"Sohrae" at New Delhi 1999

A report by Dr. (Mrs) Cassia Marandi

“Sohrae” the great harvesting festival of Santal tribe was celebrated in New Delhi on 24^th January 1999 at 20, Tuglak Crescent. The Joy was immense, sun was bright, air was breezy, scented with spring flowers. It appeared as if whole nature is in the jolly mood of Sohrae. Our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the august chief guest. The various folk dances of Jharkhand were performed with much gaiety and joy. Sohrae dance was performed by Sh. Joseph Soren & group, Munda dance by Sh. P. Purti & group, Oraon dance by Ms. Valleria Toppo & group and Sh. Carlos Toppo & group, Ho dance by Sh Samad & party.

Sh Babulal Marandi welcomed the Prime Minister by putting Tribal turban on his head. Then Prime Minister inaugurated the festival by beating the Nagara and lighting the lamp. When Sh. Vajpayee jee started beating the Nagara in one stretch, the joy, the happiness and love for the Tribal people could easily be witnessed radiating from his face.

In welcome speech Sh. Marandi insisted for perseverance of beautiful Tribal culture, language and identity. He said Santal had glorious history. The heroes like Tilka Manjhi, Sido & Kanhu and Birsa Munda had great role in freedom of India.

Shree Atal Bihari Vajpayee addressed the gathering and said that new chapter of festival is added in Delhi. Sohrae festival now became the part of main festivals of the Capital. He assured and believed that this festival would be celebrated in Delhi every year with much joy and fervency. Mentioning the Tribal origin he said if there were any people in India, it were only the Adivasis, They are not only Adivasis, they are Anadivasis. He stressed on overall development of the Indian Tribes. He also stressed that Tribals should be given chances to protect and preserve their culture and identity. Further he said, We should not look down the Tribal people. Tribals- especially Santals have persevered their Culture and Identity for thousand of years despite of many odd and difficult times. He insisted we want unity in diversity. He also praised the Santal Tribal culture and social setup, which is quite harmonious. He ended his speech with all good wishes for the coming years.

Sh. Som Marandi, the then M.P. from Rajmahal constituency, Santal parganas gave vote of thanks and invited to sing, dance and to enjoy the Sohrae festival.

Followings are the other VIPs present on the festival: -

1. Sh. Shibu Soren (M.P.), (R.S.), Chairman JAAC & Chief JMM .

2. Sh. Prithwi Chand Kisku (Ex. M.P.) from Dumka, Santal Parganas

3. Sh. Ramesh Vaish, Hon'ble Minister of state for steel and Mines.

4. Dr. C. P. Thakur (M.P.)

5. Dr. Reeta Verma. (M.P.)

This festival was organized by:

1. The Santal Society for Welfare, Cultural and Literary Development, New Delhi.

2. Jharkhand Society, Delhi

3. All India Santal Welfare and cultural Society, New Delhi.

And hosted by Minister of state for Forest and Environment, Hon’ble Sh. Babulal Marandi

One memorandum had also been handed over to Hon’ble Prime Minister by Sh. Babulal Marandi which is continued herewith.

Adi Manotan Disom Gomke (Hon'ble Prime Minister), Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee jee,

Hon'ble Shri Babulal Marandi, Minister of state for forest & Environment, and respected Distinguished guests,

JOHAR !

With immense pleasure we welcome you, Sir. This is our great opportunity that you have come to grace and to participate the Santal's great festival called hathi lekan porob " Sohrae". Sir, this festival represents a thank offering for their main crop paddy, and the festival is associated with great rejoicing. This is the five-day celebration. Unlike the other feasts, it involves much preparation- houses are renewed, new clothes are bought, plenty of rice beer prepared and as many as possible Kith and kin are invited for the celebration. The entire land of Santal bubbles with joy& gaiety on this festival. This festival is usually celebrated during the months of Dec. and Jan. after harvesting their main crop paddy. On the opening day of the festival the Naeke (village priest) addresses the benevolent Bonga (God) to bless the festival and to keep it free from any harm. The great freedom, the Santal experience at this festival mentally takes them back to the golden age of the Tribe when were in Chae- Champa fort.

Sir, Sohrae is being celebrated by Santals, a Tribe anthropologically belong to the Austro-Asiatic race. They are the single largest homogeneous tribal group in India. The Santal have been in India since time immemorial. Commenting on the antiquity of the people in this land Biswas an eminent anthropologist writes " If there is any culture which still carries on the impress of the underlying philosophic speculation and order of the thought that was wide spread in India prior to the rise of the Dravidian culture, It was very likely the belief and social order of pre-Dravidian Santals. So in the pre-Aryan and pre-Dravidian culture of India the Santal stand in the limelight. Now their population is nearly about one crore, which is roughly the 1% of the total population of India. At present they are distributed in Jharkhand area, Purnea and Katihar in Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa and Assam in India and in small number in, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. Indigenous people of India, The Santals should be given immediate attention and thus could be saved otherwise a beautiful creation of God will disappear forever.

