October 12, 2025
By Sudhansu R Das
The majority of them may not know how to speak English, wear modern dresses and lead a modern lifestyle. But, the tribal communities have the rich experience, skills and wisdom to teach the world how to lead a happy life in harmony with nature.
Nature provides them food, shelter, nutrition and medicinal plants to become self-sufficient. It helps them develop strength, stamina and endurance capacity. They make utility items with wood, metal, leaves, tree fibers and stones etc,. Many of those utility items have become amazing pieces of art. Though the tribal do not have much income to buy consumer comforts, nature provides them with everything to live a happy and healthy life.
The mountain rivers, waterfall, springs, pure air, clean water, rich flora and fauna make their life far more comfortable than the people who live in smoke and dust filled congested urban centers. The tribal build beautiful houses from the material available in nature; popular resorts around the world build tribal houses to attract tourists. The tribal jewelry, attires, art objects, organic food and paintings etc are the most sought after items in the global market. Many filmmakers and artists of India have plagiarized the tribal art, music and dance to earn huge profit.
Over centuries the tribal people have immensely contributed to India’s freedom struggle, sports, economy and culture. Many tribal sportsmen have brought glory to India by winning Olympic medals for the country. Their tough bringing up in the natural environment gives them the much needed strength, stamina and the fighting spirit to compete at the highest level of the game.
The tribal district of Sundargarh of Odisha has given the Indian hockey team many star players. The district has given five hockey captains, Dilip Tirkey, Ignace Tirkey and Prabodh Tirkey to the men’s hockey team. Subhadra Pradhan and Jyoti Sunita Kulu played for the Indian women’s hockey team. The tribal district, Sundargarh has so far produced more than 60 International hockey players which include the Olympians Lazarus Barla, William Xalco, Birendra Lakra and Sunita Lakra.
Recently, Deep Grace Ekka, Amit Rohidas and Birendra Lakra from the district have performed in the Tokyo Olympics 2021. Dutee Chand, sprinter from a poor weaver family of Odisha, clinched gold in the world Universiade in Naples in 2019; she was the first Indian to win a gold medal in the 100 meter global meet. And she was the fifth Indian to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics in the 100 meter Olympic race. Dutee Chand has gone through extreme poverty; her mother used to give the children several cups of tea before meals in order to reduce appetite. Dutee’s elder sister had to close her sports career due to poverty. It was her luck and determination that had kept Dutee running on the banks of the Brahmani river until she was noticed by the selectors. Dutee broke the national record in the 100 meter race and won two silver medals in the 2018 Asian Games and in 2019. The Odisha government should protect forests, hills and build more public playgrounds in all the tribal districts of the state.
Like Odisha, the tribal athletes of North East India have also made the country proud. Hilly tracks, crop diversity and tough life build their muscles, stamina and the fighting spirit to compete with the best athletes of the world. Born in a landless farmer’s family in the remote Kangathei village of Manipur, Mary Com has become a boxing legend by winning the World Amateur Boxing Championship six times and a bronze medal in the London Olympic game. Poverty did not deter the iron willed Mary Com to achieve what seemed impossible for many; the crop diversity rich with nutrition and the tough life contributed to her becoming a legend.
Lovlina Borgohain, the Bronze medalist in the boxing event in the Tokyo Olympic, belongs to a poor family in the Golaghat district of Assam. She has got her strength and fighting spirit from her daily struggle for survival in a tough situation. Similarly, Mirabai Chanu from theNongpok Sekmai village of Manipur who won a silver medal in weight lifting in the Tokyo Olympic, belongs to a very poor family. When Mirabai was at the age of 12, she had to collect firewood and carry it on her head to the paddy field.”While my other children would spend time studying and weaving, Mirabai would carry the firewood on her head to support me,” reportedly said her mother Tombi Devi.
It is not only sports the tribal have proved their unshakable patriotism and commitment to India’s freedom. Through the ages, the Indian tribes helped the kings and monarchs against the marauding invaders. The brave Banara tribe of Southern India helped Ram defeat the mighty demon King, Ravana. The tribal warriors saved the life of Maha Rana Pratap and Chatrapati Shivaji; they fought for them against the Moghuls in their long enduring battle for freedom; their bravery, loyalty and sacrifice is unparalleled in the history of freedom struggle. The Tribals were always in the forefront of India’s freedom struggle.
Indian tribes have also contributed to the rich handicraft traditions and added high value to biodegradable products with their skills and imagination. They have the skill to harness hundreds of minor forest products which have a ready domestic and international market. The tribe can guard the forest and guide the tourists to see wildlife; the tourist can enjoy tribal folk dance and music in the forest environment. Tribal art and craft, wildlife tourism, pilgrim tourism, handloom and the minor forest products can generate income and employment for the tribal.
The Gond Ojha of Adilabad can add very high value to the dhokra craft; they can make a human figure look natural from 20 feet away. The tribal artisan of Bastar makes decorative and utility items from wood and iron which are very popular in domestic and foreign craft bazaars. The Bhil tribe of Dhar and Jhabua districts of Madhya Pradesh make ragged dolls; the demand for those dolls is very high in the western market.
Similarly, the Warli tribe of Maharashtra make exotic paintings which are famous as Warli paintings. The Banjaras of Telangana make traditional attires which have become high fashion among the women in big cities. The tribes of North East India make hundreds of handicraft and handloom products. The demand for those biodegradable handicrafts is growing fast due to global warming. This is high time to protect and preserve the tribal communities in their forest homes.
Eurasia Review is an independent Journal that provides a venue for analysts and experts to publish content on a wide-range of subjects that are often overlooked or under-represented by Western dominated media.
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