\Samvad

Vaishakha Shukla 11 Vik. Samvat 2080, Yugabda 5125 : 1 May, 2023:SM 5003 (For Private Circulation only)


1. FESTIVALS: BUDDHA JAYANTI

2. PROGRAMS OF SARASANGHACHALAK DR. MOHAN BHAGWAT

3. OPERATION KAVERI LAUNCHED IN SUDAN

4. GLOBAL BUDDHIST SUMMIT CONCLUDED

5. ARSP CONFERENCE ON CIVILIZATIONAL AND CULTURAL CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN NEPAL AND BHARAT

6. NEW ZEALAND SANGH SHIKSHA VARG

7. AUSTRALIA SANGH SHIKSHA VARG

8. HSS DENMARK :HOLI UTSAV

9. HSS SCHAUMBURG AWARDED ‘VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR AWARD’

10. SEWA SNEHA MILAN HELD IN PACIFIC SOUTHWEST

11. CELEBRATING HINDU CULTURE IN NEIGHBORHOOD

12. ‘WILDCAT HINDU EXPERIENCE’ AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

13. BHARATIYA AMERICANS OPPOSE PROPOSED CALIFORNIA CASTE BILL SB 403

14. HINDUPHOBIA IN UK SCHOOLS

15. CANADIAN MP CONDEMNS GROWING HINDUPHOBIA

16. THOUSANDS ATTEND HINDU MANDIR'S RESTORATION CEREMONY IN AUSTRALIA

17. PENNSYLVANIA DECLARES HINDU FESTIVAL OF DIWALI AS OFFICIAL HOLIDAY 18. HINDU COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA PARTICIPATED IN ANU RELIGIOUS CONFERENCE

19. ISRO'S PSLV-C55 SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED SINGAPOREAN SATELLITES

20. OBITUARY : TAREK FATAH

21. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Article: “SWABHIMAN”-THE PRIME COMMUNITY CHARACTER OF TRIBES


1. FESTIVALS: BUDDHA JAYANTI: Buddha Jayanti or Vesak (May 5 this year) marks the birth of Gautama Buddha and is celebrated with great fervour in Bharat, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet and numerous other South East Asian countries including Thailand, Tibet, China, Korea, Laos, Vietnam, Mongolia, Cambodia and Indonesia.

Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, was born in Lumbini as Prince Siddhartha Gautama on the Purnima Tithi of Vaisakh month in 563 BCE. In Theravada Buddhism, this day is also observed as the day when Buddha attained Nirvana under the Mahabodhi tree at Bodh Gaya. Devotees of Buddha visit mandirs, light candles and incense sticks, pray and offer sweets and fruits before the statue of Bhagwan Buddha. Many followers also free caged birds on this day as a symbol of empathy and compassion for all living beings. In Bharat, a large fair takes place in Sarnath, a major Buddhist pilgrimage site where Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment.  -GoTop


2. PROGRAMS OF SARASANGHACHALAK DR. MOHAN BHAGWAT: On April 25, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarasanghachalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat said that society needs to be more benevolent for the poor in their surroundings. He was speaking on the occasion of Kritagyata function organised by Shree Siddhivinayak Seva Trust, Nagpur, to mark the fifth foundation year of starting of Deendayal Thali which serves the needs of patients and their relatives who are often at loss in new places.

