All through the ancient Indian history, the rulers left Adivasis to themselves.
They rarely interfered except during war times.
But, the British, the Russians, the Chinese and the Americans broke the
harmony.
They now want the tribals to be assimilated in a global village at the lowest
stratum defying their autonomy, culture and religion.
It's not fair.
See the scene of Hindutva groups. They too are following the colonial methods.
I am deadly against converting tribals by either Christians or Hindus.
If Adivasis lose their environment and culture, there will be no hope to
India as nation. Because the spirit of soil is deep in only Adivasis now.
Rest of the country is in a 'Global Delusion'.
JAI ADIVASI
Sathya
Maheshwar Munda <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Respected Jharkhand group members,
There was a long discussion / argument on this topic. Good! And now I also
thought to give my FUNDA here.
First of all I should clear that there are different types of Adivasis /
Tribes in India. They basically reside in remote areas / away from town or
cities. Their civilization has grown up in the forests / hills / jungles since
very early days. They have their own traditions / customs / language and even
different religion. May be some of their traditions / social rules are
intruptions in modern type development, but they are the pure worshipers of
nature.
I dont know much about the religion followed by the tribes of other parts of
India but I know that most of Adivasis of Jharkhand, Orrisa, West Bengal and
Chattishgarh i.e. Munda, Oraon, Ho, Santhal, Kharia etc. originally follow a
religion called SARNA.
Before I proceed I should clear that personally I respect all the religions,
whether it is Hindu or Christians or Shikhism or Muslim or Budhism. And, I
expect that all the others should respect the religion SARNA. I strongly hate
the people who deceive the others in the name of religion or God.
Unfortunately, Sarna people have NO written Dharmik Grantha like the Bible
/ the Geeta etc. In SARNA, the definition of GOD almighty is something like
this: BHAGWAN wo hai jiska na janam leta hai aur naa hi marta hai. jo nirakar
hai, par prakruti ki har rachna mei vyapt hai. According to Sarna Lord RAMA or
KRISHNA or JESUS can not be Bhagwan, but they will be considered and respected
as Ideal person or Adarsh Purush. Because, all these were born and died. In
Sarna, the almighty God, a supernatural power which controls the world is known
as SINGHBONGA. They worship Singhbonga through his Creations. Also, there is no
concept of SWARG and NARAK in Sarna. They believe that after a person dies, he
/ she remain in house itself as HARAM HORO (PITRIDEVTA).
This is a simple consept.
I am a Munda tribe. I have grown up in my village which is around 80 kms away
from Ranchi and 40 kms from Chakradharpur. My village is situated in the hills
and forests of PORAHAT in West Singhbhum district. Nearest bus stand is 7 kms
away. I have grown up in village itself up to primary schools. But I am an IIT
Graduate Mechanical Engineer. And I know the problems and the cause of problems
of Adivasis. I have also seen how Missionaries have exploited the Religion
SARNA.
One thing that is clear in my mind is that the Christians are very smart.
Smart in the sence that they have successfully used the nice philosophical
words of Bible for luring the Adivasis and taken the advantage of
backwardsness / simplicity / innocency of tribes by presenting themselves as
the well wishers of Adivasis.
They say that Sarna Adivasis can not develop unless and until they convert to
Christians. They say that Christianity is the best religion in world. They also
claim that God of Sarna (SINGHBONGA) is same as JESUS.
But I personally disagree when they say that Adivasis can not develop without
converting their Religion. I believe that Development has nothing to do with
religious faith. In Europian contries most of the people are NASTIKs, and the
world knows that they are financially or technical advanced. I believe that
Adivasis can develop while maintaining their unique culture. And, I also think
that NO ONE SHOULD ATTACK / EXPLOIT THE SARNA.
This is also true that, literacy rate in Christian (converted) adivasis is
higher as compared to SARNA adivasis. Converted adivasis are financially better
than SARNA counterparts. But now the Adivasi people have realized that they can
develop without converting the religion. That is why now the conversion rate is
almost ZERO.
Here I would like to share some of my personal experiences.
If I am not wrong, Pahle (when missionaries entered in tribal region) ye
missionary PRACHARAK / FATHER / BROTHER / SISTER / MOTHER etc khule SAAND ki
tarha gaon gaon, ghar ghar ghum ghum kar, parche bantkar DHARM PRACHAR karte
the, SARNA adiwasiyon ko LAALACH, bahla fusla kar unhe CONVERT karwa lete the.
Khud mere ghar kitne pracharak aaye!! But now .. this activity has come down ..
kyunki kuch aise father / brother etc ka MURDER / PITAI bhi huyi hai.
They say that they can follow and spread out the religion which they like,
because this is their Fundamental Right. Yaar AAPKA FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT hai,
Constitution ne RIGHT de rakhi hai .. ki AAP APNE DHARM KA PRACHAR KAR SAKTE
HAIN .. iska matlab ye to nahin hota ki kisi ke ghar jakar uske dharm ki
burai karo .. aur convert hone ko kahte firte raho, uksate raho!!
