admin Neetisha Xalxo
Neetisha walks us through the world book fair held recently at Delhi. The theme of the book fair was ‘Mapping India’s folk and tribal literature’. Savari welcomes you to see the exhibits through her eyes.
taiyaar ho jao adiwasiyon hum tumhe yun hi pardarshaniyon me sajane ki prishtbhumi bana chuke hai. par dhyaan rahe muk rahna pahli shart hai —
sarkaar ka chehra…. ye mapping karenge tribal literature ko… ye satta me tahlte jhoote farebi…. basne aur jine ka haq to aaj ye operation green hunt, salwa judum aur AFSPA ke naam par baithe hai ye gadhenge aadiwasi sahitya
wastav me adiwasi jagat only for display ke saath hi aa sakta hai yanha jaise yanha ye pustakein
saja lo ye nakli ghar dwaar hi adiwasiyon ke naam par… kyunki hafte var ki pardarshni hai aur janha ye ghar the wanha aaj faila hai sannattta —
mitti ka matka tak tod aaye ho tum mere gharon se aur chamkane ke liye dikha diya ye peetal ke gharon ko…. chandni chowk se utha ke
gaushaal me gaay bhains aur bakri nahi… jala diye gaye wo pulisiya kahar me, ya salwa judum ke naam par
suna hai ghar yanha bejaan hai dyodhi… ujra gaon basane chale the na
adiwasi ghar jo chura liye gaye prakriti ke beech se
kavitha mera aasiyana yun bhi par ab yah jharkhand orissa northeast me kanha yah to delhi ki pardarshani ke liye tha jaruri
bana lo ye chori kiye ghar… aur kaho ye hai bhartiya sanskriti… par jinke the unhe kanha rahne diya tumne
dwaar kanha rahne diya tumne ishe mere gaon me .. ujaad le aaye bahlane ke liye man in punjipati ke nirmit sahron me
mere baaje gaaje tum kanha bardaast kar paye
prem kanha dekh paye tum hamare beech ka ?
aaj tambe me dhala, kal na jane kin dhatuon me dhala jaunga. yanha bhi chhuppi dharan karne ka aadesh hai… mukhyadhara se
audi aur bmw ke saamne meri kya bishhaat
suraj ki kirnayen kaafi nahi thi so wanha tak pahunchega, ujiyara bulb ka, saath me pustakon ka, jo unki bhasa me aur matri bhasa me to katai nahi hoga. adiwasi fir bhagega in pustakon se aur guru drona type teacheron se
banega fir wanha ek effiel tower, aadiwasi khoonon se sani dharti par aur videshi ya deshi paryatak aayenge aapke vikshit rrashtra ko dekhne
bastar ke jungalon ko na rahne dene par chidiya ko jo ghosla na mile to wah kuch pustakon ke saath aisa hi karegi
yah wah basta hai janha pustakon ki jagah rakhe jayenge wo hathiyaar jo salwa judum ya fir naxaliyon se adiwasi haathon tak pahunche hai…..
ye chhatishgadh ke wo khadaaan hai janha sama ja rahi hai har wah gyan prampra jo wanha ke adiwasiyon ne payi thi apne hi prakriti se
so called modern art… ye shayad chattishgadh ka indrawati nadi ko baandh ke banaya gaya dam hai jisme adiwasi bachon ke kitaab float kar rahe
posteron me bache rah jayenge ye aadiwasi nritya geet, ya fir bhare me bula kar stage pe nachwana… akhra ke naach jo har din ka tha wah to missing ho gaya hai aaj ki date pe.
mahanagron ke intertainment ke liye ye ghar dwar adiwasiyon ki jivan shaili… dikhana kitna jhoot… kitna makkari se bhara…
jine se bache jab ye aadiwasi to padh paye shayad, ya rach paye sahitya..
ye ghar dwaar to gaon me rahe nahi to ab yun hi mahanagron ke kisi bade hall me aise hi pradarhit karoge hamara ghar…. chattish gadh me bhi to kuch na raha sesh…..