While addressing a programme organised on second commemoration day of Jagatguru Swami Shyamdevacharya at Shrinarsingh Mandir premises on April 18, Dr Bhagwat said that Sanatan Dharma is the essence of Hindu culture and foundation of Hindu nation. He also said that Hindu Sanatan Dharma promotes universal welfare, allowing people of different sects to live in harmony while considering their own religion as safe within the Sanatan culture.
On April 16, Dr. Bhagwat addressed the Dharma Sanskriti Sabha in Madhya Pradesh's Burhanpur and said that Bharat will become 'vishwaguru' by following the path of Dharma - the feeling of welfare of the whole world. The Dharma Sanskriti Sabha was organized by Peethadhishwar Swami Jitendra Nath of the Nath Peeth located in Amravati, Maharashtra. Earlier in the day, he visited the Gurudwara Badi Sangat Sahib Burhanpur and discussed with the President of Gurudwara Prabandhan committee about the history of Gurudwara Sahib and sacrifice of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib.
Speaking at the Samaj Sangam Shakti program in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad on April 14, Dr. Bhagwat said that the two speeches of Babasaheb Ambedkar while unveiling the Constitution are a guide for us to make ourselves qualified for independence. He added that there is provision for political and economic independence in the Constitution, but without societal equality, the political and economic independence won’t come into effect.
On April 27, Dr. Bhagwat inaugurated the 710-bed National Cancer Institute in Nagpur.
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3. OPERATION KAVERI LAUNCHED IN SUDAN: Bharat has launched ‘Operation Kaveri’ with the aim of repatriating all the citizens who have been stranded in Sudan due to the ongoing conflict.
On April 28, Minister of State, Ministry of External Affairs, V Muraleedharan who is stationed at Jeddah to supervise ‘Operation Kaveri’ informed that so far, 2,100 Bharatiyas have arrived in Jeddah. The total number of Bharatiyas brought back home now stands at 1,360, according to official data.

Earlier, the Navy’s INS Sumedha evacuated 278 Bharatiyas from Port Sudan. This was followed by the evacuation of 121 and 135 passengers on two sorties of the IAF’s C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. 297 Bharatiyas also sailed out on INS Teg.
Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said that there are approximately 3,500 Bharatiya nationals and 1,000 people of Bharatiya origin in Sudan, concentrated in pockets of Khartoum city with presence in other cities. Committed to ensuring that no Bharatiya national is left behind in Sudan, Bharat has deployed military planes and warships in the war-torn country.
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4. GLOBAL BUDDHIST SUMMIT CONCLUDED: The ‘Global Buddhist Summit 2023’ – a two day congregation - concluded on April 21 in New Delhi. Hosted by the International Buddhist Confederation in collaboration with the Bharatiya Ministry of Culture, the event saw participation of delegates from around 30 countries, including major Buddhist countries like Taiwan, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Mongolia. Those in attendance included monks, scholars, nuns and heads of Buddhist organisations.

The aim behind the ‘Global Buddhist Summit’ was to internalize universal values, find ways to work together in a harmonious manner and offer a sustainable model for the future of the world. The summit was inaugurated by Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi and concluded on a positive note that peace is the foundation for human happiness and well-being. The theme of the summit was ‘Responses to Contemporary Challenges: Philosophy to Praxis’.
On April 21, His Holiness Dalai Lama spoke about how studying Buddhist philosophies and imbibing values have given him the courage to face Tibet’s struggle and its current situation.
The Summit passed the New Delhi Declaration which called upon called upon all nations, organisations and individuals to work towards creating a world free from conflict, violence and war.
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5. ARSP CONFERENCE ON CIVILIZATIONAL AND CULTURAL CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN NEPAL AND BHARAT: A three-day international conference on civilizational and cultural connectivity between Nepal and Bharat - ‘Manaskhand: Inevitability of Integrity for Internalizing Civilizational and Cultural Connectivity between Nepal and India’ - was held from April 15-17 in Dhangadhi, Nepal.

The event organised by Antar Rashtriya Sahyog Parishad (ARSP) and Nepal Bharat Sahyog Manch saw the participation of academicians and experts from both countries. The conference was hosted by the Far Western University of Nepal in knowledge partnership with S.S Jina University Almora (Uttarakhand), Kumaon University, Rishihood University Sonipat (Haryana) and Mahakali Sahitya Sangam Nepal.
The event consisted of a full-day academic session and brainstorming discussion between bureaucrats, diplomats and leaders of both countries on internalising and conceptualizing the ‘Manaskhand’ as a pilgrimage corridor to strengthen cultural ties between Sudurpaschim province of Nepal and the Kumaoni region of Uttarakhand.
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6. NEW ZEALAND SANGH SHIKSHA VARG: Sangh Shiksha Varg of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh HSS New Zealand was held from April 7-15 at Brookfield Outdoor Education Centre, Wainuiomata, Wellington. 57 shiksharthis from 8 cities across New Zealand (Auckland, Hamilton, Napier – Hastings, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin) participated in the Prathamik, Pravesh and Praveen vargs.

