The diverse socio-cultural traditions of the many tribal groups in our country, their rituals, their synergy with the environment, and their unique dialects impart strength to the social fabric of India (“Tribal communities in Odisha are speaking up to save their dialects,” June 4). Against the backdrop of the fading influence and falling usage of traditional tribal dialects, the efforts by tribal communities such as Saura and Oraon to revive them are heartening. Efforts by the government of Odisha, a State with among the most diverse tribal populations in India, to protect and preserve the dialects will aid the tribals’ efforts. It’s a promising development that the youth from different tribes have become conscious about their unique ethnographies. However, the efforts need to be supported and invigorated through state assistance in earnest to achieve greater progress.
Atin Sharma,
Jammu