When I was a school student, at that time people tried at least ten times to
CONVERT me. This is my personal experience.
In 1997, during my summer vacation I was spending my HOLIDAYS at my village.
During that period I had to go for watching the Rice Crops (Garma Dhan) in the
nights along with other villagers. Because during the nights wild animals like
PIGS, Elephant come and destroy the crops. One day, a person from missionary
community came to meet my father. Raat ko wo bhi humare sath hi sone aaya.
Wahan wo apni aukat pe aa gaya. He started eulogizing Christian religion.
Christian dharm sansar ka sabse achcha dharm hai. Babu, kabhi Ranchi ke maha
girjaghar jakar dekhna, kitna achcha girja hota hai. Father ki prarthna ko
jesus sunte hain .. babut chamatkari hota hai, rogon (ILLNESS) se mukti milti
hai. Etc etc. Aur hum log sunte rahe chupchap. Bahut achchi baat thi ki wo
apne religion ki tareef kar raha tha. Ok .. jab wo tareef karte karte taq gaya
to .. he started CRITICIZING SARNA religion. Usne khoob burai ki .. ji bhar
kar. Ki kya tum log nadi kinare SAAL ped ke niche POOJA karte ho!! Ped (tree)
Patthar (Stone) ki puja karte ho!! Etc. This was not OK, lekin ye bhi sun liya.
There were 4 other villagers but he was mainly targeting me. His PRAVACHAN
was beyond the limits to be tolerated. Mun to kar raha tha ki usko LATH maarkar
usko raton rat ghar ka rasta dikha hun. Lekin, Adivasiyon ka SARNA dharm itna
bhi UNCIVILIZED nahin hai ki ghar k eek guest se aisa
salook kiya haye.
Uske baad usne last mei ek sentence kaha jo mujhe andar taq jhakjor gaya tha
aur aaj taq mere deemag mei gunjta hai. Wo mujhe straight forward ye challenge
kar gaya Babu .. yadi tum aage badna chahte ho jeevan mei, to CHRISTIAN ban
jao, warna kuch nahin kar pahoge. JAB TAK TUM CHRISTIAN NAHIN BANOGE TUM AADMI
NAHIN BAN SAKOGE.
Koi dusra ladka hota to dusre din hi convert ho jata. Lekin maine wahin, usi
raat munn mei thaan liya ki BETA TUM AISA BOLTE HO, MAI TUMHE BINA CHRISTIAN
BANE HI AAGE BADKE DIKHAHUNGA. Aur sach kahun to wo raat meri zindagi ka ek
TURNING POINT tha. Us raat taq mera koi irada nahin tha Engineering karne ka. I
was interested to go for defence.
Ab .. ye batao yaro .. ki BIBLE mei kahin likha hua hai kya ki logon ko is
tarha .. wo bhi ek bachhe ko bahla fusla kar CHRISTIAN banao. Ya FUNDAMETAL
RIGHT ke kisi ARTICLE mei ye kaha gaya hai!!!
When I was in MIDDLE SCHOOL, I remember .. school mei ek BROTHER hua karta
tha, wo humhe ENGLISH padaya karta tha. I remember his name also
brother
VINAY BECK. Text book mei ek chapter National Unity / Unity in Diversity pe
tha. In that book only four religions were refered, HINDU/MUSLIM/SIKH/ISAI. Tab
wo bolta hai .. hanske .. AREY ISME TUM LOGON KA MURGI POOJAWALA DHARM ka naam
kidhar hai? Tum SARNA log kya bekar dharm mante ho!! Ab ye batao mere ELITE
friends, as a teacher kya wo sahi karta tha??
Meri apni mausi ko bhi uski teachers ne bahla fusla kar CONVERT kara diya,
SISTER banwa diya, when she was studying in 8th standard!! Uske dimag pe
Christian Dharma ka bhoot is kadar gusa diya tha ki she did not listen to her
family members. I know.. I have seen her mother (my NANI) crying for her. Meri
nani ki sirf betiyan hain, uske jane ke baad wo kitna royi. Uske illiterate
mother father ko yeh kaha gaya ki unki beti ko NAUKRI mil raha hai. Aaj bhi
jab mujhse milti hai to roti hai. Ab batao dosto, kya BIBLE mei likha hua hai
ki kisi ki maa ko rulakar uski beti ko SISTER bana lo!!
SARNA dharm mei BEEF / FORK nahi khate hain. JETH apni bahu (apne chhote bhai
ki bibi) ko chhuta nahi hai. Iska bhi Christian majak udate hain. Mujhe kai
baar logon ne FORCE kiya ki Mahesh tumhe BEEF / FORK khana chahiye, bahut
achcha lagta hai, SEHAT badta hai. SARNA mei pooja karte hain, uske liye kai
Christians ne majak udaya.