The theme of the varg was ‘Arise Arjun’. Karyakartas of Wellington Nagar worked round the clock to ensure things were running smoothly. In a special event, fourteen families from Wellington participated in Matru Bhojan. -GoTop


7. AUSTRALIA SANGH SHIKSHA VARG: From April 8-16, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh HSS Australia successfully conducted its national Sangh Shiksha Varg in Perth, Western Australia, in the land of the native Whadjuk people.
Varg karyavah Suresh Limbani reported that 154 shiksharthis from 6 vibhags of Australia participated and completed the varg. Of these 73 were in Prathamik varg, 68 in Pravesh and 13 participated in the Praveen varg. 42 shikshaks and prabandhaks were also present full time to ensure the success of the vargs. Arrangements were also made to take care of 27 baals whose parents were participating in the vargs.

The varg concluded with a public function on April 16. Dr. Jagadish Krishnan, MLA, Riverton, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance, Commerce & Women’s Interests, presided over the function. After witnessing an inspiring demonstration by the shiksharthis of the shareerik skills they learned at the vargs, he mentioned in his speech that imparting sanskars to develop mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually fit good global citizens is one of the noblest works. He attested that the effect is visible and felt by the Australian community by the tremendous contributions of the Bharatiya diaspora to the country of their karma - Australia.
While addressing the samarop function, Zonal Sampark Pramukh Vasu Ramyavaran mentioned that swayamsevaks and sevikas are the ambassadors of Bharatiya inspired Sanatana Dharma. They are role-models with impeccable character and selfless contribution towards vishwa-shanti by practicing vishwa-dharma and instilling it in our next generation. He emphasised that shakha is a simple yet profound fountain-head school where we perennially draw our inspiration, sanskaras, motivation, knowledge and fitness on physical as well as intellectual planes.
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8. HSS DENMARK :HOLI UTSAV: Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh HSS Denmark, along with Friends of India in Denmark (FIIDA), celebrated Holi festival on April 23. The event was planned in active collaboration with Bharatiya Embassy and Ambassador Pooja Kapur. Around 1000 guests of several nationalities participated in the celebrations. They included Permanent Secretary of State in the Danish Prime Minister’s Office Barbara Bertelsen, Ambassador of Bharat Pooja Kapur, Ambassador of Nepal Prof. Dr. Ram Swarth Ray, Ambassador of Bangladesh A.K.M. Shahidul Karim and Director of Danish Cultural Institute Bente Wolff.

The event started with auspicious mantra chanting and lamp lighting ceremony followed by Chief Guests speeches, cultural programs and playing with organic colours. -GoTop

 
9. HSS SCHAUMBURG AWARDED ‘VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR AWARD’: Schaumburg Chapter of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh HSS USA was named ‘Volunteer Organization of the Year’ from among five nominees. For the past 24 years, the chapter’s volunteers have been meeting at the Schaumburg Park District’s Community Recreation Center to plan their work in the village and surrounding communities.

Among its recent achievements, the HSS chapter helped with Schaumburg Township’s vaccination drive, collected and donated 3,400 pounds of food to the township food pantry, volunteered to package meals at ‘Feed My Starving Children’ in Schaumburg, assisted with the village’s Adopt-A-Highway program, and a number of other charitable events.
Schaumburg Mayor Tom Dailly and other village officials were present during the occasion. “Thank you to all the volunteers who keep Schaumburg working,” Dailly told all the winners and nominees.
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10. SEWA SNEHA MILAN HELD IN PACIFIC SOUTHWEST: Pacific Southwest Sambhag of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh HSS USA organised its first Sewa Sneha Milan on April 2 at Gayatri Chetna Mandir, Anahiem. 13 organisations participated in the event. Dr Amrit Nehru of Kashmir Hindu Foundation, HSS National Sanghachalak Dr Vinod Ambhastha and other dignitaries inaugurated the event by lighting the lamp. All the organisations showcased their activities and the event was concluded with a geet on Sewa.
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11. CELEBRATING HINDU CULTURE IN NEIGHBORHOOD: A private event called ‘Celebrating Hindu Culture in My Neighborhood with Non-Indian Neighbors’ event was held at the Enclave Club House in Edison, New Jersey with the aim to bring Darshana exhibition to a wider audience with minimal effort.

