JANMADHYAM: Meeting with PRI and child cultural g...

Meeting with PRI and child cultural group

JANMADHYAM:

Meeting with PRI and child cultural g...: Meeting with PRI and child cultural group at Lungtu, Gumla

Meeting with PRI and CCG (Child Cultural Group)

JANMADHYAM:












Meeting with PRI and child cultural g...: Meeting with PRI and child cultural group at Lungtu, Gumla

JANMADHYAM: Meeting with PRI and child cultural g...

JANMADHYAM:

Meeting with PRI and child cultural g...: Meeting with PRI and child cultural group at Lungtu, Gumla

Meeting with PRI and child cultural group at Lungtu, Gumla

cultural fair Hulas 2012

As like previous years Janmadhyam is going to organize cultural fair Hulas 2012 on dated 21ST and 22ND April this year. you are heartily invited for the grand success of this cultural fair.   

The program as follows : -

# Two day football match (20-21 April).

# Two day workshop for PRI representative and children.

# Prize distribution among school children participated in several competition.

# Exhibition of traditional and cultural objects ( musical instruments, Agricultural tools, traditional ornaments, dishes etc.)

# Sale of booklets, Magazines, Musical instruments, traditional dresses, along with different articles.

# Organisation of cultural evening everyday ( songs, dance, plays based on Jharkhands culture).

# Organisation of essay competition of youth on Warang chhiti  and ol chiki script.

# Archery competition for youth.

 

Thankin you

Jitendra kumar Mahato

Janmadhyam

 

Flagrant breach of RTE Act.

Flagrant breach of RTE Act.
St Xavier school, Doranda, Ranchi
3rd Feb. 2012


By Md. Shamim Ansari




Some students of St. Xavier School, Doranda, Ranchi, dared to talk in the class room . The teacher entered the classroom and asked the monitor about the noise. The monitor Gautam wrote the name of  fifteen students involved in the said offence. The teacher Brother Rajesh called five students and began punishing them. One of the students named Amrit Sagar Kerketta was slapped so terribly on the left ear that he got swelling on the temple and liquid began to ooze from the ear. Dr. Raghav Sharan Diagnosed that the ear drum was fully damaged. The mother of the boy, Nishi Kerketta complained about the matter to the principal of the school, who only gave assurance that the matter would looked into. Janmadhyam raised the issue. All the electronic and print media reported the incident immediately. An applicatin with demand of quick action against the cruel teacher and the school administration was given to the Deputy Commissioner of Ranchi. 

Fair at Sukuenburu, MARANGHADA

19^th December 2011

By Jitendra Mahato

The historical hill Sukuenburu is situated near village Totadah, 7-8 kms from Maranghada and near about 25 kms east from Khunti. It has a great importance for the history of Jharkhand and for Munda community. When the Munda People from Sutiyambe spread in the different directions of Jharkhand, they lost communication with their own people due to separation. Few intellectual Mundas met with each other and decided to have a gathering of Munda community every year. And they decided the Sukuenburu hill as their meeting spot. It is the matter of about……….. year ago. All the Mundas were signaled through the bonfire on the Hill. The distant Mundas get signal through it. Day after they saw the bonfire, they used to come and gather on the mountain top. It brought continuity in their brotherhood. They used to sing and dance there. Another trend of kite flying also started from there. This trend is contemporary as old as the Munda history.

                                      At present the day of gathering is 9^th day after the full moon of December. This year the day was 19^th December 2011. A team of Janmadhyam in guidance of Pravin kumar went there to reveal the history. They saw people started coming to the hill early in the afternoon. All climbed it by walking. Few cars were also standing on the midway of the hill. The climbers were form 6 years child to 60 years old lady. Children were very much excited. Youth was trying to look fashionable. New born baby also came in their mothers lap. Children and youngsters came with their colorful dragon kites mend by them. They started flying them. In the next five minutes the sky was full with colorful kites. Every part of the kites were prepared with love and labor. The string with Kudrum fiber, the frame with bamboo sticks. The scenario was amazing to feel. In the middle of the hill top people started dancing and singing their folk songs….

“Hai re gore hauwa…

 Maji pati hauwa”

People danced for hours in the beat of nagaras till dusk. After that they started coming down singing and dancing. Midway was full with fair shops. People enjoyed Gulgullas, Khurmas and groundnuts.

