On the Future of Indigenous Traditions - Munin

forests of Saranda. Saranda is the largest Sal tree forest in Asia, forming a tropical
forest in the south west of Jharkhand.
The land formation of most of Jharkhand is a plateau, and the plains in the Damoder
river valley on the central northeast of the region make it the most fertile land. Further
north is the river Ganges dividing most of Santhal Parganas of Jharkhand from Bihar.
Jharkhand also has the richest mineral deposit of India which includes, coal, ores of
iron, copper, uranium, among others are gold, limestone, asbestos and many others.
1.2.2. – Cultural
Jharkhand’ culture has been predominately the Adivasi or aboriginal culture, both in
its appearance and spirit as well. However, much of its social and cultural orientation
has changed and its spirit is dying out due to the outside administrative system and its
political discourse. The culture of the Adivasis in Jharkhand has been different from
the more recent settlers whose ways of life and culture have made the Adivasi culture
more invisible and in some cases stigmatized for the Adivasis. Initially the Adivasi
culture was a rich culture, which has been a reflection of both their social and political
life. Their music and songs based on five note tones (instead of seven 11 ) were said to
be as if ‘walking is dancing and talking is singing’ based on the festivals at different
seasons of the year.
1.2.3. - Social
Socially, the Adivasi communities here have been a more homogeneous group,
coming from mainly two language groups, later joined by the third language group,
the caste Hindu Aryan, and the Muslim groups, too. Thus the mainstream societies
and the Adivasi communities in Jharkhand today are divided in different groups and
placed in different economic categories and social disparities.
11 The seven musical notes in western classic starting from do, ray, me, fa, so, la, te; and in Indian
classical sa, re, ga, ma, pa, da, ne; In the Adivasi music only five notes are sued so that not only
specialised singers could sing but all can sing.
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