The majoritarian shadow over Adivasi identity, faith, Pg6

Key Highlights:

• The Janjati Suraksha Manch (JSM) and Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, both linked to the RSS, organized a "Janjati Sanskritik Samagam" in Delhi, celebrating Birsa Munda's 150th anniversary.
• The event was attended by thousands of Adivasis and had the support of various government entities, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah as the chief guest.
• The JSM advocates for the delisting of Adivasis who have converted to Christianity, seeking to remove their constitutional protections.
• Amit Shah endorsed the JSM’s campaign, likening it to a modern "Ulgulan", despite concerns over the group's divisive activities and the government's environmental policies affecting tribal lands.

Detailed Insights:

• The JSM's demand for delisting converted Adivasis aims to extend the principle applied to Scheduled Castes (SCs) to Scheduled Tribes (STs), despite the Constitution not linking ST identity to religion.
• A 1963 Patna High Court ruling affirmed that tribal identity is not religion-based but rests on ethnic and community ties, stating that an Oraon remains an Oraon regardless of their faith.
• The JSM promotes the idea that Adivasis belong to the "sanatan parivar", incorporating Hindu symbols and deities into tribal villages, which critics view as a campaign of cooption.
• Adivasis have the constitutional right to choose their religion, but the assertion that Hindu converts express Adivasi culture while Christian converts betray it is a distortion of this principle.
• Adivasi organizations have sought formal recognition of their distinct beliefs, including a separate column in the Census for their religions, but these demands have been largely ignored.
• Urgent issues facing Adivasis include the sabotage of the Forest Rights Act, subversion of PESA, employment backlogs, poor conditions in student hostels, and lack of basic amenities.
• The JSM has not defended Adivasi rights against corporate takeovers of their lands, and its actions serve to divide communities along religious lines, benefiting those dispossessing them.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Scheduled Tribes (STs): Officially recognized tribal communities in India entitled to specific constitutional protections and affirmative action measures.
• Ulgulan: The Great Tumult, referring to Birsa Munda's revolt against British colonial rule in the late 19th century.
• Forest Rights Act (FRA): Indian legislation enacted in 2006 to recognize the rights of forest-dwelling tribal communities to forest resources and land.