By The Editor
Tribals are the inhabitants, if not the first, in India and at present they constitute about 10 per cent of country’s population which is more than total population of France or the United Kingdom (UK). The term Adivasi (the word ‘Adi’ means oldest and ‘vasi’ means inhabitant) is commonly used to designate them. The International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention held at Geneva, Switzerland on June 5, 1957 classified them as indigenous. Unlike in the New World and Australia where the tribals had been cruelly exploited, plundered and decimated the situation in India has been different though neglected for quite long period of time. During pre-British era tribals in India shared the culture and language of Hindu neighbours and gradually got absorbed in or were influenced by Hindus. These tribals like Gond, Santhal, Korku, Oraon etc had been much neglected by the Britishers since colonial rulers had adopted the policy of divide and rule for their convenience. Consequently they remained backward and poor growing at slow pace and some of whom are facing danger of extinction.
After independence the government began to take great care of them by providing special facilities and amenities so that they could progress and be able to catch up with the rest of the country. Meanwhile, the vital role played by Christian missionaries from abroad and continued by Indian counterparts was instrumental for uplift and betterment of tribals in various fields like health, education, economy, etc. In due course, tribals began to also accept Christian faith belonging to different denominations. At present, in the tribal-dominated Northeastern (NE) states of Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram Christians are majority with substantial percentage of population in Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. People who become Christians still adhere to their own language, customs, and culture and they are no different at all from those who still cling to their old traditions. In general, the society does not ostracise them either because it considers religion to be personal matter and hence to respect individual choice. Our great nation has earned honour and fame for its historical concept and practice of ‘unity in diversity’.
Unfortunately, certain selfish elements are trying to create misunderstanding and disharmony in the society which may break the fabric of unity that bind people of diverse cultures and religious beliefs. The RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) – affiliated Janajati Dharma Sanskriti Suraksha Manch (JDSSM) in Assam has been actively campaigning for delisting tribal people who have undergone religious conversion in different parts of the state. Their main contention is that the Scheduled Tribes (STs) after conversion to foreign religions completely give up their original cultures, faiths and traditions. Recently, big rally was held in Guwahati on Sunday March 26 by JDSSM to save STs from being swallowed by well-organised, communal and theocratic foreign religions so that in no time they may become extinct and they demanded for revision of the Constitution of India pertaining to tribals.