HT Bureau
DIPHU, April 12: “Those who left their indigenous faith and culture and professed other religions cannot be termed as tribes,” said professor of Cotton University Dr. Gyanendra Barman while speaking at the Tribal Conference organised by Indigenous Faith & Culture Protection Forum, Karbi Anglong District Committee here on Tuesday.
Addressing the conference, the appointed speaker Prof. Dr. Gyanendra Barman said, “We have been offering sacrifices to Hemphu, Mukrang and Rasinja as our deities. The indigenous people are deprived of government facilities and for this, particularly the women should be aware of it. The indigenous people should be strong to protect their own faith, belief, culture and language.”
Related Posts:
He further said, “Persons who have neglected their indigenous faith and belief have become MLAs and ministers with the benefit of tribal quotas. Whoever rejects his/her mother tongue and accepts another language as his/her mother tongue, rejects his/her own faith and culture cannot enjoy the ST status which is clearly mentioned in Paragraph 2 of Article 342 of the Indian constitution. They cannot contest either the Assembly and Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) elections.”
Dr. Barman also said that Article 30 of the Indian Constitution has already given special rights to Christians and Muslims and they cannot enjoy double the benefits which they are enjoying under Article 342. He further said that the indigenous communities should get all benefits as per Article 342 for the protection of their faith, culture, language and tradition.
The British have ruled India and drained all wealth and resources and now they trying to weaken the indigenous faith and culture.
The chief executive member (CEM) of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), Tuliram Ronghang said all tribes and communities are living peacefully in Karbi Anglong.
He said the indigenous faith, culture, language and tradition of the indigenous communities should be preserved.
Earlier, the organising secretary, Akhil Bharatiya Janjati Suraksha Mancha (ABJSM), Parsuram Suryanarayan Sury said the Tribal Conference is organised to educate the indigenous people on the need for the protection of their culture, religion and language. The ABJSM has launched a movement to demand the rights and identity of indigenous people.
He said at one point all were Sanatan religions, but now many have abandoned the religion.
The forum has organised the conference to support the amendment of Para-2 of Article 342 of the Indian Constitution for the protection of tribal religion, culture, customs, traditions and tribal faith & belief system and support Scheduled Tribes to safeguard the constitutional rights.
Various indigenous communities from different parts of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong participated in the conference.
