A call to aboriginal tribes to stay united in the hour of crisis went out from different venues where the International Day of World’s Indigenous Peoples was celebrated on Thursday in the erstwhile Adilabad district.
The day was celebrated with much gusto by the ethnic tribes, especially in Adilabad and Kumram Bheem Asifabad districts, as every venue saw an unusually large attendance.
Ongoing conflict
The enthusiastic participation of the aboriginal people is being attributed to their ongoing conflict with the Lambada tribe whom they accuse have gained recognition as a Scheduled Tribe through an incomplete process. The Adivasi leaders called for unity to achieve their demand of removing the Lambada tribe from the list of STs.
The official celebrations saw Adilabad District Collector D. Divya, K.B. Asifabad Collector Prashant J. Patil and Superintendent of Police (SP) Kalmeshwar Singenawar participating in their respective districts, while Project Officer of Utnoor’s Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) S. Krishna Aditya participated in the celebrations at K.B. Complex at Utnoor. They garlanded the portraits of Adivasi martyr Kumram Bheem on the occasion.
Adivasi organisations in the two districts took out rallies and showcased their culture by way of traditional dances like Dhimsa. Rallies were taken out in Adilabad, Indervelli and Utnoor in Adilabad district and in Kerameri and Asifabad in K.B. Asifabad district.
Adivasi struggle
The statues of Kumram Bheem were garlanded at different places and his sacrifice recalled. The martyr has become an icon even for the current Adivasi struggle, according to adivasi leaders.
Participants included leaders of several organisations, especially those from Adivasi Hakkula Porata Samithi, better known as Tudum Debba. Former Asifabad MLA Athra Sakku, chairman of Aboriginal Tribes’ Welfare Advisory Committee Kanaka Lakke Rao and member of the State SC, ST Commission Pendur Neelabai were among those who attended.