Seven awarded Samvaad Fellowship 2024 for preserving indigenous heritage

Jamshedpur, Nov 20: Tribal conclave Samvaad concluded on Tuesday. This year total of 316 tribal youth applied for the Samvaad fellowship, which provides scholarships to researchers and knowledge keepers of tribal heritage. 32 fellows representing 25 tribes and 13 states made the final cut, of which the top 18 candidates pitched their ideas on restoration of tribal culture and heritage to the jury, comprising seven distinguished members from various walks of life.

The jury members comprised Mahadev Toppo, tribal poet and researcher, Dr Sonam Wangchuk, Founder of Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation, Dr Meenakshi Munda, Anthropologist and Assistant Professor at Kolhan University, Dr Madan Meena, Director of Adivasi Academy, Seetha Kakoth, Head of Department, Rural and Tribal Sociology, University of Kannur, Oinam Doren, a National Award winner and Founder of Our Village Films, and Dr Parmanand Patel, state co-ordinator, SAMHATI cell.

The seven fellows who were granted the Samvaad Fellowship this year, after multiple rounds of pitching and workshops are – Auswyn Winter Japang, from Khasi tribe, Meghalaya who will document the vanishing clan narratives of Hynniew Trep, Eyenbeni Oduyu, from Lotha tribe of Nagaland, who will research on the importance and significance of Lotha Naga textiles, Arun Kumar TV from Mavilan Tribe of Kerala, who will document the rich heritage of the traditional festival of Theyyam, Nikay Besa from Konyak tribe in Nagaland will work towards documenting the indigenous household craft of Konyak Nagas, Sunder Mohan Murmu from Santhal tribe in Jharkhand hopes to create graphic novels or comic books in Ol Chiki script, Padma Lahmo from Bot tribe in Ladakh will document the tale of Bongskangchan in Siachen region of Ladakh including the significance of Losar celebrations, and Sonam Dechen from Bot tribe in Ladakh who will work towards preserving the endangered rituals and folklore of traditional farmers in Ladakh.