A main focus for promoting the exhibition was on Gruha Sampark, which involved distributing invitations door-to-door within the community. Many non-Bharatiya residents responded positively to the personal and direct approach with some even offering to volunteer during the exhibition. 18 families from the community attended the exhibition. A few shakha karyakartas from neighboring communities were present during the exhibition to guide and clarify any questions on the exhibits.  -GoTop


12. ‘WILDCAT HINDU EXPERIENCE’ AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY: Hindu YUVA and OM at Northwestern University came together to host the ‘Wildcat Hindu Experience’, an event planned to provide a safe space for Hindu students to share their experiences on campus. The event was sponsored by the Religious and Spiritual Life Office at Northwestern and supported by Northwestern Seva and Hillel, the Sikh and Jewish student organizations respectively. Amar Shah, the Hindu Chaplain, Tahera Ahmad - the Associate University Chaplain, and the Director of Interfaith Engagement at Northwestern addressed the gathering of 35 attendees on April 13.

Through events like the ‘Wildcat Hindu Experience’, Hindu YUVA engages with interfaith community while advocating for the safety of and freedom for all Hindu students on campus. -GoTop

 
13. BHARATIYA AMERICANS OPPOSE PROPOSED CALIFORNIA CASTE BILL SB 403: Major Hindu and Bharatiya businesses and mandirs have united to issue a statement to oppose the proposed California Caste Bill SB 403. The bill, introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab, seeks to amend the anti-discrimination policy under the Unruh Civil Rights Act by adding caste as a protected category.
The signatories to this statement include Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) with 20,000 members, Asian American Store Owners Association (AASOA) representing over 8300 store owners, Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference (HMEC) - an umbrella organisation of Hindu mandirs with the participation of 600 mandirs in its conferences, Hindu Business Network (HBN), and, Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective (HinduPACT).

The statement said that the bill based on unsubstantiated data and an unproven court case perpetuates colonial narrative of caste using a convoluted and broad definition and it would lead to harassment, discrimination, bullying and violence against Hindus. The signatories of this statement believed that the existing laws in California are sufficient to address any instance of discrimination if they arise and urged the Senate Judiciary Committee California legislature to reject SB 403.  -GoTop


14. HINDUPHOBIA IN UK SCHOOLS: According to a London-based think tank, Hinduphobia is propelled by Muslim students in the United Kingdom against Hindu pupils in the classroom by bullying and racially discriminating. As per the report by The Telegraph, Muslim pupils call Hindu students ‘kafirs’ and threaten them for being non-believers to pressure them repeatedly to convert to Islam.
A research fellow named Charlotte Littlewood conducted this study by surveying more than 1000 British schools and speaking with 988 Hindu parents. The report was published on April 19 by the Henery Jackson Society. The think tank said that amplifying misconceptions about the worship of deities and inappropriate references to the caste system in religious education “fostered discrimination” and Hinduphobia towards Hindus, which students felt made “a mockery of them”.
While talking to The Telegraph, Conservative Party MP Ben Everitt said that the findings shed light on the varying themes and forms in which anti-Hindu discrimination materialises in the classroom. He also recognised the problematic way Hinduism was being taught in UK schools and emphasized that to reduce discrimination against those of minority faiths in schools, we need to make sure that young people are receiving the best possible education about the many faiths which are woven into the fabric of the diverse United Kingdom.
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15. CANADIAN MP CONDEMNS GROWING HINDUPHOBIA: The leader of Canada’s principal opposition Conservative Party, Pierre Poilievre, has condemned the growing incidences of Hinduphobia in the nation. Poilievre is the first leader of a major Federal party in Canada to address the phenomenon. In an interview with the local network, Prime Asia, he said, “We have to stop Hinduphobia and nasty comments that are made about Hindus and the vandalism and other violence targeting Hindu Canadians. This is totally unacceptable.”
He also called for bolstering the security of places of worship with matching government funds for guards and cameras and other protections against religious violence.