                             Faces were happy seeing their own people gathered. This has become the best medium of Mundas to interact with their community. Seeing their unity we can say, “As long as Sukuenburu is there the love and brotherhood of Mundas will stay immortal”.

Report

EDUCATIONAL TRIP

CHAIBASA TO HAZARIBAGH VIA JANMADHYAM (RANCHI)

21^ST , 22^ND AND 23^RD JANUARY 2012

Nearly Hundred ‘Ho’ reading students took part in an educational trip by the positive attempt of Resource person and field fellow Dobro Budiwuli of Janmadhyam. Maximum students were from the Ho Kala Sangam, Tambo chowk, Chaibasa. Few of them were from Women college, Chaibasa and the rest from Tata college Chaibasa. The resource person Dobro budiwuli is doing his work with dedication. He Helps students to prepare for J.P.S.C.(Regional language). Along with the students there were near about twenty scholars of Ho language with their family.

The main Aim of the trip was to make students understand the difference between the lifestyle of the village and the town. So that

they can understand about the defects in the development of their society.

How their mother language and culture should be kept secure.

How the conditions of the indigenous people could be improved. To know about the researches going on indigenous people. The most important thing was to introduce the students with some living legends of their community. So that the students should know about the success stories and should take some inspiration.The fare of the whole trip was beard by the DDC of Hazaribagh District Mr.Dibar Jonko.

He is the native of Village Bhoya, Block :- Khuntpani, West Singhbhum. He saw the positive attempt of Dobro Budiwuli. So, he get interested. And invited Dobroji to Hazaribagh with his students in this educational trip. The Educational trip started on 21^st Jan.2012 in the morning from Chaibasa. Madhusudhan Mahato School, Chakradharpur was their first stoppage. After tea and snacks, there was a discussion on education of indigenous people.

There the students learnt about the importance of daily routine and some useful things. After departure from there they took the advantage of the beauty of mountain pass. Some of them were afraid of the turns of the pass. Hirni Fall was their next stoppage. Seeing the natural beauty of the fall the internal changes could be easily felt. Lalkrishna Birua, Gurucharan Kunkal, Manish Alda, Shekhar Tamsoi and few of the other students were thinking about the positive changes which have to be done in the Ho community. After departure from there they visited the office of Janmadhyam (Ranchi). There Dobro Budiwuli and few of his companion were greeted with necklace of flower. The Secretary of Janmadhyam, Faisal Anurag welcomed the students and encouraged them. He told that we should be attached with the culture and mother language for development. The students who are doing preparation of J.P.S.C. under the guidance of Dobro Budiwuli were especially encouraged by Faisal Anurag. Some tips were also given to them. Pravin kumar of Janmadhyam also welcomed them and said a few words. After that there was an arrangement of tea and snacks. Bhupati Nath Mahato, Jairaj Shekhar, Prem Prakash, Nuri Toppo, Md. Shamim Ansari, Jitendra Mahato and Babulal Hansda played an important role in their welcome. At the time of their departure Faisal Anurag and Praveen kumar gifted a Nagara to Dobro Budiwuli, for his work.From there the two buses started the journey. Two buses full of students entered Hazaribagh at near about 10 p.m.The van of DDC was waiting for them in the highway along with few armed forces. They took them to a guest house near St. Columbus College, Hazaribagh. Dibar Jonko,The DDC of Hazaribagh was eagerly waiting for them. He welcome them. The students also formed the queue and greeted him dancing, singing along with nagaras as per their culture. Dibar Jonko and his wife also could not stop tapping their legs. So, they also joined the queue with the students and shared the cheerful moment. After that all were invited to the dinner. After the dinner the students came to the guest house. All were tired so slept earlier. But, Fulchand Samad, Satish Samad, Gurucharan kunkal, Manish Alda, Shekhar Tamsoi, Singhirai Samad and few others were far away from somnolent. In tremulous cold of Hazaribagh they sang and danced till three a.m. in the morning. Each and every step of them was being observed by Jitendra kumar of Janmadhyam. Next morning after the breakfast in the DDC bunglow the students went to see the forest Rest house, Kanhari, Which was built on the top of a hill. The scenario of the environment was amazing from there. In the east, the sand of a river was gleaming like gold. Forest was seen all around. They clicked few photographs. They wanted to preserve all the sweet memories which should encourage them lifetime.

