Orissa's so called primitive tribe seem to feel the implications of such a
tag right from school. 'primitive tribe' - in Bhaliapadar at the foot of the
Niyamgiri hill (ORISSA) range says school teachers have banned girls and
boys from not cutting their hair which is a tradition amongst the dongaria
kondh. They have also been barred from wearing wearing traditional ornaments
and have even asked her to change her name to something more conventional
like saraswati or parvati. The dongaria kondh culture today is being
threatened by the imminent mining of Niyam Dongar at the hands of the
aluminium cartel. The Supreme Court of India refused to hear a petition
filed on behalf of the people against the mining. Their culture is also
being threatened by state policies like nregs, pmgsy, shg, etc. which have
been formulated with strict codes. Their culture is also being threatened in
the name of religious groups with each trying to get the people unto their
fold by being viciously critical of the original culture. The word's
Constitutional usage is used for and against the people and the dongaria
kondh of niyamgiri hills vindicate it. The primitive tag reinforces their
relationship with the natural surroundings i.e. the Niyam giri. At the same
time the controversial tag becomes a perfect excuse to make a biased
decision like that of not opposing mining of Niyamgiri hills &
industrialisation of the area. I feel very strongly about such issues and
object to the use of primitive or any other word which presents people
improperly. The people I have met so far who are referred to as 'primitive'
have been exceptionally warm, friendly and wise. I see the difference in my
life in a city and those in the forests and would term it as a different
culture, & lifestyle. the constitutional jargon of india makes misuse of
many such English words to describe the adivasi cultures of india that
originally belonged to british invaders. from the land acquistion act to the
usage of primitive must be many such shortcomings in the volumes of state
policy that enables foreign forces to still control india.
