Thanks Rashmi.....
for pointing out this kind of observation. Its true that these words are
demeaning for our tribal community. We must not tolerate it in any form.
At the same time I would also like to point out that as tribals we should not
feel ashamed or guilty when we are addressed like this. I remember my school
days when I used to feel ashamed when called a tribal/backward community girl
by my teachers and friends. Let me share one very memorable incident. I was in
my XIIth Std. preparing hard for my Board Exams. there was one girl from Delhi
who used to hurt me by saying..." Oh..why u study so hard....anyway u'll get
through Medical/Engg. even with 45% marks. You tribal people wear leaves as
cloths !!.....and live in the jungles.....". just give a thought to this
statement?doesn?t it show how backward was she??
We cannot change their "backward" views about us. So, why should we accept
that tribals are backward or primitive? Infact we must feel proud that we
evolved and became civilized much much earlier than others and still we are
more civilized than them. We should teach our children and prepare them to
compete with all in the society so that no one dares to call us primitive or
backward. We must feel proud to be called Tribals. We have lead to the genesis
of civilization. We must be respected for it.
Regards.
Sushma Purty
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/chotanagpur_adivasi/message/623
Rashmi Ekka <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Rashmi Ekka wrote: Date: Sat, 12 Apr 2008 11:45:11 -0400
From: "Rashmi Ekka" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: STOP calling us Primitive
Dear people,
Time and time again we see in the news that indigenous people are being
referred to as 'primitive', 'backward' etc.
WE NEED TO STOP THIS!
Next time you see such a word used for us in a newspaper/magazine, do take the
time out to send an email to the editor telling him/her that such words are
demeaning to us and should not be used for us.
Read this -
http://telegraphindia.com/1080412/jsp/jharkhand/story_9128242.jsp
The Birhor tribe does something truly great and are still being referred to as
'primitive'.
Please email Telegraph at [EMAIL PROTECTED] and ask them to stop using this
word for us.
Thanks,
Rashmi
Birhor secrets for bio-diversity pool
Dhanbad, April 11: If Jharkhand has its first
bio-diversity register, it must be grateful to the Birhors, the primitive
tribesmen of the region.
For, a handful of these tribesmen settled in Chhalkari in Naxalite-hit
Topchanchi block of Dhanbad, about 35km off the district headquarters, have
shared their knowledge of medicinal herbs and plants with a group of
researchers in Dhanbad working on a peopleâs bio-diversity register (PBR).
A PBR is a documentation of information on the ecology of a village or
panchayat, the practices of the people, their lifestyle, the local flora and
fauna, socio-economic conditions and many other points. The register is likely
to be included in the Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge published by
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
The register would help in setting up a bio-diversity information system for
implementing the provisions of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and
authenticating the information about a village or panchayat.
âWe know only 25 per cent of the earth and its people, the rest is unknown
to us. Hence, we are trying to study this part of our state. We came to know a
lot of unique things from the Birhors, known for their magical sense of
nature,â said Ashutosh Mairh, the bio-science teacher of DAV Public School,
Koylanagar, and a researcher in the team of six students and three academicians
from different universities of the state.
Among the six student researchers, Prabhat and Lokesh Mallick, former
students of DAV Public School, Koylanagar, are on job. Manish and Ranglal
Mandal have appeared for their CBSE Plus Two examinations and two others, Neha
Rajgariya and Amit Shukla, are studying.
Apart from doing a documentary, Samvedna (compassion), on the Birhors, the
team studied its livelihood, medicines and sources of sustenance. âWe were
surprised to know about their use of various herbs, plants and their roots,â
said Mairh.
Jharkhand Forum
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