Jamshedpur, Dashmat Soren: World Tribal Day is dedicated to the tribals of the whole world. Every year on August 9, this day is celebrated with the aim of protecting the rights of the tribal population, respecting them and recognizing the specific challenges faced by them. The day was first declared by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in December 1994. According to the 2011 census, 8.6 percent of India’s population or 104 million people are tribals. People of tribal community live in more than 90 countries of the world.
The population of tribal community in the world is about 37 crores, in which there are about 5000 different tribal communities. Even today, due to many reasons like racism, apartheid, liberalization in the whole world, people of tribal community are struggling to save their existence and respect. Jharkhand About 28 percent of the total population of the state are people of tribal society. These include people of 32 tribal groups including Santal, Ho, Munda, Bhumij, Oraon, Birhor, Chero, Gond, Paharia. Many people have gathered for the development of the community and improving the standard of living of the people.
Bringing the lifestyle of tribals to the fore through film
Ravi Raj Murmu is an independent film producer. He is a resident of Galudih Kumirmudi village in East Singhbhum district. He has made many short films in regional languages of Jharkhand. Through films, we bring the stories of tribals’ lifestyle and struggle in front of the country and the world. He took a bachelor’s degree in journalism and completed further studies in film production (editing). He has studied at Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. He likes to write stories and listen to stories, tales, folk tales from different people.
He mainly writes stories based on real life, but he is also interested in writing stories based on folk tales. He has been continuously producing short films along with writing stories in regional language for the last 6-7 years. He did a great job for the Assamese film “Fool’s Game”. He currently works as an Associate Editor for OTT platforms like Netflix (Web Series: Trial by Fire) and Hotstar (Film: Good Luck Jerry and Web Series: Human).
Formed a film company named Dalma Motion Picture
Sanjay Tudu, a resident of Chandil Ghodanegi in Seraikela district, is a film producer, director as well as a good video editor. Not only this, he is a good story writer. He makes full length movies and short films focusing on the tribal community. He also has expertise in operating the camera for shooting. Sanjay edited Pushpendra Singh’s Ashwatthama, which premiered at the Busan International Film Festival 2017.
Sanjay’s edited short film ‘Days of Autumn’ won the Best Film Award at the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala 2016. Sanjay has received the Best Editor (Documentary) award at First Cut Film Festival 2019, Pune. Sanjay Tudu has worked in association with big TV channels. In recent times, he is engaged in making many documentaries. He has started a film production company named Dalma Motion Picture in Jamshedpur, in which he gives opportunities to local tribal talent.
Got recognition from short films ‘Sondhayani’ and ‘Rawah’
Tribal youth Seral Murmu, a resident of Musabani Pathorgoda in East Singhbhum district, is a tribal filmmaker, director and storyteller. He is a graduate from the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. All his films focus on tribal issues, struggle for identity, equality and injustice. His films are a means of giving strength to the tribal resistance taking place in different parts of India.
Ranchi was the center of tribal activists fighting for tribal rights and justice. He became a close associate in the activities, shaking hands with them and making documentaries to give voice to the often unheard. He has collaborated as cameraman and editor and made 8 documentaries and short fiction films. His short films Rawah and Sondhayani have been screened and awarded in film festivals nationally and internationally. He is currently making a documentary on the history of Santali cinema.
Made social media a medium for his songs
Vimla Tudu, a resident of Damudih in Potka Jaduguda region, is a tribal singer. These days she is very popular in social media. He has a good fan following. One will easily get to hear his songs on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms. Keeping pace with the times, he has made social media the only medium to reach out to the people. Vimla currently sings in tribal languages only.
Vimla Tudu has its own small group, which works from writing and recording songs to uploading them on social media. Vimla is a singer as well as a lyricist. She herself composes her songs. His own written songs have also created a lot of buzz on social media. They are not averse to the languages of other societies. Since from the early days, he feels comfortable in singing the traditional folk songs of his society.
Motivating farmers for organic farming diamond mardi
Generally women are considered exploited-victims and economically weak. This may be a big truth about rural women, but today many such women have emerged in rural areas, who have proved themselves. Heera Mardi, a resident of Cholagoda-Bulangoda of Parsudih area, is also one of them. She believes in working completely differently. Heera Mardi and her team are working to promote organic farming. She herself prepares organic fertilizers from weeds in her homes.
Not only this, she also does farming with organic fertilizers. She tells the residents of her village and nearby settlements about farming with organic manure. Encourages them to do organic farming. She says that her team has been engaged in this work for the last several years. By going to East Singhbhum, Seraikela and other districts, his team organizes workshops and informs the farmers about organic farming. Farmers are returning to the old method of agriculture due to getting higher prices for vegetables and grains grown using organic fertilizers.
Engaged in improving tribal living standards through drama
Dhanu Hansda, a resident of Rajnagar Dibadih of Seraikela-Kharsawan district, is rich in versatility. He is also making a different identity on the strength of his talent, dedication and strong will. Dhanu has mastered in theatrical art. He has shown his talent in national and international theater festivals. He works equally in tribal and Hindi theatre. Recently, his team participated in the national level drama festival organized in Aurangabad. In this, his team staged the Bol Pachasi Hindi play. At the same time staged Santali drama Jugi Tirio in Delhi and Assam.
Dhanu Hansda is a student of Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Jagannathpur Polytechnic College. Dhanu says that he got the details of theatrical art and acting from his elder father Jitrai Hansda. They say that everyone has some or the other talent. Knowing your talent and increasing your confidence level is necessary to live peacefully and move forward.
Creating literature for the purpose of bringing change
Yashoda Murmu, a resident of Chakulia Bardikanpur in East Singhbhum district, is a Santali writer. He has written more than 10 books. Apart from literary creation, she remains very active in social and cultural works. She is always worried about the upliftment and progress of Santal society. All his books inspire and encourage the people of the society to move forward. Motivates the people of the society through her writing and literature creation.
Yashoda Murmu has been a member of Doordarshan Kendra and All India Radio. At the same time, Sahitya Akademi has also contributed as an advisor in New Delhi. Presently Yashoda Murmu lives in Delhi. Recently, keeping in mind the World Tribal Day, he organized the Run for Indigenous People program with the aim of uniting the tribals. In which hundreds of tribal people living in Delhi had gathered. Many programs will be organized under his leadership on World Tribal Day as well.