Preserving Tribal Heritage: An integral aspect of Tata Steel Foundation

Tata Steel’s engagement with tribal communities is more than five decades old. It began with the establishment of the “Adivasi and Harijan Welfare Cell” later called Tribal Culture Society in the early 70s. It established the Tata Steel Foundation in 2016 as a wholly owned subsidiary with the clear mandate to build institutional processes, talent, collaborations and anything that may be required to solve the core development challenges of the least served and most silent.

As part of this, the Foundation has been steadily working with tribal and marginalised communities to promote and preserve the culture of the people across Jharkhand and Odisha, primarily. It remains committed to the preservation of tribal languages, tribal music, cultural heritage through commemoration of important dates and tribal sports, and the empowerment of communities through the ‘Tribal Language Preservation Project.’ By preserving these dialects, the Foundation aims to create a brighter future for the communities, ensuring that their rich linguistic heritage thrives for generations to come.

Jiren Topno, Head, Tribal Identity, Tata Steel Foundation, opines: “Often tribal and rural communities are engulfed in a conflict of whether to adopt culturally popular language and rituals or to sustain their originality in its purest form. Over the years tribal communities in India have faced several transitions and transformations; some migrating due to the availability of resources, others trying to flee from chaos between authorities and local communities. Every transition is culturally significant because it not only means a change in their geography but also an influence on their language, culture, traditions, cuisine, and other similar attributes. For example, Munda tribe came and settled in the Chotanagpur plateau region and gradually their families expanded. Some of them separated due to geographical differences. They speak the Mundari language. From the Munda tribe emerged other tribes like Ho, Santhals and Bhumij. They are all part of one tribe, but the regional influences brought about modifications in their traditions and culture, which eventually led to new names of tribes. The interesting thing to note here is that the Mundari language which possibly encountered Bengalis became Santali. Similarly, the Ho tribe could have been influenced by the Odiyas and similar suit followed. But every member of the Munda tribe will understand Santali, as well as Ho because it all comes from one language – Mundari.”

Language as a marker of cultural identity

 A significant roadblock to the natural flourishing of tribal languages is the unavailability of formal teaching-learning platforms. Recognizing language as an important marker of identity, Tata Steel Foundation initiated the Tribal Language programme in 2010. Till date, it has worked with more than 45000 tribal people across Jharkhand and Odisha (especially youth), reintroducing them to the verbal communication, scripts and literature of their own language which is an integral part of their culture.

Presently, 896 teachers across 896 centres, spread across 39 districts, are helping tribal communities reclaiming their identity with language. All the centres are imparting education and awareness on tribal languages, namely – Santhal, Munda, Ho, Bhumij, Khadia, Mal Pahadiya, Asir, Birjiya and Kudukh.

The project has injected a tremendous amount of pride among the people. Apart from passing on the language as legacy, the programme began to uphold cultural traditions of the tribal communities including their dresses, songs, games and performing arts. In the last decade, it has been fostering dignity among the tribal communities to encourage them to become citizens of the country in the real sense of the term.

 Commemorating important dates and figures in tribal community

A real-life manifestation of language as one’s identity was on full display on February 11, 2025, where thousands of people from the Santhal community gathered to commemorate the birth anniversary of Pandit Raghunath Murmu in his mud hut, deep inside the jungles of Kapi Buru, known for its mysterious tales. Kapi Buru incidentally also gave Guru Marang Gomke the motivation to draw up the Ol Chiki script.

Even though recent, the script was developed in early 1900s, marking the onset of a new age of tribal identity through the diversity of language. Against all odds, Guru Gomke acquired technical training and a degree to produce or print the script for larger use. “Guru Gomke spent six months developing the script and the other six promoting the script across villages, reinstating people’s right to their language. Not just that, my grandfather acquired a technical degree only so that he could learn how to print the script,” said Pandit Raghunath Murmu’s grandson, Bhimvad Murmu, sitting in the small mud room where his grandfather developed the script.