Since July last year, there have been at least five incidents of desecration of Hindu mandirs in Canada. Speaking in the House of Commons in January, Liberal Party MP Chandra Arya had asked Canadian authorities to “take serious note of this alarming trend and respond appropriately”. -GoTop


16. THOUSANDS ATTEND HINDU MANDIR'S RESTORATION CEREMONY IN AUSTRALIA: ABC News reported that on April 12, more than 20,000 Hindus, including 15 priests and visitors from Singapore, Malaysia and Mauritius attended a traditional ceremony held to celebrate the restoration of the Sri Venkateswara Mandir in Helensburgh, a small suburb on the outskirts of Sydney. The consecration ceremony, ‘Kumbhabhishekam’, is believed to bring prosperity to the entire community.

During the event, sacred fires were lit, and priests climbed to the mandir's roof, where holy water was poured into golden pots.
"The significance of that is purifying not only the mandir and deities but also the devotees who are watching the ceremony," mandir director Subra Iyer was quoted as saying.
The construction and repair of the dozens of stone deities in the mandir were done by 10 specialist masons and painters brought from Bharat. Hundreds of volunteers also spent their weekends working on the mandir alongside local contractors, the report said.
The mandir, one of the largest of its kind outside Bharat, had started renovations in June last year.
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17. PENNSYLVANIA DECLARES HINDU FESTIVAL OF DIWALI AS OFFICIAL HOLIDAY: The state House in Pennsylvania has passed a bill recognizing the Hindu festival of Diwali as an official holiday, a US Senator from the Northeastern state said on April 26. The senate voted unanimously to recognise Diwali as a official holiday.
State Senator Greg Rothman and Senator Nikil Saval introduced a legislation to make Diwali an official state holiday in Pennsylvania in February this year, My Twin Tiers reported. 

Nearly 200,000 South Asian residents reside in Pennsylvania, many of whom participate in Diwali as a time of reflection and gathering. 
“Thousands of Pennsylvanians celebrate Diwali each year, including many residents of the 34th Senatorial District,” Rothman said, adding, “Recognizing Diwali as an official state holiday upholds and celebrates our Commonwealth’s rich cultural diversity.” 
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18. HINDU COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA PARTICIPATED IN ANU RELIGIOUS CONFERENCE: Australian National University had organized a three day conference on “Religion in Modern Education : Conflict, Policy and Practice” on April 13-15 in its campus in Canberra. The conference invited scholars to consider the immediate and enduring impacts that the value, consideration, accessibility, and format of religious education may have on religious practices, on public spheres of activity, and on the relationship between religion and society.

A parallel session held on “Politics and Religious Education” chaired by Rosita Soryte from European Federation for Freedon of Belief included a panel exploring actual case studies. Surinder Jain from Hindu Council of Australia and Darren Bark from NSW Jewish Board of Deputies participated in the panel discussion. Surinder Jain presented two case studies. First was about the acceptance of a religious article (a nose stud) wherein the Hindu community and a school had to fight it out in the media. The matter was resolved, but the process was inefficient and painful for everyone involved.
Surinder also presented the case study about creating a new law to ban Nazi hate symbols but exempt Sacred Swastika used as a religious icon. The second case study illustrated how even the most difficult issues can be solved through mutual trust with best possible outcome for everyone involved.
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19. ISRO'S PSLV-C55 SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED SINGAPOREAN SATELLITES: On April 22, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched two customer satellites in a textbook launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles. The 228-ton PSLV, on its 57th flight, lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space in Sriharikota into an eastward low inclination orbit.

The two satellites belonged to Singapore and had a combined weight of 757 kilograms. This was a dedicated commercial mission through NewSpace India Limited which is the commercial arm of ISRO. ISRO Chief S Somanath said that the PSLV placed both satellites into the intended orbit. -GoTop


20. OBITUARY : TAREK FATAH: Pakistani-Canadian journalist Tarek Fatah (73 years) breathed his last on April 21 after a prolonged illness. Born on November 20, 1949 in Karachi, Pakistan, Fatah moved to Canada in 1987 and became a vocal advocate for secularism, human rights, and freedom of speech.