After that they went to see the Tourism centre Demotand. They saw agricultural tourism centre,

land preservation research and training centre. There they saw some important trees like Sal, Erica palm, Bottle palm, Ashoka and few more types. Along with that they saw sun of India, Dahlia, Chinese rose, marigold, cycus, Jarbera and near about hundred types of Roses. After seeing all these they came for the lunch in the house of DDC. After the lunch, all sat in the chairs in the queue. Dance started once again. Dancing till 8 p.m, all became tired. After that there was an arrangement of a discussion with the students. Dobro Budiwuli and his students started the program with the welcome song :-

“Tela go taben hisir bada….

Landa go land ate….”

After that Home secretary of Hazaribagh called all the guests one by one and Shree Dibar Jonko awarded them with diary, pen, clothes and lots of blessings. Some other important guests were there in the program. BDO of Churchu, Mr. Besraji along with Sakri Bara was present there. All the great indigenous living legends encouraged them. In the morning after breakfast DDC Dibar Jonko and her wife K. Jonko given the autograph in the

awarded diaries of all the students. And the trip ended with lots of blessing to the students.

video shooting for the documentary of Sohrai Festival

Sunta, Bokaro

11^th Jan. 2012

Sohrai festival was celebrated in Sunta Panchayat of Bokaro during 11^th-15^th January 2012Twelve villages of Santhal community within the Sunta Panchayat were visited by Janmadhyam during this festival for a video documentary shooting.

The villages included Bandhgutu, Kanshitand, Kusumtikri, Rangadih, Vikramdih, Aamrakulhi, Dungrigora, Khuditopa, Laahtand, Barwadih, Sunta, and Jala. From the begining Sohrai is the main Festival of the
Santhals. The festival basically symbolizes the love of Sa

nthal community for their animals and the deep affection and pious love of brother and sister. Their Logic behind the festival is that the animals serve them the whole year. So, it is their duty to respect and love their pets at least once in the year. So, their ancestors decided to celebrate it. Secondly, during the festival the Sisters wish a long life for their Brothers.The festival was celebrated for five days. The villagers of twelve villages of Sunta Panchayat gathered in an open land (TAND). They started their festival with "Ghatpuja". Two Manjhi-Hadams of Sunta Panchayat started this process. More than hundred people were present during the worship. Chicks were offered to their God. Villagers were present with the collected rice and pulses for "KHICHRI". Stones were used for the wolves. Children were busy in collecting woods for fuel. Khichri was cooked in big pans. The offered chicks were fired on the pyre and added to the Khichri. After that it was served on the leaves plucked by the children. All accepted the "Prasad". The Manjhi-Hadams had also brought a fowl with them. The offered head of the chicks and the fowl were used with flour of rice to make "TARPA PEETHA". The Manjhi- Hadams of the villages accepted this Prasad. After that the cows of the villages were brought and were made to step over the offered egg of a hen.

In the late night the process of "GAAY JAGA" started. Although it was very cold there, people came out with the Mandar and Nagaras and started singing and dancing "SOHRAI". They went door to door singing and dancing.Everyone was offering them rice. The process continued for whole night. And the first day of the festival ended like that.

Before the festival come people started painting their houses with different colored soils, lime etc. along with various designs on the wall and cleaning their Khalihans. Smearing of the aangans were done daily with cow dung. Till the second day of the festival they brought different colored soils to smear their walls. The ploughs and Juath were washed in the pond and brought home. In the late afternoon people started collecting materials for “CHOK PURA”.New rice was bitten and grinded to make “GUNDI” (The flour of rice). The people who were comparitively rich or who didn’t have the facility of “DHEMKI” were going to grind it with a machine. The gundi was mixed with water and a solution was made. The solution called “CHOK”. Various designs were made by this solution in the ground fro New rice was bitten and grinded to make “GUNDI” (The flour of rice).entrance to the “GOHAL” (The house for the cow & oxen). This was the day for the guests to come. “CHARPA PEETHA” (A pastry of flour of rice) made of pork or chicken was there for the guests. Gohal puja was done the same night. People danced and sang Sohrai for the whole night at the beet of MANDAR and NAGARA. Many people didn’t have sufficient clothes to save themselves from cold. Some people came with a single shawl or blanket wrapped on their body to stand in the semicircular row to dance. Maximum People in the Santhali community are still below the poverty line. Their economic status is not so good. Single storey tile roofed mud house was the only support to save them from the cold of January.

