Dated - 28th Oct,2013

Spectacular cultural performances by various tribal groups marked the inauguration of the three-day International Tribal Festival that was hosted by the Central University of Jharkhand (CUJ) at Brambe today. The event popularly titled Tribal India Festival named “Akhra 2013” was inaugurated by vice chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi Tribal University (Rajasthan), IG T C Demor in presence of guest of honour Prof Zoja Karanovic, University of Novi, Serbia, vice chancellor of CUJ Prof Darlando T Khathing and other host of distinguished scholars from abroad and the country as well. So far 18 participants and resource persons from foreign countries comprising Thailand, Bhutan, Nepal, Taiwan, Malaysia, Serbia and Yemen have arrived here to take part in the festival and at least 500 participants from across the country are bracing to showcase respective rich tribal cultural and social life during the three-day programme. Mr Demor, in his speech said “It is our moral duty to bring all the indigenous people into the mainstream and let them decide what they want to do”. He further appealed to the gathering to explore the possibilities of preserving the cultures and traditions of tribal people and also to promote them. He appreciated the hard work and enthusiasm of CUJ family towards making this festival a grand success. Prof. Khathing in his address said Akhra was not only a get-together for enjoyment and making merry, but it should be taken as an opportunity to know, read and study culture, tradition, interests and challenges of different tribal groups. Registrar of the university Prof A.K.Sharma moderated the session. The Inaugural Program commenced with the welcome dance of a tribal group followed by lighting the lamp by all the dignitaries present on the occasion. A souvenir on the occasion was released. During the inaugural session, participants from Jharkhand, Kerala, Meghalaya and Assam offered their performances in tune with fervor. Ms Nokdila Khathing, deans, administrative officials, students and other staff members of CUJ were present on the occasion. People from the vicinity too came to watch the performances. A few major events includes cock fighting, banana tree climbing, documentary film screening, cultural programs by different tribal troops, fashion show, art & craft exhibition, food Exhibition among others. Tribal folk games conducted today were bamboo/banana tree climbing, cock fighting, churi-cheero (female) and archery display while the open air dance performances were mainly from Munda Tribe, Song and Drama Division (Jharkhand), Mandar College (Jharkhand), Tea Tribe (assam), War Jaintia Tribe (Meghalaya), Song and Drama Division (Jharkhand), Jhumri Dance (Odisha), Koya Tribe (Andhra Pradesh), Mavilan Tribe (Kerala), Orao Lok Nritya (Jharkhand) and Mahua Jari Group(Jharklhand). ‘Akhra- Tribal India Festival’ was held last year by the Central University of Jharkhand with the noble idea to bring different tribal groups into a common platform and to appreciate and celebrate their rich cultural heritage and support to foster them further.

 

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Dated - 29th Oct,2013

Academic seminars, games, dances and cultural activities of tribal people were showcased on the second day of the three-day tribal festival titled Tribal India Festival named “Akhra 2013” hosted by the Central University of Jharkhand at Brambe today. The day began with a plenary session on the topic, “Oral narratives of the tribal People in the 21st century”. CUJ Vice Chancellor Prof. Darlando T. Khating inaugurated the programme and welcomed all the participants form the different parts of the country. This session was held jointly in collaboration with the CUJ and the Central Institute of Language, Mysore. Prof Khathing said it was a holistic approach to talk about tribal culture, their life, tradition, problems and to bring each and every tribe under one roof. A book containing a lecture by Supreme Court Judge Mr (Justice) Madan B Lokur titled ‘Customary Laws and Good Governance’ was released by vice chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi Tribal University, Udaipur IG T C Demor. Dr Anil Boro from Gauhati University delivered the key note address. He spoke on Oral poetry and ethnic identity of Boros. He said that in the present scenario of cultural aggression these tribes can function as a defence mechanism. And a series of presentation followed the inaugural session. The seminar was divided into four parallel sessions. The first session was chaired by Prof. Ranjit Singh Bajwa and the theme for this session was ‘Oral Narratives and Tribal Society, Oral Narratives and Language’. The session dealt with folklores and oral traditions. The speakers from various parts of the country discussed about the marginalised languages and linguistic that has lost its identity. They talked about different endangered languages and folklores and how globalisation changed their oral tradition. The second session was chaired by Prof. Zoja Karanovic from Srbia. It focused on ‘Comparative Studies on Oral Narratives, Oral Narratives and Literary Writings in Indian Context’. Folklore, folk tales, Dastangoi in context with contemporary world were discussed in the seminar by different participants and they also presented papers on the relationship between the literature and the physical environment. The third session was premised on ‘Oral Narratives, Environment, Religion and Tribal Culture, Preservation and Documentation of Oral Narratives of Tribal Communities’. This session was chaired by Prof. Jeuti Barooah from Centre for Tribal and Customary Law, CUJ. Seven speakers presented their views on diversified topics under the theme. They presented their papers on different topics related to the themes. From Rjabanshi folk rhymes and riddles to oral tradition of Jangalmahal through Bandna Parb, the presenters elaborated the inter linkage between rhymes and humans, human and animals, animals and religions. The chair person concluded the session by giving suggestions to preserve the tribal culture and by documenting the tribal literature. The fourth session was chaired by Dr Ashok Yadav, Registrar of Rajiv Gandhi Tribal University. It was based on Oral Narratives- myth and reality, theories of oral narratives and oral narratives in the context of globalisation. Five papers were presented mainly dealing with different tribal languages and regional languages like Bhojpuri and Maithili. The whole debate was on topics related to traditional versus modernity, myth versus reality, and collectivism versus individualism. The day’s seminar was informative, interactive and it raised awareness on different themes and also it came up with different ideas to protect, preserve and promote tribal culture, society and literature.