Ekta Parishad, an organisation working for the rights of tribal and landless people, organised a Padyatra for ‘Nyaay, Shaanti aur Samman’ (Foot March for Justice, Peace and Dignity) in November 2014. A few khojis, friends and parents joined them in this 200 km walk with the tribal people through their remote villages in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. This was a life altering experience for many of them. Here are some testimonials.
Sauharda speaks about living among the tribal people, “Sleeping with them, walking with them, eating with them, their pain became my pain, their story my story.” During the march the villages that they walked through spoke about the atrocities committed against them by the forest department. Their animals would be taken away from them, their agricultural lands destroyed, men and women beaten in police stations. Sauharda also relates how a friend of his responded to hearing about all this by saying ‘Someone has to pay’. He says, “I felt like someone hit me. Modernisation is making us numb...”
Vipin ji, the father of one of the khojis who also walked with them says “I came upon corruption for the first time. Adivasis have no need for us – they have time, space, air and healthy food. Government schemes trying to get them into the mainstream education and employment have no understanding about their life and community. Govt officers see them as insignificant, trying to take the forest away for resources and drive them into the city.”
The stakeholders involved in the issues of the forest spaces are extremely varied in their worldviews and needs. Ekta Parishad held public meetings in every village, engaging in open dialogue with the government as well, trying to bridge the gap and address the conflicting needs of the different parties.
As Sonika witnessed, there were struggles in co-existing on many levels, “The tug-a-war of the Baiga tribal people with the wildlife and with the other tribal people; the older generations with the new dreams and desires; tribal culture with their home in the forest with the modern world wanting their Jal Jangal Jameen as resources for development; everyday dreams and lives of people with political and economic agendas; even the tribal rights activists with the wildlife activists. Is there a way for everyone to live and thrive together?”
Bhumi speaks about Ekta Parishad, “I have never seen that level of heart-centeredness and broad mindedness in any organisation, especially one that has been working for so long. They are walking the Gandhian talk.” Being quite equipped in understanding the law, Ekta Parishad empowers the tribals with the knowledge of the law so that they can stand up for their rights instead of being taken advantage of because of ignorance.
Shivendr says “I was really touched by how strong the local people were; they had many empowered leaders amongst them. Also the role of women is so powerful in their society.” He loves singing and learnt many songs that they sang along the march, motivational songs asking for inner strength and inner power and a strong and kind heart. Bhumi adds, “The co-existence of pain and laughter was remarkable. There was a sense of coming together and celebration throughout the march”. Women of a village undergoing a particularly hard time strung their pain together into a song. People were shaken and moved to tears as they sang and danced the story of their ordeal.
Ekta Parishad is a 25 year old grassroots movement in India. This is one of many marches to come for ‘highlighting land right issues’, creating dialoguing spaces between locals and government officials and promoting values of peace and justice. You can join them for upcoming action in February (Palwal to Delhi). For more information click here
Sauharda speaks about living among the tribal people, “Sleeping with them, walking with them, eating with them, their pain became my pain, their story my story.” During the march the villages that they walked through spoke about the atrocities committed against them by the forest department. Their animals would be taken away from them, their agricultural lands destroyed, men and women beaten in police stations. Sauharda also relates how a friend of his responded to hearing about all this by saying ‘Someone has to pay’. He says, “I felt like someone hit me. Modernisation is making us numb...”
Vipin ji, the father of one of the khojis who also walked with them says “I came upon corruption for the first time. Adivasis have no need for us – they have time, space, air and healthy food. Government schemes trying to get them into the mainstream education and employment have no understanding about their life and community. Govt officers see them as insignificant, trying to take the forest away for resources and drive them into the city.”
The stakeholders involved in the issues of the forest spaces are extremely varied in their worldviews and needs. Ekta Parishad held public meetings in every village, engaging in open dialogue with the government as well, trying to bridge the gap and address the conflicting needs of the different parties.
As Sonika witnessed, there were struggles in co-existing on many levels, “The tug-a-war of the Baiga tribal people with the wildlife and with the other tribal people; the older generations with the new dreams and desires; tribal culture with their home in the forest with the modern world wanting their Jal Jangal Jameen as resources for development; everyday dreams and lives of people with political and economic agendas; even the tribal rights activists with the wildlife activists. Is there a way for everyone to live and thrive together?”
Bhumi speaks about Ekta Parishad, “I have never seen that level of heart-centeredness and broad mindedness in any organisation, especially one that has been working for so long. They are walking the Gandhian talk.” Being quite equipped in understanding the law, Ekta Parishad empowers the tribals with the knowledge of the law so that they can stand up for their rights instead of being taken advantage of because of ignorance.
Shivendr says “I was really touched by how strong the local people were; they had many empowered leaders amongst them. Also the role of women is so powerful in their society.” He loves singing and learnt many songs that they sang along the march, motivational songs asking for inner strength and inner power and a strong and kind heart. Bhumi adds, “The co-existence of pain and laughter was remarkable. There was a sense of coming together and celebration throughout the march”. Women of a village undergoing a particularly hard time strung their pain together into a song. People were shaken and moved to tears as they sang and danced the story of their ordeal.
Ekta Parishad is a 25 year old grassroots movement in India. This is one of many marches to come for ‘highlighting land right issues’, creating dialoguing spaces between locals and government officials and promoting values of peace and justice. You can join them for upcoming action in February (Palwal to Delhi). For more information click here
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