International Day of Indigenous people

Every year, August 9, is celebrated as the International Day of Indigenous people in various parts of the world to recognise the immense contribution done by their ancestors in enriching the cultural and social aspects of our society and the role played by them in protecting and developing the land for the agricultural and horticultural crops since the hoary past.

Poverty, illiteracy, discrimination, financial instability and inequalities have been responsible for causing numerous hurdles in their path of development for the long period and due to this, they became repeatedly victims. In the United States of America, once the native Americans were attached to their land, culture and languages However, today they and their culture along with languages have been threatened. That is why,by celebrating the International Day of Indigenous people, it is the bounden duty of the Americans to recognise and respect them. Celebrating the invaluable contribution and respecting the sovereignty of the Natives, Americans are doing ideal work.

In the small state of Goa, one can experience the wonderful diversity of human culture, as this land has been connected from the ages to a wide range of communities coming from the Indian subcontinent and the world over for trade, commerce and business activities as well as understanding the land and culture.

Known as the Konkan kashi , during the ancient period and the Rome of the East under Portuguese rule, the natural beauty of the land of Goa always mesmerized the people coming from the distant regions.

Though several attempts had been made by the erstwhile Portuguese government to destroy the indigenious culture and traditions, it did not gain success in uprooting them. On December 19, 1961, the government of India through the Vijay operation liberated the Goans from the yoke of the oppressive Portuguese rule. After liberation for the long period Goa, Daman and Diu remained as the Union Territories and in 1987, Goa attained statehood. However, to recognise the indigenous people of the land, meagre efforts were made by the successive governments that came to power.

Under the banner of GAKUVEDH organisation, the indigenous people of land began the movement for their recognition as the scheduled tribes of Goa. Gauda, Kunbi, Velip and Dhangar communities by joining their hands together spearheaded the struggle.

On July 21, 1995, then MLA, Antonio D. Gaunkar, moved a private members resolution, recommending the government of Goa, to urge the central government to declare Gauda, Kunbi, Dhangar and Velip communities as the Scheduled tribes of Goa. Subsequently, the said resolution was passed in 2003. However, the Gauda, Kunbi and Velip were notified as the Scheduled tribes of Goa, excluding the Dhangar.

Since the hoary past, Goa's forest and sea biodiversity has provided an ideal home for the tribal communities, where vegetation shows variation from the tropical evergreen to mixed deciduous forest. Due to this, Goa has been providing an ideal environment for agriculture and pastoralism that has helped tribes to live happy lives.

The social organisation of the tribes in Goa constitutes distinct, endogamous groups in which the kinship was important and were politically functional as the autonomous units. They have their own general for settling the disputes. They are basically the nature worshippers; their deities are aniconic, represented by stones, ant hills, trees and other forces of nature.

Worshipping various natural entities has been given importance inside the forests, on hills by them since ages. Traditionally, they have been worshipping Mallikarjun, Somnath, Ramnath, Chandreshwar, Sateri, Kamakshi, Betal, Ravalnath… and varied forms of the folk deities associated with water, soil and forest.

For the male tribal folk, Shigmo is the most popular festival wherein a variety of folk dances along with folk songs are performed to the tune of the folk musical instruments. The rich tradition of the folk dramas like Gauda Jagor, Ranmale showcases the socio-ecological and cultural heritage inherited from the generations. The women expresses their skills of dance, drama, singing through the eco-feminist festivals of Dhalo, Katyo and Dhillo.

During the past, these communities were predominantly involved in agriculture and horticulture that relied on the vagaries of nature and that's why,they are expressing gratitude to the elements of nature through the festivals and rituals.

As they are generally characterised by long narrow head, broad nose, medium long face, short height and dark complexion, they are said to belong to the Proto-Australoid race and had migrated from Chota Nagpur region of the Central India. The technical skills inherited by them of domesticating animals, growing cereals and planting crops by digging soil with tools and implements helped to enrich the agro-horticultural heritage of the land.

They through observation developed the engineering skills by which they reclaimed the coastal and riverine land and successfully built bandhs to control the saline water. Through experiences developed the salt tolerant varieties of paddy, their staple diet of fish, curry and rice along with seasonal fruits and vegetables provided nutritional supplements. For smooth functioning of the village administration, they laid the foundation of Gavpon, where the man with immense traditional wisdom was designated as the Budhvont, a person having religious as well as cultural knowledge became the Velip and Jalmi. Gaonkar enjoyed the status among the village elders.

During Portuguese rule, the tribal communities were forced to convert to the Catholic religion, who are known as the Catholic Gaude. On 23 February, 1928, many Catholic Gaude under the shuddhi movement launched by vinayak Maharaj Masurkar were taken into Hinduism, who developed into an endogamous community known as the Nav-Hindu Gaude.

In 1962, Gomantak Gaud Maratha Samaj organisation was established to assert their rights and identity. In 1968, Goa Land Revenue Code was enforced, but very few could get possession over agricultural land that they were cultivating for generations.

In 1980, the united efforts were made by the federation of Gauda, Kunbi, Velip and Dhangar and eventually Gauda, Kunbi and Velip were included in the list of the Other Backward Communities in 1987. In 2003, the Central Government included Gauda, Kunbi and Velip in the list of the Scheduled tribes.The Scheduled tribes and other traditional forest dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Amendment Rules, 2013 were introduced.

However, to enhance the social, economic, political conditions of the tribals sincere efforts are needed in Goa. Through their age -old practices, they are displaying the socio-cultural heritage deeply rooted in environmental ethics. The Sluice gates installed by them once restrained successfully the saline water. The erection of the bunds protected the Khazan agriculture land and provided foods to innumerable families. Tradition of Mange thapani, a festival of worshipping the effigies of crocodile and the inheritance of community conserved areas like the sacred groves, sacred tanks, sacred trees throw light on the linkages of them with the environment, wildlife and ecology and how, they were concerned about the protection and conservation of the natural resources by making the sustainable use.

The Dhangar community of Goa, though they display tribal traits and are earning their bread and butter through the rearing of buffalo and goat, their movement, so far has not gained success to accord them the tribal status.

Hardly few enjoy the possession over the cultivable lands for doing the agricultural and horticultural crops. Various hurdles are continuously affecting the crop productivity. Sources of livelihood are not satisfactory enough to meet their basic needs. The mining activities are also responsible for destruction and degradation of the fertile land.

August 9, is celebrated as the World Indigenous People Day to recognise and safeguard the rights of them. In Goa, there is a need to take necessary steps for protecting the eco-cultural heritage and providing impetus for encouragement of their skills and talents.

Their tangible and intangible cultural assets engrossed in traditions, customs display the intimate and lasting relationship with the surrounding nature. When appropriate forum and boost up is given for expressing the artisans and artists talents, Goa,s aboriginal culture and heritage will certainly be able to show the potentiality. Identifying and acknowledging the native land and honouring their socio-cultural contribution will enable them to get happiness.

The Christian Gaude women continued even after several years of conversion in villages of Quepem the tradition of Dhalo whereas the men folk through the Intruz performed the folk dances reciting songs inspired by the epic Mahabharata.