"Dongria Kondh popularity being encashed by NGOs", Majhi

My anxiety for Dongria Kondh was taking a new turn. I was trying to match few steps, but though I failed the happiness of being with them was enough to keep me, as well as them smiling. Their rituals are their own and they want to live with them.

I could not find Majhi as he must be busy celebrating his festival, but I could make a friend "Kumtadi", who too belonged to Dongria Kondh. We could only connect through gestures and greetings. Kumtadi wanted to speak to me so much, but I could not understand what she actually said. While searching for someone who could interpret her language, I came across a gentleman who voluntarily offered to help me out with the needful. My interest was, "What is this festival and how it is celebrated?". He spoke something to Kumtadi and the reply I received, "Vedanta is destroying our culture". A question raised on the reply received. I looked at Kumtadi as if trying to relate the reply and could see only a broad smile. I asked again, "Would you teach me how you dance?". The gentleman again asked her, she said something and the reply came, "Vedanta is creating pollution". I was again surprised as I still found Kumtadi smiling. But I needed one more question to ascertain that there is something wrong. My next question was a simple three word, "Who are you"? and came the reply, I'm a social activist. I could see Kumtadi was still smiling. I could get all the replies instantly. I remembered Majhi telling me that the Dongria Kondhs reply something else, but it is published something else.

I thought of Majhi and here he comes. I narrated same questions and the replies changed. Kumtadi knew one of the tribal women who learnt the art of making leaf-plate, vastly used in rural India for having meals. Kumtadi was so proud to inform that she was earning more money than ever before. Kumtadi explained that the leaf-plates are made of Siali and Sal leaves and are quite durable. A large women group was formed and many women from Dongria Kondh community learnt this art of making plates from leaves, said Majhi.

Knowing the Festival, I wanted to know more about Dongria Kondhs and the deity, "Niyam Raja". Majhi and Kumtadi, smiled as if telling me what I exactly want to know. The one which is being spread or the one which is the truth. Of course I wanted to know the truth. Three of us, we moved from the festival site towards the Bansdhara. The green trees and the lush green mountains always attract me and bring me close to the nature. Shortly we reached moving through the dense forest with so much sound of birds, and a breathe of fresh air. Majhi asked me to wait with Kumtadi promising to return instantly. I was sitting with Kumtadi on the bank of Bansdhara and admiring her so very natural beauty. The tribal bangles in her hands and a variety of nose rings and more number of pierced earrings were just part of her tribal gracious presence. I could not make out the beads of her necklace as they resembled a natural fruit. Kumtadi, offered me one of her bangle and her necklace. I wore them too, but could not match amazing natural beauty of Kumtadi.

Here was Majhi running back with a book in his hand. Agyan, see this book "The Kandha of Orissa - Sacred Objects and Places". The book published in January 2006, by the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Research and Training Institute , Bhubaneshwar . Majhi said, We Dongria Kondh worship Earth, entire Earth is sacred for us. Among the Gods worshiped by Dongria Kondh is Niyam Raja, a male deity. Niyam Raja, does not have any permanent adobe in any village. A hill at a place, Hundijali in Niyamgiri Mountain Range, situated about 20 kilometers away from here is worshipped as a sacred place, the main place of the deity Niyam Raja. This was a news to me, as all the NGOs and reports by various groups claimed Niyam Raja placed at the Vedanta's Mining area. I asked Kumtadi, as if trying to ascertain what Majhi said. Kumtadi smiled as if agreeing to what Majhi said. Before I could question, he showed me the proof of what he said, prominently mentioned in the book.

I was amazed at the kind of misleading information about these innocent tribe being spread by few prominent NGOs and wires, not belonging to India. With no trace of pollution, scores of health facilities, education and measure to improve their monthly income, what all do you expect from a corporate in terms of looking after local community, to be precise Dongria Kondhs . Are some foreign NGOs and their blogs and wires biased against Vedanta? Majhi wanted Kumtadi to reply, interpreting what she said, "Agyan, Dongria do not know what is being written about them. Very few people, hardly 2-3 speak to the outside world. They do not talk what we want, rather they never speak to us before talking. So many people fighting for Dongria Kondh, not for the interest of Dongria, but for their personal interest. "Dongria Kondh Popularity is being encashed by NGOs".

I wanted to let the whole world know that it's time you mind your own business and leave this community alone and stop encashing them. Kumtadi could guess what I was going through. She hugged me and insisted me on taking to her house, which I gladly agreed. The tears rolled over my smile and we all three walked into the woods .


The journey continues........................