes “I’m an Adivasi” proudly.”

She said there is no shame in being an Adivasi.

And she would quote Swami Vivekananda about how “the wheel of dharma is moving”.

And my mother even taught me that we can’t compete with the general caste people based on power or money. We can only compete and defeat them with education.

And I also believe that statement.

Even now no matter if I become a millionaire, I’m still an adivasi.

Even now if I become the prime minister or president of India, I’ll still be an adivasi.

My elder sister inspires me because she is proud of her identity.

I’m also proud of my identity but I need to work on it.

Babasaheb and Education

When Babasaheb was born and when he went for higher studies, there was no reservation for SC/ST candidates. He achieved excellence in education through sheer effort in spite of all the caste discrimination he faced in his life.

I have reservation because of Babasaheb. I owe it to his great soul to work hard and study and make something of myself through education.

So I would like to reply to my classmate who abused me when I was in class 5 or 6.

I would like to say to him,”This shows you have no manners. I am an Adivasi. And I am proud of that. I am from that Santhal community who sacrificed so much in 1855 in the Santhal Rebellion for this country India. And if you think you can make me feel inferior by using abusive words about my community, you’re wrong. I am proud of my community, my caste, my religion, my race and my humanity.”

Thank you for reading this line! It means a lot.

Babasaheb Made Proud By Dalit Daughters: A Tribute

I’m sure Babasaheb would not be happy by seeing the state of India today, he would always want us to study harder and argue with knowledge.

I was on X/Twitter the other day. And I saw this post “Dalit daughters are toppers.🔥”

And I remembered the day I got an award for scoring good marks in class 10th from our Adivasi Akhra which is an association for our indigenous communities.

And I feel joy and satisfaction that Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s(Babasaheb’s) dreams are being fulfilled.

If not for Babasaheb, we and our marginalized communities would not survive. 

It is because of him that we have a chance at starting the race of life at a level which is equal to the general caste people.

Still there is discrimination. Still there is inequality. Still there is hatred.

But we must stop it.

We must stop it not by raising a sword, but by raising our pens. 

We must study harder. We must educate, agitate and organize.

We must raise our voice. We must learn to argue. 

Not with violence, but words.

And so there’s no other way than to educate ourselves to be free.

I’m sure Babasaheb would not be happy by seeing the state of India today, but he would always want us to study harder and argue with knowledge and not swords or guns.

Thank you for reading this line! It means a lot.