Some people even don’t have a door in their houses. A gate made of bamboo sticks and putus or Tulsi sticks called “TATI” was sufficient to stop t

he dogs and other animals to get inside. But it cannot stop the cool breeze of January or the rain of July-August. But this insufficiency also couldn’t lower their enthusiasm. They served their guests with Hot Tarpa peetha, Maadi and rice with pork or chicken. The arrangement of sleeping was done upon a thick layer of hay with few homemade blankets called “LENDRA”. The guests who wanted to involve in their Sohrai dance could easily stand in the semicircular row

hand in hand with girls and boys. The enthusiasm of Little girls, week young women was so high that they didn’t want to leave the line for a single moment during the whole night. The men playing the Nagaras and Mandars forget about the tiredness and continuously doing their work. If they used to stop for a while after a song, a very sweet voice of “Ta re taha re ta tra na re…..tah re taha na na re” used to came from the female queue and finally the men had to play. Some people took alcohol. They were badly intoxicated. But no one thought of misbehaving with th

e ladies in this condition also. Because, every girl, young lady was of their own house, their own village. So there was no space of misdeeds. When the young ladies swung during the second line of the Sohrai song. Seeing this, attracting toward the culture of Santhals is common process. The dust flying from ground by the stroke of the legs of the girls and boys could be eaeasily seen in the dim light of the moon. The ups and downs in the roads of suburb also couldn’t stop their enthusiasm. Anyone can be influenced by seeing the whole process of Sohrai. A non Santhali person would regret at least once of not being the part of this culture. And a Santhali person would be proud of the heritage.

After dancing till third morning, people went to take some rest and take their breakfast. In the afternoon, the oxen were brought to home after washing in the pond. They were decorated. Few of the oxen were tied with the ropes in the middle of the kulhis with a strong post. After that the oxen were entertained with the music and beet of Nagaras and Mandars. After playing for some time with the oxen, they freed them. After that the Paika Dance started. Paika continued

till the evening. The third day of Sohrai is known for the coming of the married daughters to their fathers home. Their brothers go to receive them or they come with their husband. Sohrai is well known for the cattle love of Santhals along with the bond of pious love between the brothers and sisters. Sisters wish for the long life and prosperity of their brother. People dance for whole night during the third day also. Girls were very tired in the fourth morning due to the continuous dance. Although they were tired, they were seen doing their household works. Few of them went to the hand pump or the pond to clean the used utensils. Some of them were busy cleaning their houses.

After the household works they got some time to take some rest. Some people didn’t give any importance to the rest and were involve in the JALE (dance and song). Some people were taking rest in the day because it was the last day and they had to dance for the whole night. As the evening came the group of Sohrai came out. People were visiting all the houses dancing and singing. Like the first three nights Sohrai came to its peak till 9 p.m. Sound of Nagaras and Mandals, the sweet voice coming from the throat of the women…“Ta..re…taha…re…ta…tra…na…re…ta…re…ta… na.. na..re” could make anyone helpless and make them to dance. No more shyness was there in the faces. But there was no place for slovenliness. If we want to know about the cultural love of Santhals, we have to involve ourselves in their festivals. The hard and wearied dance of four day, four nights couldn’t lower the smiles from the innocent faces. After dancing for whole night like the previous nights, they went to take some rest in the 5^th morning. After sometime people started visiting the houses which were left in the fourth day JALE process. Since, it was the last day. People were dancing and

singing with multiple enthusiasm. With this JALE process the Sohrai festival of Santhals came to an end. All the guests were gone before the evening. Silence was spread in the environment. But still sounds of Nagaras were coming from the far

villages. People were seen trying to survive from cold by lighting the fire. The full documentary video shooting of five day Sohrai festival was done by Janmadhyam. So that it should be kept rennet.

