on Bhuinyaari Khoonthkatti land. Opposition group
then visited the Aarogya Bhawan and gathered information about the case. When
the Adivasi Students Association raise the issue of returning the land some
opposition leaders issue statements in their support. But after that nothing
much has happened.
Once or twice editorials have been written on this
issue when the Aarogya Bhawan case had became hot. But otherwise these are not
subjects for editorials.
But it is the single most important issue for
adivasis. The issue of land and forest has been linked with their roots. In the
historical mutinies of two hundred years of armed struggle, the history has
been of traditional rights on land and forest. From the Pahadiya revolt
of 1766 to Tilka Manjhi, Santhaal Hool, Coal revolt (1855-56), Sardari
fight and the Birsa Ulgulaan (1895-1900). At the core of all of these,
there are accounts of adivasis being rounded up against the outside attack on
land and forest. In around 100 meetings held during the Birsa mutiny Dharti
Aaba Birsa Munda said, " our land is blowing away as the dust blows
away in the storm". Today even after a 100 years, this great hero-martyr¿s
statement seems relevant.
Contact:
Vasavi
Posted July 6, 2002