Tagged the 21st century State – Chhattisgarh, located in central India and covers an area of 135,190 km2. Primarily a rural State it is home to the Gond, Halba, Kamar/Bujia, Oraon, Uranv, Kanver, Baiga, Korva, Pando, Birhi, Binjhwar tribes and more. This interesting social composition gives the State a unique backdrop in the nourishing time […]
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With an economy based on nomadic livestock rearing, the Bakarwal for several decades now, are suffering conflict induced displacement in Kashmir, risking their societal sustainability. Unfortunately, no survey, government or otherwise, has assessed the scale of displacement although reports suggest that unrest in this region has displaced one million people over the last three decades […]
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Evidence of the ancient people of Chhattisgarh has been found in the hills of Raigarh, Singhanpur, Kabra, Basnajhar, Boslada and Ongana Mountains of ‘Chitwandongri’ in Rajnandgaon District. The stone equipments made and used by ancient people have been found on the coasts of Mahanadi, Mand, Kanhar, Manihari and Kelo rivers. The rock paintings of Singhanpur […]
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I felt very angry that after cutting down all our forests to supply timber to the cities, the forest authorities should blame us for the destruction. So I got the women of our village together and started protecting these hills. Now nobody can blame us anymore,” said Daheli Bai, a Bhil tribal woman of Attha […]
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Gaddi, the nomadic sheep herding scheduled tribe of Himachal Pradesh, are among the traditional pastoralists of Himalayas, the others being Gujjar, Bakarwal, Kinnaur, Kauli and Kanet. Environmentalists have long perceived pastoralists’ livestock as an enemy to wildlife conservation, even though the livestock may not be that different from wildlife. Plus, increasing evidence is emerging for […]
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India is home to over 270 species of snakes, out of which about 60 are venomous. In many cultures world over, consumption of snakes for their medicinal property is acceptable and considered a delicacy. Knowledge accumulated through centuries of interaction with the natural habitat by the aboriginal and tribal people is dying slowly as communities […]
Continue ReadingBiocultural Diversity Scientists maintain that there is an inextricable relationship between biological, cultural and linguistic diversities. It draws from anthropological, ethnobiological, and linguistic insights concerning the relationships of human language, knowledge, culture and practices with environment and nature. It has been proved through the work of Luisa Maffi, titled ‘On Biocultural Diversity: Linking Language, Knowledge […]
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Phulvati shyly extended a small intricately woven basket full of semi puffed rice, anandi, urging me to eat more. It was a splendid meal – replete with fresh sugarcane juice, thick curd and a dash of garlic-amla-chilli paste that was so exquisite that I couldn’t stop myself from asking for several helpings. Washing my fingers […]
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