What is Adivasi Literature? How it is different from the Dalit literature?

 

Every civilization in the world consists of some tribal population who follows their own set of rules and Costoms and traditions which are totally different from the mainstream society. Maharashtra also consist of various Adivasi communities who have developed a distinct literature of their own. In this article we are going to see the development of Tribal Literature in the Maharashtra.

It is said that the Tribal peoples are the original inhabitants of India and they were living in this land from much before the Aryan Invasion. Today these tribes are constitutionally recognized as Scheduled Tribes.

As we know the Dalit literature was started in Maharashtra during 1970s. At the same time various writers in Maharashtra wanted to show the life of Tribal folks whose life had been kept neglected from the literature. Hence this gave birth to the Tribal Literature.

Tribal literature is very different from the traditional Marathi literature. It shows the hardship and the struggle of the tribal communities. As Marathi Writers started writing about the life of Adivasis the Marathi literature became more comprehensive and also became popular among masses.

Adivasis in Maharashtra

If we go back into the ancient history of Maharashtra we found that Adivasi communities are real cultivator and the inhabitants of the Maharashtra. Various communities like Warli, Gond, Bhill etc were the rulers in the history. They had their distinct set of rules and regulation. They have their own language and administrative system.

For the very long time Tribal communities in Maharashtra were not the part of modern and developed society. Today some communities has been assimilated into the mainstreams thanks to the steps taken by the Indian Government in post –Independence period.

Our Indian society has a very cruel image in their mind about Adivasi communities as Tribal, Half naked, illiterate, meat- eating peoples. Traditional Indian literature has also describes them in the same way.

So who are Adivasis? According the Anthropology Adivasi is a group of people who lives in specific region and speaks an unique language. This is the most acceptable definition of the Adivasis.

Adivasi Literature and its rise

Some Adivasi people acquires modern lifestyle in the post-independence period. They wanted the world to know about their culture and their hardships. Hence they started writing about them and this is known as Adivasi or Tribal literature. Some Non-Adivasi writers in India also wrote about them.

Adivasi literature is different from the Dalit literature. Along with their hardship the Adivasi literature consist of elaborate description of their culture and traditions.

During British rule various Christian Missionaries had started some work for the upliftment of Tribal peoples. They did provide educational and medical facilities to them. Many social reformers also tried to bring them in the mainstream society.

Social reformers like G.K Gokhale, Thakkarbaba, Balasaheb Kher, Acharya Bhise started organizations solely dedicated to the upliftment of Adivasis. In Vidarbha also social reformers like Tukaram Madavi, Gundaramji Masram, Panchambabu Madavi, Lakhudji Gedam provided educational facilities in the  tribal areas of Chandrapur-Gadchiroli.

All these developments led the rise of intellectualism among the Adivasi who then started writing about their own life and hence it gave birth to the Adivasi literature.

What are the major tribal communities in Maharashtra?

According to the census of 2011 Schedule Tribes are 9.35% of the total population of the state. Gond, Halba, Kamar, Kolam, Dhorkoli, Bhilla, Dubla are some of the major tribes in Maharashtra.

But this tribal population is not universally divided throughout the Maharashtra. Tribes like Gond, Kolam, Pardhan, Madia are situated only in Vidarbha and adjacent regions of nearby states. Warli, Thakar, Katkari are situated in Nasik region. Tribes like Kokru, Tadbi, Andh are located in Satpura range of Maharashtra.

Adivasis were living in forest and hilly areas of Maharashtra. They have cultivated their own culture and have their own way of celebration. They were basically the worshiper of nature. Traditional Hindu gods and goddesses have not penetrated into the tribal life.

Famous Dalit Writer Dr.Yashwant Manohar once said “Adivasis are the real sons of this soil, they are victims of our centuries old system of inequality. The Mythological writers in India also never gave space to the Adivasis and their leaders.”

There is an another theory which explains the migration of Adivasis into the forest. When Aryas came to Indian subcontinent they divided peoples into fours “Varnas” and the fourth Varna that is Shudras had to serve upper three Varnas. And it is said that to escape this kind treatment the tribals migrated permanently to forest and hilly areas.

Adivasi culture is totally different from the Hindu culture. What we find in Adivasi culture is the “equality” which was absent from the traditional Hindu society.  Renowned Marathi poet Vaharu Sonwane once said “Adivasis should not accept Hindu religion as it is full of inequality, casteism and superstition.”

The Adivasi literary movement was stated in the late 1970. This was the period when first ever Tribal literature Conference  was organized. This event is organized every year to discuss the new developments in the Tribal literature.

Shivajirao Moghe who was a Deputy CM of Maharashtra said in the second Tribal Conference that this Literature conference is the beginning of new revolution and it  should not be kept limited to the literary world. This literature should be used for making necessary changes in the life of Tribal communities.

Where is Adivasi literature in 21^st century

Baburao Bagul who is one of the pioneers of Dalit literature once said  “Dalits are those who wants to destroy the caste system, who want to re-establish the new world order in the society.” While explaining this Baghul also included Adivasi into the Dalits and said that Dalit and Adivasi has a common goal.

But the comtemporary Dalit writer totally ignored the life of Adivasis in their works. Dalit writers didn’t understand that Adivasis are also fighting against the same system which they are fighting with.

Also it was expected from the Literature conference that it will bring a revolutionary changes in the tribal life. But what we are seeing is the commercialization of Tribal literature.  Adivasi culture has now been promoted for commercial purposes.