A few years ago, a researcher came to meet me. She asked me whether the struggle of the Jharkhand Adivasis was still focused on Jal, Jangal, Zameen (protection of water, forest, land). After some hesitation, I said that indeed was the case.
But if someone poses the same question to me today, my answer will be different. The struggle of the Adivasis has digressed from its key focus. The focus has changed. Sometimes it shifts to Kudmi versus Adivasis. On other occasions, implementation of the PESA Act becomes the prime issue. But today the “delisting of Christian Adivasis” has taken centre stage. Delisting, in short, means stripping the Christian Adivasis of their Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, thus depriving them of reservation.
This movement is not pan-Jharkhand. It is limited to Ranchi and the nearby areas and is backed by mostly Oraon Adivasis. Most of them are under the influence of the “Hinduization” campaign. Some of their leaders define themselves as “Sanatani Hindus”. One of them had even publicly opposed the Sarna code, asserting that the Adivasis are Hindus.
This exercise is said to be sponsored by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Most of the BJP leaders – whether Babulal Marandi or Arjun Munda – have been raising the slogan of “Sabhi Sarna-Sanatan ek hain” (Sarna and Sanatan are one). It’s hardly a secret that for decades the BJP’s parent organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has been running a campaign against the Christian Adivasis in Jharkhand. Spreading hatred against Christians and Muslims has been the mainstay of their politics in the state. This is being done consistently.
It is a matter of pride that Adivasi politics has been against communalism from the very outset. Whether it is Birsa Sewa Dal or Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), they have consistently opposed communalism. During the communal riots in Ranchi in 1967, the Birsa Sewa Dal had distributed over 10,000 pamphlets urging everyone to help bring an end to it. During rioting in Jamshedpur, the JMM had protected Muslims and that had led to Shailendra Mahto being elected as an MP for the first time.
The Christian community has been with the JMM for a long time. When, following Tundi, Dumka became the epicentre of the Dhankatni movement, many Christian Adivasi leaders closed ranks with Shibu Soren. They included Simon Marandi and Stephen Marandi. The JMM has been consistently opposed to communalism and the BJP has been equally consistently trying to break this affinity.
The JMM, which is a constituent of the INDIA alliance, has come to power with a big majority. But some social organizations, backed by the RSS, are trying to demolish JMM’s popular base. And delisting is their primary weapon.
It is being argued that the Christian Adivasis continue to benefit from reservations by claiming that they are STs but that since they have discarded the animism of the Adivasis, they are no longer Adivasis.
As a minority community, the Christians might be getting some facilities from the government for running educational institutions. They may also be employing Dalits or Adivasis who have embraced Christianity. But this cannot be the basis for denying reservations to them in government jobs.
It is true that the Adivasis who have embraced Christianity may be getting better educational facilities. But this situation demands that the government should create better educational facilities for the Adivasis by strengthening basic and middle-school education. What is more important is that the percentage of Adivasis in state government jobs is around three-four percent, despite the fact that they have 26 per cent reservation.
(Translated from the original Hindi by Amrish Herdenia)
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