In Tandem | A Report
[Symposium Updates]
In Tandem, The Research Club of the Department of English, Queen Mary’s College (Autonomous), Chennai, organized their fortnightly symposium today at six pm on Google Meet!
In Tandem, by the way, is also a vibrant community of researchers of all hues, [on Whatsapp] who keep themselves up-to-date, on a regular basis, on the latest trends in Research.
This fortnight’s symposium was on the theme –
Adivasi Experience in Literature and Literary Studies
Dr. R. Sreelatha, Associate Professor & Head (Retd), Department of English, Chellamal Women’s College, Chennai, was the chairperson of today’s Symposium, in which two delegates gave their insightful presentations.
Dr. Maria Preethi Srinivasan, Head, Department of English, Queen Mary’s College (Autonomous), Chennai, was the Organiser of this Symposium, while Ms. Malini, C was the coordinator.
Just a few excerpts (paraphrased at places) from Dr. Sreelatha’s talk this evening –
The Adivasis took pride in their land! They also have a spiritual connect with their land!
The Adivasis did not want to mix with the others. They did not want to lose their way of living. But when their land is taken away from them, they lose their spiritual connection with the land, and they also lose their close association with their natural resources, etc.
Although there are numerous laws in India that support Tribals and their lands, yet nothing is put in practice.
The Santhals kept moving places. Hence, the knowledge they have of their land, and their resources like herbs etc, which were part of their collective memory, now gets lost!
When the tribals move from place to place, their numbers dwindle.
Why do they move?
Because of our developmental projects.
How they have to relocate!
People who live on the river beds, relocate to the hills.
People who do agriculture, move to the forests!
Although the government says we should not displace but rehabilitate, still it happens!
Very soon, through process of culturation and integration of the larger community, they lose touch with their origins.
During the pre-Independence era, the British criminalized them and gave them many pejorative labels, and ignored them. Nehru in his five-year plans, did much to improve their status.
When the last of the Adivasis is gone, we lose a wealth of resources, their rich culture!
Although we might say they become upwardly mobile, their traditions, their access to their own indigenous resources, and their regional knowledge, etc are completely lost to us.
G N Devy has written a number of texts on the Adivasis.
Today the Santhal tribes have their own scripts!
Even for the Administrative exams, although the Question paper is in Hindi, they can write in their own script!
The Adivasi culture - the tribal culture is oral!
For generations, we have stories being told!
But with the Adivasis being displaced, we lose access to their stories and their ways of living!
The first novel by the first tribal novelist from the South is –
Narayan’s Kochareti, originally published in Malayalam in 1998.
Narayan here documents the lives of the Malayarayan community of fishermen!
That brings us to the question of translations –
The adivasis sometimes write in their own language – because they are educated.
Kochareti has been translated into English!
Because I know Malayalam, I read it in Malayalam!
With language, the culture changes!
When the life of a people is translated into other, the cultural baggage is lost!
Translation loses out on the aura!
Rajam Krishnan lived with the Badugas, to write about them!
I read it in English!
But in Tamil, the feel would have been better!
Much is lost in translation.
As regards our perspective towards the adivasis, the motto should be -
‘Live and let live!’
Prof. Kavitha Venkatesan presented on the topic –
The Adivasi Experience in Handsa Sowvendra Shekhar’s The Adivasi Will Not Dance!
The term ‘Tribe’ came into existence only during colonial times, for colonial administrative purposes.
Earlier, the term adivasis was in vogue!
Adivasi literature mainly focusses on the search of identity, threat to their existence etc.
Adivasi literature is oral literature, passed on from generation to generation, and hence NOT documented.
Their favourite genre is poetry, and now they’ve ventured into fiction and non-fiction.
The developmental projects that have affected adivasis, have resulted in the displacement of the adivasis.
The mega projects like dams, roads, mining projects, that would boost our economy, paved way for lot of job opportunities.
But one thing we failed to notice, is that, 8.6 % of the population bear the cost of it. Their locality is being disturbed for all these projects.
Their place is conducive, and they are a vulnerable group as well!
They suffered because of Liberatlisation, Privatisation, Globalisation
Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar is a medical doctor and a writer, from the Santhal community!
Most of his work focusses on the Santhals – the third largest tribes in India!
To be continued…
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