Up to my 9th standard I used to attend the invitations in Christian Marriage
Parties. But once I had intentially been given BEEF telling that this is KASSI
(MUTTON). That was purposely done by the educated christians. Since then I have
stopped attending any Christian parties. I know nothing will happen to my body
by eating BEEF, but what is the need to eat BEEF!! My ancestors were farmers
and we know the role and importance of OX and Cow in our life.
After joining my JOB people have also proposed me to marry 2-3 Christian GIRL
and get Converted. When I rejected their offer, I was asked, kya tum bhi
religion ki poonch pakadte ke baithe ho? Christian ladkiyan bahut sundar hoti
hain. Yaar ab to Sarna Adivasi mei bhi well educated, beautiful girls mil jati
hain, then what is the need of conveting religion for a girl. Aap kahte ho ..
kuch SARNA wale educated hone ke baad convert ho jate hain. Arey yaar .. unhe
baar bar bol ke convert karwa hi liya jata jai.
Ye sirf meri kahani nahin hai .. ye bahut se SARNA adiwasiyon ki kahani hai.
Aur ye kahna galat nahin hai ki har SARNA adiwasi ko life mei kam se kam ek
baar to is tarha bahlaya, fuslaya jata hai, convert hone ko kaha jata hai.
Missionaries target those boys and girls, who are studying in high schools.
Kabhi kabhi sochta hun
ki ye Christian missionaries .. sirf TRIBAL areas
mei hi kaam kyun kiye. Kisi HINDU ya MUSLIM ya SIKH logon ke beech kyun nahin
gaye. Sidhi si baat hai .. because unke beech jakar unke religion ke burai
karma, aur apne Christian religion ki badai karna to bahut muskil kaam hota
na!! Shayad JAAN taq gawane ki naubat aa jati.
Most of the TRIBALS are uneducated, illiterate. jisne jo kaha maan liye..
logon ne kaha tumhara dharm BAKWAS hai, Christian dharm sabse achcha hai ..
MAAN liye. Kisi ne khana khila diya .. humne uska dharma apna liya. Ek HUMAN
psychology hi hai ki kisi ne aapko kuchh de diya, to hum uski AHSANMAND ho jate
hain, uski bat ko NAA nahin karte hain.
Chalo maan lete hain .. ki ye missionaries sirf ADIWASIYON ka udhar karne,
develop karne aaye the, religion ka prachar karne nahin
to kyun nahin wo
AFRICA/south AMERICA mei jate
wahan bhi to log underdeveloped hain!! kyunki
wahan to bhai CONVERTION complete hai
wahan jakar log kya karenge! Mother
Teresa had done excellent job for welfare of society. Lekin sawal hai
wo
INDIA hi kyun aayi? Chaliye maan liya DEVELOPMENT karne. Par wo AFRICA/South
America kyun nahin gayi
wahan bhi to log UNDERDEVELOPED hain. Par kyun jati
.. WAHAN TO CONVERTION COMPLETE HO CHUKA THA.
Hum adiwasi logon ka area hi aisa hai ki humhe EXPOSURE nahin milta hai,
develop kya karenge. Aur sach kahun to iske liye SARNA dharma jimmedar nahin
hai.
Wo kahte hain
ki SARNA wale BHAGWAN / SIGHBONGA ke naam par MURGA/BAKRA ki
bali chadate hain. Bahut kharchila hai. Bhai sahab, pooja karke fenkte to nahin
hai, kha hi jate hain na. Bhai sahib, ye SARNA wale Church/Temple/mosque banane
mei rupya to nahin kharch karte hain. Phir .. jahan SARNA hota hai ..wahan koi
TREE katte bhi nahin, and hence they are preserving the ENVIRONMENT. Can u give
them ISO 14001 certification for protecting environment?
I dont deny that missionaries have done great job for community development.
The standard/quality of education in missionary school/college is much better
than Govt school/college.
I also agree that following a religion is ones OWN will. But
I OBJECT my
friends ki aap kisi ki majboori, innocency ka fayeda utha kar... kisi ko bahla
fusla kar CONVERT kara lijiye.
If you see... ORAON community, you will find CONVERTION is more than 60%. You
will also find that Oraon are in better conditions than MUNDAS, HO, SANTHAL,
Kharia. Reasion is that Oraons live near to town/cities like ranchi. If you
see MUNDA and SANTHAL, convertion is low .. may be 20%. And they are not as
much developed as ORAONs, because munda/santhal live in REMOTE villages.
Adivasis are lagging behind because that they live in remote villages.
My ultimate request to Missionary Communities is that Please don't attack or
exploit the original Religion or faith of Adivasis. Let the Adivasis develope
with their own religion, let them preserve their good traditions.
Sincerely Yours
M.Maheshwar
