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Tribalzone
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T
h e
I n c r e d i b
l e
C h o t a n a g
p u r |
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| July
2005
Newsletter |
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From
the
Editor
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Dr.
Bipin
Jojo,
Tata
Institute
of
Social
Sciences,
Mumbai
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Exploring Chotanagpur …………
In the
months
of
May
and
June
I
was
travelling
around
different
parts
of
Jharkhand
especially
Kolebira,
Torpa
and
Borio
constituencies
falling
under
the
legislative
assemblies
as
part
of
a
research
study.
This
was
my
first
visit
to
Torpa
and
Kolebira
area,
which
has
been
referred
to
as
Mundas
and
their
Country
by
S.C
Roy
in
one
of
his
books.
It
was
a
great
feeling
visiting
the
land
of
Sutia
Maharaja,
………………….Manishai
Maharaja
about
whom
I
had
heard
from
my
own
Grandfather.
This
visit
that
happened
with
my
colleagues
(Daniel
and
Ezechiel)
led
me
to
a
number
of
villages,
which
I
had
only
heard
of
but
never
seen.
In
the
village
Sarna
(sacred
grove)
of
Gorda
village
(Hatinghode
p.o,
Rania
Block,
Ranchi
Dist.)
an
image
of
Paudi
Devi
(stepmother
of
Manishai
Maharaja)
was
worshiped.
Beside
the
stone
carved
Paudi
Devi,
a
huge
stone
was
posted
with
the
names
of
the
Munda
Maharajas
starting
from
Sutia to Manishai in
commemoration
and
remembrance
of
these
Maharajas. I passed by the Mountain near Rajabasa (near Bano) where Manishai
Maharaja
had
constructed
a
secret
subway
to
escape
from
his
enemies.
Hatinghode
is
another
important
place
I
visited.
The
Adivasis
here
are
known
for
the
traditional
herbal
medicines.
An
adivasi
Christian
missionary,
who
is
a
doctor
in
traditional
herbal
medicine,
has
a
full
fledge
clinic
where
he
produces
and
processes
his
own
medicines.
He
treats
patients
coming
from
local
areas
as
well
as
from
abroad,
and
provisions
for
stay
for
outstation
patients
is
available
in
a
beautiful
palatial
building
surrounded
by
nature.
After
visiting
many
villages
I
reached
Baad
Kutungia
(Pahan
toli)
about
10
kms
away
from
La chdagarh
(Simdega
dist.).
It
is
a
small
village
without
proper
communication,
electricity
or
a
school.
After
having
a
meeting
with
the
villagers
(men
and
women)
we
were
taken
to
a
family
for
lunch.
One
of
the
elders
of
the
village
informed
us
saying
that
this
was
the
house
of
Masira
Surin,
women
hockey
player
who
plays
for
India
and
has
brought
glories
to
the
nation
with
other
tribal
girls
from
this
region.
The
wall
of
the
veranda
was
decorated
with
the
photographs
of
the
glorious
moments
of
Masira.
Masira’s
mother
and
sister
served
us
delicious
lunch
with
rice
and
dal
with
koenar
saag.
It
was
a
great
feeling
meeting
Masira’s
family.
One
does
not
see
any
play
ground
as
such,
except
patches
of
barren
land
which
are
often
used
as
play
grounds
by
the
village
children
and
youth,
even
then
it
is
surprising
to
know
that
this
remote
tiny
village
has
produced
such
a
person.
During
this
visit
we
received
very
warm
hospitality
from
the
people
in
different
Adivasi
villages
in
Jharkhand.
We
used
to
reach
many
villages
without
prior
information.
One
could
see
the
poverty
of
our
people
who
have
been
victims
of
neglected
systems
and
procedures.
But
one
could
also
experience
their
warmth
and
richness
of
their
hearts.
We
never
left
a
village
without
cold
water
or
bail
sarbat
in
the
scorching
heat.
On the
other
hand
one
is
disturbed
to
observe
that
in
almost
all
the
villages
I
chanced
to
visit,
I
could
see
only
the
elderly
and
small
children.
There
were
very
few
young
boys
and
girls
in
the
village.
