Report on the life of Adivasis

Explanation of the word ADIVASI. An adivasi can be defined as a member of any of the aboriginal tribal peoples living in India before the arrival of the Aryans in the second millennium BC.but, in precise terms the true definition is that an Adivasi is an umbrella term for a diverse set of ethnic
and tribal groups claimed to be the local population of India. They comprise a substantial native minority of the population of India. The Constitution of the Republic of India applies in its
English version the term scheduled tribes and in the Hindi version anusuchit janjati.

Origin and coining of the word ADIVASI.

Although terms such as atavika, vanavsi ("forest dwellers"), or girijan ("hill people") [6] are also used for the tribes of India, adivsi carries the specific meaning of being the original inhabitants of a given region and was specifically coined for that purpose in the 1930s.
During the first decades of the 20
th

century educated and politically active tribals from eastern

central India started to use THIS Hindi/Sanskrit term

.This word means ADI-earliest/original

VASI-inhabitants.

HOW THEY LIVED AND THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. The adivasis happy to live in lives that were uncomplicated by money. Till

recently, they were living in harmony with their surroundings. The forest gave them food, clothing, material for housing and medicine. Adivasi used to situate their villages near their food and water source. The men would hunt, farm and protect the village, while the women would farm and do the majority of the household chores. The material they used for housing was easily obtainable from their surroundings - bamboo, wood, thatch, mud etc. Being a natural insulator, mud walls are great at keeping temperature inside hut at a

constant rate - neither too hot nor too cold. The palm and thatch roofs kept the rain out and were made from renewable resources. The life of the Adivasi was spent mainly outdoors. Children ran around and played outdoors while most of the household chores were conducted outdoors too. The hut was used to sleep indoors in bad weather and store food, clothes and tools. Children would help out with the household chores and would hence learn how to do things from an early age. This was essential in a community that was self reliant self contained. The tribe used to collectively cultivate small clearings to grow essential food stuff. They hunted forest animals to supplement their diet as and when required. They used to sell herbs, animal skins and other forest products to earn cash from city dwellers. They used to prize items made from metal, tools and glass beads.

Background and history and the changes in their usual lives

It was not until the unifying political rule of the British from the late eighteenth century that government made substantial inroads into Adivasi society. British rule brought money, government officials and moneylenders into tribal areas, beginning the process of encroachment of Adivasi land by outsiders. Now, with

new houses, they need money to buy the fired bricks and tiles. They also find that their life pattern has changed to suite a new way of life. It is no longer possible to "live outdoors" as before. Now that each room has a "unique function" and furniture that goes with it, they have to work hard to provide the beds, tables and cabinets that make up their new house. The village itself has had to relocate to be closer to the main road that runs to the nearest town. This has brought them away from their traditional source of food and water. Due to constant traffic, children can no longer play out-doors. Dust, pollution and noise from the road make life more dirty and stressful. Often new diseases are introduced into the local population by foreigners. Their own herbal medicines can't cope with these and so they have to rely on "new medicines" of the westerners. Shop(s) selling new foods and "luxury" items tempt them to buy things. Adivasi need to work hard to earn enough to purchase these goods. This pushes them to

work for "others". Like the new clothes, the new foods need to be paid for and the only way to do it is by 1) farming or 2) working for the "richer" folk. This is not what the once proud people want to do, but, to pay for a "modern mod cons", they have to - they have little choice. Being under-educated, many have no choice but to do menial jobs for low wages. To earn "enough" money they have to work long hours.
1. And as a result there were tribal revolts and rebellions such as the First Freedom Struggle (185657), Tarapur rebellion (184254),Maria rebellion (1842 63),and the Bhil rebellion, begun by Tantya Tope in Banswara (1858) In several parts of India and this forced the administration to recognize the vulnerable position of Tribals and pass laws to protect their lands from outsiders. These laws completely barred the sale of Tribal lands to non-Tribal and made provisions to restore alienated land. However in practice most of these laws were widely disregarded and unscrupulous merchants and money-lenders found ways to avoid them. Christian missions began to preach in some tribal areas where they achieved a degree of success and also, most notably in the north-east, began the process of education and political awareness.

HELP GIVEN TO ADIVASIS BY: Communities, Campaigns and most importantly the Government.

In the above Paragraph we saw that the adivasis were not treated well and could not live as original and natural a life that they usually did. But some societies felt pity for them: ADIVASI MUNNETRA SANGAM, GUDALUR. This movement helped adivasis shed their fear of powerful people - be it the non-tribal landowners or Government officials. Till today, everyone in the adivasi community considers this freedom from fear as their biggest achievement. Excluding this

they even cared about their health, development, future and gave them education. TRIBAL INDIA GROUP. this community helps adivasis cope with their issues and helps them deal with it .they make the adivasis talk to them about their lives and families. Apart from these communities there are some tri bal activists such as VERRIER ELVIN , LINGRAJ AZAD , DR. H. SUDARSHAN , DAYAMANI BARLA and more of them who also helped adivasis .the following news paper article shows how Narendra Modi helped adivasis get their land rights in cities near surat:-(newspaper article will come)

DIFFERENT ADIVASI GROUPS:There are various groups of adivasis each one of these groups are from a particular region. Bhils-MP and Rajasthan Chenchus-AP and Orissa Kuki-Manipur Khasis-assam and Meghalaya Khonda-odisha Gonds-mp and Bihar Nagas-Nagaland Santhals-wb,Orissa and Bihar Lepchas-Sikkim Mundas-bihar Mao-east Africa Akela-southern Africa Warlis-Maharashtra Sema-nagaland Gaddis-himachal Pradesh Jarawas-little Andamans And many more..........

