I am a Santal!

I had gone to the Simdega district of Jharkhand. My friends-Vikash Minj, Roshan Kiro, Priyanka Dungdung, Naincy Sonal Kiro and Anupama Kujur showed me Kelagagh Dam and Basatpur Waterfall. There seemed to be shortage of more plans so I planned to visit the friends homes one by one. Each home I visited made me know a tribe. One was Oraon, another a Munda and the other a Khadiya. It is quite surprising that there are a number of tribes in Jharkhand. The most surprising thing is that people didn't know that there was a tribe called Santal. "I am a Santal", I told Anupama's dad. He said that he had never heard of it. He only knew Ho, Munda, Khadiya and Oraon. 

Each tribe has diverse languages and dresses. Whatever may the differences be, there is unity and brotherhood among the tribes. Tribals always dance in group. The festivals are celebrated together. They live in community with the nature. Tribals can be called the protectors of nature. We need to protect the nature to continue our existence. The equality between the genders exist. The men and women are equally respected. The main source of livelihood is agriculture. The festivals are based on agriculture. Cows, buffaloes and goats are reared. 

The more the tribals are getting educated, the culture is getting lost. This is because education shifts the source of livelihood to other jobs from agriculture. Loss of agriculture is the loss of culture. The tribal religion is replaced by Christianity. This is also a major reason for the loss of old traditions and culture. The people have now started celebrating the Christian festivals. The traditional dresses are no longer worn and they have just become the occasional attires worn during festivals or some events!

It is believed that the rate at which tribals are getting extinct is the rate at which the world is getting destroyed. It is a matter of concern. Only the tribal ways of life can save Earth. Tribals lived by their needs and not by wants. This is completely contradictory to men today. Greed will make the whole world suffer.