Sir we the Santal had glorious history, which can be seen in oral tradition as:

Hihiri pipiri rebon janam lena,

Khoj Kaman rebon Khoj lena.

Harata rebon haralena,

Sasan Beda rebon jatena ho.

In a good land named Hihiri Pipiri we born.

We were sought after (God) in Khoj-Kaman

We replenished again in Harata,

We fixed our social orders in Sasan Beda.

This is the first of their historical credo in which they remember their prehistoric period from the creation to the post annihilation period.

Their another historical credo is preserved in a lament. It goes :

Champa gar do lilibici,

Badoli Koenda lekhan gorhon

Daeage Champa, Badoli Koenda

Daeage gar bon bagiada.

Champa fort was ornamental

Badoli Koenda fort decorative

Oh dear Champa, Badoli Koenda,

Alas! We left them our dear forts.

These Chae- Champa, Badoli and Koenda forts are their last places of the golden age of their last memory. Here at these places they dwelt for a long period enjoying undisturbed joy, peace and untold prosperity. According to tradition here was their happiest period in their history which they still cherish with nostalgia. The tradition says that at this place they were defeated by some intruder, and were pushed away from the land and even pursued. The ancestors of Santals kept moving from place to place and when they were found by more civilized people, They were found in the last part of Eighteenth century A.D. and were brought into the pages of modern history. Thus we see they had glorious past with definite social set up and they still have their own language, named Santali, Own religion with very rich theology, philosophy and good moral values. They have their good traditional laws and justice too.

Sir, We the Santals, the bonafied citizen of India want to revive our lost glory, so that we can keep up our glorious socio-cultural and religious identity.

Sir, you have already shown your great concern and love for Tribals of Jharkhand by tabling Vananchal bill-1998 and which is going to be passed very soon in Lok Sabha. We thank you very much from bottom of our heart for the same. Being motivated with your love and concern for the Tribes we propose followings for the sympathetic and positive considerations by our beloved and able Prime Minister. These are;

1. Statue of martyr Tilka Manjhi be installed at New Delhi and he be given the status of first freedom fighter of India. Tilka Manjhi was born on 11th Feb.1750. He fought the fierce battle against British Govt. in 1771.

2. Statue of martyrs Sido& Kanhu be installed at New Delhi. A well known fierce battle against British Raj call "Santal Hul" in1855-1857 was fought by valiant leaders of the Santals a twin brothers named Sido& Kanhu. In this fight more than ten thousand Santals had sacrificed their lives for the country.

3. Santali religion should be accepted and recognized as a separate religious denomination.

4. Project affected Santals & others by Rajmahal coal project (ECL), Dist-Godda, Santal Parganas should be compensated adequately, rehabilitated properly and satisfactorily. Land should be refilled, leveled and made cultivatable and then given back to the original raiyats when mining is complete.

5. Project affected Santals and others of Uranium mines of Jadugoda, Singhbhum should be protected by ill effect of radiation of Uranium and should be compensated and rehabilitated adequately and properly.

6. Separate Dept. of Santal language and culture should be made under Govt. of India.

Separate fund should be allocated for the promotion of the same.

7. Sir, as you are aware that present Santal Praganas is the result of great "Santal Hul" in 1855-1857. At that time Santal Praganas land tenancy act 1855 was formed by the British govt. so that land of Santal could be protected from exploiters, oppressors and suppressors. But alas! Even after formation of this law land of Santal have been alienated by 25% till now. Therefore Santal Praganas tenancy act and Chotanagpur tenancy act be made more effective so that land of Santals and other tribes could be retained by them.

8. Sir, It is very sad to tell you that the Santals had constantly been persuaded till now. Few of the examples are 1) massacre of Santals in Purnea on 13^th Dec.1998. 2) Ethnic clashes in Assam since May 1996 and unfortunately still going on, in which many Santals lost their lives and nearly 2.5 lacs rendered homeless. The Santals affected by Purnea massacre on 13 th Dec.1998, Should get their due justice and right and culprit should be punished as early as possible.

b. Santals of Assam should be enlisted as scheduled Tribe in Assam.

c. Santals of Assam nearly 2.5 lacs who are affected by ethnic clashes living in camps should be taken care of. They should be provided food, clothing, shelters medicines and security satisfactorily. They should be brought back to their original village and should be assisted to start their new life again without fear.

9. Sir, this is the last, not the least that Santal language should get its due share among Indian languages. Therefore it should be enlisted in the 8th schedule of the Constitution of India and be made regional language.

At the conclusion I thank our beloved Prime minister and all present dignitaries on behalf of Jharkhand Society, Delhi; All India Santal welfare & cultural society, New Delhi; The Santal society for welfare, cultural and literary development, New Delhi; with hope that all our genuine aspiration would be fulfilled.

Jai Hind!

Dated-24th Jan. 1999

Now as wished by Hon’ble Prime Minister Sh. Atal Behare Vajpayee “the Sohrae 2000” is the second year celebration in Delhi which is being celebrated with fervency on 23 January 2000 at 20, Tuglak Crescent, New Delhi.

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