What they eat?

The adivasi cuisine is really interesting their food is very simple and the people are humble too, as they eat animals only when they have no other source of food. So, it is a myth that we need to get of our heads in the morning they have ambil which is a gruel made of rice or jowar whichever is available. At dawn, they have gatta which is a porridge made with vegetables and wheat or jowar flour, they also eat bhakars

which are flat breads made by hand, this is used to mop up the gravy or dals, they eat a lot of pulses, its very rare that they consume meat. They also eat fruits which give them nourishment as well they consume tubers and rhizomes. They also practice shift cultivation from which they get all the jowar and rice or wheat.

Their cultural festivals. 1 sarhul-Sarhul is celebrated during the spring season when the Shaal trees get new leaves.
Sarhul festival is the worship of the village deity who is considered to be the protector of the tribes. 2 Bandna Bandana is one of the most famous festivals celebrated during the black moon month of Kartik (Kartik Aamavashya). This festival is mainly for the animals. Tribals are very close with animals and pets. In this festival, people wash, clean, paint, decorate feed well and put ornaments to their cows and bulls. The song dedicated for this festival is called Ohira which is an acknowledgement for animals contribution They believe that animals have souls as human beings do. 3Rohin This festival is perhaps the first festival of Jharkhand in the calendar year. It is a festival of sowing seeds in the field. 4Bhagta Parab This festival comes between the period of spring and summer. Among the tribal people of Jharkhand this festival is best known as the worship of Budha Baba. People fast during the day and carry the bathing Pahan the priest, to the tribal mandir called Sarana Mandir. 5 Karam Karam Devta, the God of Power, youth and youthfulness is worshipped during the festival. 6 Tusu Parab or Makar Tusu is a harvest festival held during the winter in the last day of Poush month in jharkhand 7 Hal Punhya Hal Punhya is a festival which begins with the fall of winter. The first day of Magh month, known as Akhain Jatra or Hal Punhya, considered as the beginning of Ploughing. The adivasis to symbolize this auspicious morning plough two and half circles of their small land this day is also considered as the symbol of good fortune. Other than this adivasis also celebrate the festivals we do like diwali holi etc. Using many instruments we dont know about like chitraveena, cheenam and thudi.

Their clothing:-they usually wear green leaves and animal skin which is common but time has changed and men and women can a times be seen wearing lion attire (men) and wrapping a long
stretch of cloth around them (women). Women are also adorned with ornaments like bangles, armlets, bracelets, necklaces, rings, hairpins etc usually made of silvers, aluminium, and brass or stone. The practice of tattooing is prevalent among these folk. Girls above 5 years are found with tattoo mark on their faces and hands. At festivals and joyous times all men wear lion clothes which are complimented with a waistcoat and coloured turban. Women are robed in sari and golden blouses with heavy silver jewellery.

Their language. Adivasis speak a variety of languages. Adivasis from region speak the language of region. Some adivasi language are as old as Sanskrit.the most famous are lepcha ,bhutia ,nagpuri ,Mundari ,kurukh ,khortha ,santhali, Panchpargania, Kharia, Kurmali. Their houses and how they construct them. The construction of house is not very uniform and is rough. generally
they erect a one roomed house, in the same room, they have a small kitchen that is where they keep there mud-made utensils and log for fire. They also have in that small hot a bed which is usually called a kath and a small store is what they keep as extras. The small land or garden outside their hut is used as a cattle shed. The cattle shed is protected by wooden and bamboo poles. The house is erected with the help of wooden poles, bamboo, leaves, grasses, straw etc. The walls are plastered with mud. The house does not possess any window except a small gate to go in and out. The gate is closed usually with mat during night or whenever there is no one. Their houses are scattered in the village.

Their religion and culture.

The majority of Adivasi practice Hinduism and Christianity. certain animals such as monkeys, cows, peacocks, cobras (nagas) and elephants and plants such as the sacred fig (pipal), Ocimum tenuiflorum (tulsi) and Azadirachta indica(neem)are thought sacred by some tribal groups.there4 are many sants like sant bhagat or sant tantya mama who helped adivasis and are worshipped by them. Birsa munda or birsa bhagwan for his tribe the

mundas saw vision of a golden age and is an avatar for the mundas.other than this there is so much about adivasi culture and religion.as we all know adivasis are a vital part of india as well as in other countries also. Nowadays importance is given to the adivasi religion and they are treated much better than before.

Something new:Some Adivasi organisations have demanded that a distinct religious code be listed for Adivasis in the 2011 census of India. The All India Adivasi Conference was held on 1 and 2 January 2011 at Burnpur, Asansol, West Bengal. 750 delegates were present from all parts of India and cast their votes for Religion code as follows: Sari Dhorom 632, Sarna 51, Kherwalism 14 and Other Religions 03.

A forest problem:-a case study:The tribal groups like santhals,oraons,Mundas had mainly depended upon the forest to live.they thought that the forest was essential for their survival.they collected the forest produces to use as medicines,food,hides etc.but when the colonists found that they are using the forest produces they issued new laws and they lost the freedom they had before. Colonists said that they should move to other land from the forests this affected their traditon They also issued forest laws like the adivasis should not live in the forest,they should not use the forest products. The colonists also faced many problems for their deeds such as they didn't get any workers to cut the trees for railway sleepers etc. In order to overcome these problems they gave small patches of land to the tribals and they are made to follow the laws about the land which they gave them to live.this became useful for the colonists because they got tribals as workers.this also ensured they will keep the forest preserved.

Adivasis live in their own cultural way their history is astonishing as well interesting to hear .

Thank you !!!!!