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The album view is here.
Neetisha Xalxo is an Assistant Prof (ad hoc) at Maharaja Agrasen College, Delhi University, and a researcher at JNU.
She says: I am from an oraon adiwasi family, a native of Ranchi, Jharkhand. My interest is to see the entire adiwasi India and I want to invest my whole energy and whole life to do something for them. In what form – it’s not decided yet but the area will be my people only.
You are so full of hate, I hope you did something for the adiwasis instead of criticizing the efforts of others.
This is heights! May I ask! what do u know about Dalit and Adivasi culture and their lives. If you cant even come out in the open and staying “anonymous” is quite a way of people who try to sabotage good work done by others. This itself shows the integrity of your comment. if you are so full of such thoughts please reveal your identity then try n defend it. Else try n appreciate (if possible learn) what “WE” as a part of Dalit and Adivasi Community have to say about our precious culture and thoughts.
Dear Sir/Madam/whoever you are,
Thank you for allowing us to engage with you and your types on our worldview. First of all, let me clear your misconception about us – we are adivasis, the original inhabitants of the state, and much to your condemnation will remain so even when we move away from our habitats and struggle for survival in your uncivilised and preposterous cities. Well, on what we are doing for our communities and ourselves? We are articulating our pains and our concerns and that’s exactly what you will find here. If you even refuse to appreciate our concerns expressed in black and white, it will be sheer stupidity to believe that you and your types can ever render (or for that matter have ever rendered) any meaningful service to us. We are not your subjects of charity, stop being our savior for unworthy monetary gain and fame. However, if you and your types still would like to contribute to our emancipation, then first develop the ability to listen and appreciate all that we have to say. Thanks.
Very precise and insightful, Neetisha. Keep Writing!! It is important that now we adivasis speak and make our views known to the world on how we – our world and our world views are increasingly being eliminated and being shelved in the museums as some antique piece in the name of ‘ancient india’ – how disgusting!
thanx madhuri, surely we will change the world one day
very nice working from you
Great work…use of photography and narrative is so unique and refreshing…truly breaks the romanization of adivasis.
So true Neetisha. On one hand the Adivasi World, World View and Way of Life itself is being destroyed ruthlessly by corporate looters in cahoots with the government, all in the name of development. While on the other, it is being served to the indifferent and selfish upper caste and class urban elites like an exotic dish through these exhibitions. This has always been the State policy.
The tribals of the north east would only be displayed on Republic Day parades in their tribal costumes doing their traditional dances for the sake of an uncivilized audience which could never make an effort to understand the tribals of the northeast, their culture, needs, demands or problems. This would go on while the vast majority would unquestioningly believe the government propaganda on ‘separatist designs’ by the northeasterns and therefore lend unequivocal support to the military offensive against indigenous people of our lands.
Such exhibitions are just an eyewash to conceal the fact that the government has never bothered to do anything for the adivasis even after more than six decades of independence. It is good to see you articulating the situation beautifully.
എന്തിനെയും.. എങ്ങനെയും. ന്യായികരിക്കാം എന്നു പറയുന്നതിനോട് യോജിക്കാന് പ്രയാസം ഉണ്ട്.
I am from Northeast. But closely watched the life style of the Kolarians, Mundari, Oraon, Birhor and the Santhals.
The theme of your sitte resembles with ours.
Kudos…
sorry guys.. i am not getting it.. would it be better if the exhibition did not happen ? here city folks get to see a part of india that is not seen easily .. atleast for me that generates curiosity and hopefully the need to know more and consequently engage more with adiwasi and their situations etc.. how is this a bad thing ?
ghar baithe samudra, aur everest dekhne ki baat kar rahe aap dost… nikaliye, explore kare, ac kamre aur halls ke bahar bhi ek jindagi hai