He was a prominent voice in the world of journalism and commentary. He wrote several books including “Chasing a Mirage: The Tragic Illusion of an Islamic State” and “The Jew is Not My Enemy: Unveiling the Myths that Fuel Muslim Anti-Semitism.”
In a condolence message, RSS Sarakaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale said that Tarek Fatah was an eminent thinker, author and commentator and his significant contributions to the media and the literary world will be greatly remembered. He added that Fatah remained committed to his principles and beliefs throughout his life and was respected for his courage and conviction.
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21. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Visitors: Biren and Poorvi Soni - Canada.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them? - Gautama Buddha
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JAI SHRI RAM

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“SWABHIMAN”-THE PRIME COMMUNITY CHARACTER OF TRIBES
The British and Turkic invaders targeted indigenous tribal communities of India as they were insistent on protecting their rights. Their basic character was Swabhiman (pride) -- Adv. Shine P Sasidhar

Normally, all communities have their characters, similar to certain business communities of India. Similarly, Tribal communities have their unique community characters. These tribal community characters encompass some community rights apart from the usual individual rights.

Defining community is a group of people sharing certain common attributes that strengthen their bonding. The common characteristics to define a community are community behaviour, belief system, value system, moral qualities, thoughts, community leadership and gathering pace, the distinct identity of the place of natural habitat and perception of communities.
Tribal communities are having certain unique characters distinct from others, and these characters, by and large, are universal and more specific to Indian groups. Depending on the geographical habitat, some groups prefer to stay deep inside the forest. Few are in the buffer zones of the forest and certainly some groups do not stay permanently in one palace like gipsies. Normally they do not intermingle with other communities and try to avoid the urban community. Tribes staying in deep forests will generally tend to be introvert in their basic nature.
At the same time, it is important to note that as a community they were self-reliant on their traditional way of life. Their dependency was restricted to the community only. Irrespective of these, the most important characteristics of a tribal community are their pride and honour. This character is applicable to both an individual and a community. They have always liked to live with pride in their area, never allowed others to rule them with any law and protecting the homeland (forest and its resources) while giving their lives was a prime goal. For example, great tribal leaders and martyrs like Talakkal Chandu of Vaynad, Kerala, Bhagwan Birsa Munda of Central India, Natram Negi of Northern part of India, U Titrot Singh of Kasi (North East) fought against British and Turkic invaders to protect their rights. Tribals were treated as criminals by British due to their proud feelings and their non-compromising characters. Even Samrat Ashoka conquered Kalinga and was the Samrat of Bharat and the Indian Ocean.
However, the Rock Edict XIII of Samrat reads that tribes of those times, called “Atavik “ or “Attavikas”, did not agree to his ruling in tribal areas and tested his patience. All the available history since BCE pointed out that the basic character of the tribal community is pride (Swabhiman) with the tribal majority, especially in India.
Upholder of Values
Beggars are not seen in tribal areas, and tribes, especially North Eastern Scheduled States, reinforce this fact. The tribal communities have high values, morals and social values. Due to this, communities have high interdependency, but outside interference is less. Decision-making, gender parity, and respect to elders and leaders are strong characteristics of tribes. Parallels of traditional community support systems like “Halma” (Bheel community) are visible in tribal communities across India.
The community takes over and shares the individual’s or family’s difficulty or grief. It helps promote positive
thought in the community, and the mental health index of tribal communities is better than others. Nature andcommunity teach them “how to live happily”. This is the general perception and thought of tribal communities, while urban communities are still searching for it. Community gathering and collective decision on common issues (Sahayog) is another exclusive characteristic of the tribal community.
Relevance of Traditional Weapons
All tribal community groups have their traditional weapons. These weapons are depending on their character of food choices like agriculture, hunting and fighting. Archery is common to most communities; some use only archery, but others use unique weapons as their identity. Even the ones that use the sword have different designs in different communities. These weapons have a prestigious position in their lives, poojas and ceremonial events.
The usage of these traditional weapons (Shastras) is another uniqueness of tribal communities’ identification.
Swabhiman, Sahayog and Shastra are unique tribal characteristics. Tribal communities’ characters are developed and continued with their value system, which is rooted in their belief system and dependency on nature.
More studies are required on these topics by universities and other tribal research organisations apart from regular anthropological studies.
https://organiser.org/2023/04/04/167596/bharat/swabhiman-the-prime-community-character-of-tribes/
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