On the Future of Indigenous Traditions - Munin

survived through different periods of history and struggle to uphold and keep their
traditions and customs from the past. As of today, Adivasis, as a people, face a loss of
recognition of who they are, not only in the legal and political battle with the non-
Adivasis, but also among themselves. This is not because, they come from an oral
tradition which has changed with times and lost many of legends, but due to reasons
that are either gone beyond their control or not realized as important for keeping their
identity. However, there are still some elements that remain and we can try to look at
the strengths of the Adivasi communities. The strengths are: (i) their languages which
include their legends, folklore, and mythology; numerical and also place names that
have meanings found, from the north of India to central and up to eastern part. There
is an interesting observation made in the Deber (Dehber) Commission report about
Adivasi philosophy, which reads that:
“There is something in the tribal philosophy which has kept these people free from
the unseemly greed of material possession… Although tribal societies do not yearn
obviously for improving their standards of living, their approach to the question of
need is still normal and rational.” 130
(ii) their cultural practices which is the basis of their belief system, a few of their
festivals and certain musical tunes and rhythms specific to certain festivals and
occasions, also their cultural symbols i.e. Sarna, Jaher – the sacred groves and the
sasang diri – burial stones placed in a certain manner, (found in most of north-west,
central and eastern parts of India); (iii) their democratic as well as egalitarian social
and political system reflected in their customary practices of governance, still
prevalent among all the five major Adivasi groups of Jharkhand: Jaipal Singh has
proclaimed the notion of equality among the Adivasis and their society being the
“most democratic element in this country,” 131 ; (iv) large areas of customary lands and
forests in the past registered under their khatiyans - individual titles, with certain
categorisation of lands, among them also some customary properties, which are for
Adivasis who have obtained the khatiyans, but do not have it in their possession any
130 Report of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Commission (Debar Commission) (New Delhi:
Government of India, Government Printing Press, 1983)
131 “Jaipal Singh’s speech in the Constitution Assembly Debates” (New Delhi, 1949, 9 pt.17) cited by
Amit Prakash, Jharkhand Politics Development and Identity, (New Delhi: Orient Longman Limited,
2001), 653.
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