One
will
be
very
surprised
to
know
that
in
every
village
I
visited
there
were
many
young
boys
and
girls
who
had
left
the
village
for
cities
like
Delhi,
Mumbai,
and
Bardhwan
etc.
in
search
of
livelihood.
During
this
time
a
number
of
newspapers
reported
regularly
about
abuse/exploitation
and
allegations
against
our
adivasi
sisters
working
in
Delhi
as
domestic
help.
I
experienced
a
very
mixed
feeling
in
these
visits,
some
times
nostalgic
as
I
heard
about
our
Heroes/Heroines
where
Sutia
and
his
descendants
ruled
the
Munda
country
and
some
times
sorrow
at
the
news
of
exploitation
of
our
sisters
and
brothers.
What
is
happening
to
this
rich
country?
Where
is
it
headed?
Dr.
Bipin
Jojo
(editor@tribalzone.net)
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Letters
to the Editor
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WRITE
TO
THE
EDITOR
Tribalzone,
704, Sachidanand,
Wing A, Raheja
Complex, Malad
East, Mumbai -
400097 or
via the internet
to editor@tribalzone.net.
Include name and
address. Letters
may be edited
for clarity and
length. |
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It is nice to see such editorials.
In
fact
now
I
feel
more
proud
to
be
an
adivasi
than
ever
before.
OK
some
organizations
call
us
Girijans
and
Vanvasi
because
they
want
to
reclassify
the
Manuvad
(Indian
caste
system).
Probably,
now
they
want
to
add
GIRJAN
and
make
fifth
one
just
below
BAHUJAN
and
that
will
be
probably
untouchable
caste
to
the
untouchables
presently......Bhuneshwar
baxla,
Chennai
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Johar to all the
family members of
'Tribal Zone'. Here, I
am very thankful to
those people who are
trying to do something
better for the tribals
of Jharkhand on our
cultural and social
identity issues. I
recently, came to know
that Dr. Dhuni Soren
presented his speech
in the university of
SESSEX on the issue of
'uprising of Santhals'
and 'their migration
in the present
globalisation context'
on the occassion of
150th anniversary of
Santhal HUL. I am, now
very happy that you
people have taken
stand at any point, It
does not matter 'from
where does it come'.
The importance of this
issue is that now we
have reached the
situation where we can
write our history by
our own and we don't
need others'
suggestion on our
cultural and social
history. I hope you
people will make few
more organisations to
provide better
opportunity to carry
the struggle in this
country so that
wesanthals can move
towards betterment of
our next generation,
when I use
organisation it's very
important because,
this is one which
provides the power
where as education
gives the way to
freedom. Therefore,
this forum is very
important as it
provides us to share
our values and ethics
on the issue of
different
socio-cultural aspects
of the tribals,
specially of Santhals.
With this, I would
like to end my letter.
With best wishes yours
regular reader Francis
Hembrom, Santhal
Pargana, Jharkhand. |
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Johar
/ Jai Yesu / Eesu sai
!!!!
Hats
off to you, for making
such a wonderful site
on the Chhota Nagpur
Tribes. The site was a
delight to surf
through. Information
was inextricably mixed
with lots of learning
& fun. From where
did you get all those
ideas from??
In spite of belonging to a
Tribal community –
Uraons, I was unaware
of so many “Should -
Know” things. The
details given by you
about the culture,
language and geography
acquainted me with
many of those
essential things one
should know about the
community she belongs
to.
It
was very nice to know
about our people who
have attained laurels
in various fields. The
list of IAS, IES
officers will
definitely inspire our
young Civil Service
aspirants. If our past
ISA / IPS officers can
devote their valuable
time & resources
in communicating & guiding
our young aspirants,
it would be great and
Tribalzone could play
a consequential part
in the same. A similar
model can be followed
to enable guidance
& knowledge
sharing from our
Adivaasi Doctors,
Engineers, NRIs etc,
who are capable and
willing to help and
support the upcoming
genre.
Story
on Jaipal Singh Munda
was well done with
lots of facts &
figures. Kudos and
Applause to the
writer.
Applause
to all those people,
who have contributed
to the making of
tribalzone.net. I wish
you all the best and
hope that the
continuous updating of
the site keeps
happening. I will
definitely be a
regular visitor to the
site from now on and
make my contributions
whenever I can. Savita
Kispotta, Chennai
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