Day saw more sessions on affirmative action, art, film and music
Jamshedpur, Nov17: Designed to facilitate an exchange of traditional and emerging conservation practices, the third day of the seventh edition of Samvaad saw a melange of conversations on digital platforms. Most critical amongst these was the discussion aimed at deepening an understanding of the constitutional laws for conservation of Land and Forest Rights. Several experts from the field came together to discuss ways in which the tribal communities have been using the natural resources optimally and presenting exemplary models of co-existence.
In another session, Indian and international healers, including Dr Bhushan Patwardhan, Professor G. Hariramamurthi, Dr. Unnikrishnan Payyappallimana and Dr. Sarin N S, came together to discuss ways to take tribal healing practices to a larger audience and creating a balance between modern and traditional medicinal practices.
At the Action Research Collective, researchers and academicians came together to various issues related to land and water. Padma Shri Simon Oraon, popularly known as the Waterman of Jharkhand, shared his experience of conservation of resources. Himanshu Kulkarni, Executive Director and Secretary, Advance Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (ACWADAM), Pune, shared about how one should look at action research keeping in mind data, research along with having an on ground connect.
As a part of film screening at Samuday ke Saath, Mr Chentai Khiamniungan’s “Strength in Diversity”, audience got an opportunity to interact with the filmmaker after the screening. His discussion on the film based on the agricultural practices of Nagaland gave deep insights into traditional agricultural practices and how knowledge has been passed to the younger generations. As many as 120 school students also joined the session and interacted with the panelists.
In another impressive show, artists from Changpa tribe from Ladakh performed the Jabdo dance, the Bhutia tribe from Sikkim expressed their appreciation towards nature by singing and dancing to the Tashi Shabdro Song. Rathwas from Gujarat, Malavettuvans from Kerala and Kinnauris from Himachal performed auspicious dances of their festivals and the Oraon tribe from West Bengal heralded rainfall through the Asari Ropa Angnai Dance. The evening also witnessed a blend of alt-folk-rock by the Featherheads band that attempted to inspire and resurrect the dying culture and traditions of Tangkhul Nagas, once followed by their ancestors.
At the artisans’ masterclass, Dinabandhu Soren and Renuka Bodra from Ho tribe, Odisha connected with us digitally to impart the basics of Gond and Saura paintings.
The Samvaad ecosystem has brought together more than 30,000 people from 117 tribes across 27 states of India and 18 countries in the last 6 years. The concept of regional Samvaad was initiated in 2016 with the objective of reaching out to more tribal communities in the hinterland and factor unheard voices therein.