Most of the scripts were developed after Guru Gomke’s unrelenting efforts, and until then, most of the knowledge, wisdom and traditions were passed on from generations through word-of-mouth. “We need to preserve our mother tongue. If the language is not preserved, then the identity of Oraon tribe will be lost,” says Kiran Khalkho, one of the language teachers, inspiring students to own their language. A former teacher and current language coordinator, Ghanshyam Purty says, “I have taught the Warang Chiti script to nearly 600 students till now. Of them 20 have emerged as tribal language teachers with different partner organisations.” Budhiram Baskey, a Santhali teacher at the Kachugaon centre, near Kokrajhar, Assam, shares, “2025 marks 100 years of the development of Ol Chiki script. It is a great milestone and I feel that every Santhali should be well versed with reading and writing in Ol Chiki script.”

Rooting it deep through tribal sports

Tata Steel Foundation has also enabled the promotion of tribal sports as a mainstream discipline. It enabled the setting up of a dedicated space at Samvaad 2016 and 2024, for everyone to learn, play and know of the significant tribal sports Kati and Sekor. Even in sports, tribal narratives throw up an array of music and lyrics which resonate with the spirit of the game, with some believing that the songs of Sekor can trigger rain. These are not just games but evidence of the deep connection tribal communities share with nature.

Kati is a traditional tribal sport, a game of quick reflexes and deft footwork, where players use a bamboo stick with their feet to hit the opponent’s semi-circular disc (made of tamarind wood). Kati Premier League stands as a testament to the revival and a big leap towards preservation of traditional tribal sports, offering a structured platform for players to hone their skills and test their potential. Played by the Santhal and Bhumij communities of Jharkhand and Odisha, this sport—once overshadowed by modern games like cricket and football—is now regaining its rightful place in the tribal sporting landscape. A Kati Premier League was held on March 29, 2025 to support this cause and spread the message of cultural preservation through sports.

Samvaad Fellowship – A journey of promotion, preservation of tribal heritage

Samvaad Fellowship, one of the many elements of Samvaad is another crucial enabler of promotion and preservation of tribal heritage, where candidates from different corners of the country submit their proposal for a research-based documentation, which then undergoes several rounds of Jury inspection. This process has emerged to become a major tool of preserving tribal heritage through literary works that not only deep-dive into traditions, but also populate the intricate and diverse culture.

As part of Samvaad 2024 cohort, the Fellowship Alumni launched five books on tribal heritage. The five books revolve around Mundari folksongs, food culture of Koya tribe, traditional kitchen, and ethnic food of Ladakh, Sumi folksongs, a video journal on Assamese communities. Inakali Assumi, Samvaad Fellow 2022 launched her book Sumi Apu Asu Le, a book on ten pivotal Sumi folksongs from Nagaland. Rashida Kousar, Samvaad Fellow 2022, from Kalikhan family of Yurthung launched her book on the traditional kitchen practises and recipes of Ladakh, that is almost on the brink of extinction.

Music – the cultural anchor in tribal community

Tata Steel Foundation has been steadily working to revive and propagate tribal music steadily alongside language, research and sports. The effort culminated into the creation of Rhythms of the Earth, the seeds of which were sown in 2009, where the journey to revive and save the fading tunes and beats came into existence. Since then, it grew and finally made its debut at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, in 2013 by collaborating with Indian Ocean. In 2018, Rhythms of the Earth brought 53 artists from 12 different tribes and five states who performed at the National Centre of Performing Arts, Mumbai, in February. The same year witnessed a music collaboration with Mr Bickram Ghosh and Mr Purbayan Chatterjee, bringing alive a musical fusion of tribal and non-tribal culture.

In 2019, the collective performed with Swarathma, coming together with the fusion of Western Music and its journey for Music and songs’ quests. The journey continued at 2020 and 2021 despite COVID exigencies to chart the journey forward and work towards a space where each musician came together to create 12 pieces of work that promised to establish Rhythms as a tested name in the domain of tribal music. Through 2023-2025, there have been two cohorts of tribal music practitioners across India who have converged on the Samvaad platform. Besides Swarathma, they have been honed by Da Shugs of Ladakh and have been successful in releasing two albums comprising original soundtracks composed in-house.

The endeavour to Tata Steel Foundation therefore believes and continually works at co-strengthening tribal communities by enhancing dignity of their identity with its elements.