Jamshedpur, Nov 16: Samvaad, a one-of-its-kind platform for tribal identity marked its beginning on November 15 at Gopal Maidan, Jamshedpur and is ongoing across five locations in Jamshedpur – Tata Steel Foundation Community Centre (RD Bhatta), Jamshedpur Nature Trail, Tribal Culture Centre, Gopal Maidan and Johar Haat.
The second day began with 10tak – tracing the journey of people through the hard knocks and their stories of change. Cohorts from previous years of Tribal Leadership Programme – an initiative enabled by Tata Steel Foundation – joined the akhra session to revel in their inspiring journey to highlight the realities of the tribes of India. An intriguing session on handicrafts, art, and culture, titled ‘Mural of the Story’ was happening simultaneously at the Jamshedpur Nature Trail, moderated by the Gender and Community Enterprise team of Tata Steel Foundation. Artisans from different tribes and states of India gathered for the session, adding their perspective, learnings, and knowledge.
Sourav Roy, Chief Executive Officer, Tata Steel Foundation, shared his thoughts on Samvaad 2023 and said, “Our theme for this year, Walk with Me, has been aligned to the journey of Samvaad which brings together thousands of people from across India. Throughout the year we engage with the tribes through our initiatives to converge on dialogues that set the tone for Samvaad each year. Many new ideas and innovations emerge from these conversations moderated by experts from respective fields and changemakers from across the country. Celebration of culture also forms an integral part of Samvaad which not only generates livelihood or income for tribal artisans, but also allows people to appreciate their unique rituals.”
At the Tribal Culture Centre, Sonari, conversations revolved around the cultural landscape of India and the ways to safeguard this legacy of tribal wisdom and way of life. The afternoon sessions involved tribal filmmakers to understand the nuances of their filmmaking journey. Participants of Samuday Ke Saath (SKS) National Short Film competition, part of Samvaad, come to share their films and creativity. The top 3 tribal filmmakers, who participated in the SKS Short Film Competition will also be announced during the 5-day conclave.
The evening from the second day saw the tribes of Gujarat, Nagaland, Chhattisgarh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Jharkhand. The Muria Gond tribe from Chhattisgarh performed Kaksad dance which they do in honour of the divine powers. The Apatani group from Arunachal Pradesh enthralled the audience with their chorus ‘Ho, Ho’, as they do in praise of their yearly harvest and fodder. The Dangi Bhil tribe from Gujarat showed their folk-dance form to a captivating audience.