House of Tetya Nusa Koli and Its Environ
Aborigine-Adivasi
Culture is so rich that it should be understood as World Heritage and should be
preserved. For more than 10K years, or perhaps from unknown time, they have
been living in Harmony with Nature. But now in the hurricane of development on
western model it is doubtful how long will they last!
Here is a glimpses of one of the tribe in their house and habitat:
TEXT:
Aborigine House and Habitat
- House is living area. Habitat is open work area, mainly forest, wetlands and farming.
- In contrast the urbanite have mostly enclosed spaces /places for work, education, leisure... etc. in divisions.
- The fundamental cultural difference between Adivasi Community and Civilized Society is paramount. This is neither recognized nor understood by the State.
- The peasants in villages, too, have their homestead as workplace - farm, wetlands, pastures, forest... like Adivasis. They, however, belong to civilized society, divided by class and caste.
- It is vital for the State to understand this unique trait of Adivasi (aborigine) culture in its total governance and administration while dealing with Adivasi Habitat.
- Adivasi's Ancestral Right to their Habitat must be recognized as their Fundamental Right. This indeed must not be superseded by the civilized society.
- Bhills are one of the largest tribes in India.
- Tribal communities are small republics.
- Community is Cohesive Collective, where family is primary unit; hence, it is an Extended Family, where none suffers Identity Crisis.
- Among adivasi communities there is no Division of Labour, as in Civilized Societies.
- Every individual is representative of the Adivasi - aborigine - community.
- They acquire life-supporting skills by experiential learning, and receive their time-tested ancient wisdom from their families and the elders of the community, at early age.
- Community Participation works in every aspect of individual, family and community living such as, housing, farming, leisure, learning... etc.
- Adivasis make their own flute, bow and arrows, bead ornaments, and tools for household, fishing and farm utilities...
- There is no gender discrimination, no prostitution among Adivasis.
- Sustainable living means to take minimum necessary resources from Nature. It is living sanely in communion with Srishti - Mother Nature.
- Finally, adivasi could give authentic anthropological account of their tribe and community. The rest is civilized interpretation, or rather imagination!
- Land and Waters give sustenance to all the living beings and culture to humans. Hence Biodiversity brings Diversity of Cultures. There is no superior culture.
- Remarkable Communication System: within a couple of days a few thousand (Narmada Dam affected) tribal would gather, at Medha Patkar's call for public meeting on the day.
- Societies, Unions, Associations, Corporations... or civil societies are not Communities, or those floated on Internet in the wilderness of World-Wide-Web.
- Everyone in Adivasi - Aborigine - communities dance and sing at will. Why should they watch cinema-video at cost, price, value or worth of elusive time or money?
- Adivasis - aborigines - don't believe in 'Ownership of Land (Water)'. They build live fences to protect crops from animals.
- Concept of Ownership of Land by a person / group / State has no ethical or moral ground in the realms of Srishti - Mother Nature. Revenue Survey Nos. brought by the British Rule is an immoral act.
- Tribal house, when obsolete, goes back to earth, recycled, and some of its parts are reused. Nothing is wasted. This is Natural Way. Modern science and technology do not reach anywhere near.
Read MORE >> Bhill's Holi Festival in Satpura Ranges, India
TRIBAL HOUSING: BUDDHA AND THE ART AND SCIENCE OF KARVI HUT
NOTE:
1.These photos may seem familiar on this blog. However, they have many dimensions. More you look into the Way of Living of Adivasis more is revealed.
2. When my classmates, college mates, colleagues were going abroad to US, EU, OZ, Middle East… I was going into interiors in search of ROOTS, to aborigine hamlets in forests, to see the beginnings. I went with humility of a child; I was/am not a scholar but scholastic. It brought me transformation. They changed my life, way of living-working-thinking, initiated me to their faith, or whatever you may call, without any rites and rituals...
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©Remigius de Souza, all rights reserved.
