“As he saw the crowds, his heart was filled with pity for them, because they were worried and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Mt. 9:36) 42 years ago, a major dam called the Ukai dam was built, displacing over 150 Adivasi villages without proper compensation and rehabilitation. That dam was supposed to have had two main canals: The Left canal going beyond Surat city, and the Right canal irrigating 59 Adivasi villages. The Left canal is functioning, but not the Right one. The people believed that their leaders would see to it that it would, but nothing happened. Three years ago, some awakening was brought about among the people and a few Adivasi leaders took the initiative. They blocked the roads and forced the Government to give them a promise. That promise has not been kept. So they have taken the Government to the High Court of Gujarat to fulfil its promise. In a remote town called Songadh, 250 Adivasi men and women have been selling vegetables for many years. Now they are being pushed out by outsiders and harassed by different elements. They (the sons and daughters of the soil) have no place to sell their goods, reminding us of Jesus’ saying, “The Son of man has no place to lay his head”. The women took the initiative, went to different authorities but all in vain. Now they have taken the Municipal authorities to the High Court to redress their rights. Several such struggles are on by the people to gain their dignity and restore their unity and identity. Their ongoing struggle for getting their rights over forestlands is a good example of the rising level of awareness and growing Adivasi leadership. The celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day, the yearly Adivasi Cultural Festival at Songadh and the recently concluded Mass Weddings in which 29 couples of different Adivasi groups participated, ignoring their various sub groups, religious, political, geographical differences are all indications of the gradual transformation that is taking place. The Mass Weddings were a particular occasion for rejoicing, since in India (and maybe everywhere in the world), people spend a lot money on weddings. This does not bother the well-to-do, but what about the poor who cannot afford it? Deep down everyone would like his or her marriage to be celebrated in grand style, as indeed every parent would like perform their children’s weddings in grand style. But poverty is a very real issue and leads quite a few to elope and start living together. This causes problems for the community. Even of those who are married very few obtain legal registration of the marriage, and the couples and their children are then deprived of Government welfare schemes. The Mass wedding was planned keeping these things in mind. It served as a platform for many to have their weddings in style with no expense and allowed them to receive gifts from others. Their marriages also get legally registered and they are then eligible for benefits from government schemes. All these initiatives are helping to bring together all the Adivasis as one Community on one platform and to shout with confidence, joy and pride the slogan, “Jai Adivasi, Jago Adivasi” (Victory to the Adivasis, Awaken O Adivasis!). J. Stanny SJ (Jebamalai Stanislaus) SHAKTI-LAHRC (Legal Aid and Human Rights Centre) Songadh, Gujarat, India Read a news item about the mass wedding and see pictures here.
When I started my legal ministry among the Adivasis/Tribals/Indigenous Peoples in Gujarat, India, as part of the SHAKTI-LAHRC Jesuit human rights centre, I had a feeling somewhat similar to that of our Master when he said “They were like sheep without a shepherd”. In India the Adivasi population is 8%, in Gujarat 15% and in the area where I am working it is as high as 65 to 98%. The Adivasis have faced, and continue to face various challenges. Among these are a crisis over Adivasi identity, erosion of their culture, unity and dignity, loss of control over their natural resources, and violations of their Human Rights. One of the main causes is a lack of value-based Adivasi “shepherdship”, which could lead these people to green pastures! At this juncture, the hope was that “one day, their own people could lead themselves”. With this hope, we started using our legal ministry to foster Adivasi leadership. Today there are some signs that our effort is bearing fruits.
Couples waiting to get married