The carrier of Jharkhand's culture and identity

Adieu! Dr. Ram Dayal Munda

The demise of Dr. Ram Dayal Munda is an irrevocable loss for the cultural movement and all the unsung heroes of ‘Ulgulaan’ who dreamt of forming a state that would be admired by one and all. Dr. Ram Dayal Munda was a persona with a multidimensional trait. He gave a worldwide recognition and admiration to the very modest Nagada, Mandar and flute that are vital for the tribals.

“Nachi se banchi” (dance to survive), he would say but, who would have imagined that Dr. Ram Dayal Munda would succumb to death so soon, but dancing he went. Despite of suffering from Prostate Cancer, he battled it till the end with even greater élan. Ever ready to shake a leg at the very “bang” of the nagada, Munda ji wanted to establish the profound cultural legacy of the tribals on the global dais. The loss of Dr. Munda is not only the loss of a human life but it is a big set back to the cultural, social, political and educational scenario of the state.

Dr. Ram Dayal Munda was born in a tribal village Diuri of Tamad near Ranchi in 1939. He attended his primary schooling at the nearby Luther Mission School at Amlesa. At the age of 17, Dr. Munda got an opportunity to act as a guide to different anthropologists visiting Ranchi. This experience led Dr. Munda to pick anthropology as his subject for higher education. He did his graduation and then a post graduation from Ranchi University. During his days as a student in Ranchi, he popularized a range of tribal dance forms and tribal music through radio. He also made the common man familiar to these by performing in front of live audience during festivals. It was during this time that Dr. Munda pioneered the Sarhul procession in Ranchi, a handful of people participated in the first Sarhul parade that ran from Sarnatoli to Siramtoli in the year 1963. Dr. Munda got an opportunity to get higher education at the University of Chicago. It was here that he got his big break in an ambitious research project on the Indic group (Santali, Mundari and others) of the Austro-Asiatic Languages and the Indo-Aryan languages (Sanskrit and Bengali) under the directorship of Dr. Norman Zide. Dr. Munda obtained Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and was subsequently appointed in the faculty of Department of South Asian Studies. After this, Dr. Munda got a chance to teach at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Munda obtained his fellowships from the American Institute of Indian Studies, the U.S Education Foundation in India and the Japan Foundation.

Dr. Munda has written many books on religion, language and literature. Along with these undertakings, Dr. Munda was always devoted towards the social, economic and cultural well being of the tribals. His initiative towards the welfare of the tribes got fuelled up when he was offered a position by the-then Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Kumar Suresh Singh, to start a Department of Tribal and Regional Languages. The formation of the department gave momentum to all social politico activists engaged in working towards the well being of the tribes. A number of students, passed out from the department, formed a student body All Jharkhand Student’s Union (AJSU) pushing for the formation of an intellectual base for the maintenance of the Jharkhand Movement already going at that time. This indirectly contributed to Dr. Munda’s appointment as Vice Chancellor of Ranchi University in 1986. From then onwards Dr. Munda became a medium of political dialogue between the state and the movement of the people. In 1988, when the then Prime Minister Mr. Rajiv Gandhi came on a visit to Khunti, Dr. Munda along with some 150 artists welcomed Mr. Gandhi and kept forward his demand of a separate state.

Dr. Munda also got the chance to teach as a guest faculty at the universities of Tokyo, Syracuse and National University of Australia. Dr. Munda always valiantly and devotedly voiced the concerns of the tribals. One of the books penned down by him namely, Aadi-dharm echoes the deep studies about the conceptions and customs of the tribals. In the book, Dr. Munda has further added that it has been a tradition among the tribals to worship the nature that they follow even today.

His achievements remain unparalleled. What he has given to the state, from its formation to the present recognition on the global platform remains incomparable. Whether we talk about his stint as a politico, a cultural ambassador, a scholar or a regional music exponent, he has always amused and inspired people.

In April 2011, Dr. Munda was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. After receiving initial treatments at AIIMS, he went to Mayo clinic, America for further treatment. The man who always stood for the cause of others had to seek help from others for his treatment due to financial crunches. As a result the Government of India came forward to his aid. But destiny wanted him to take rest now and who knew it would be a final rest; within two months of his return to India, he bid farewell to this world on 30^th of September, 2011.

Today, he is no more with us and he went away with only one desire in his heart……he just wanted five more years from life, so that he would get time to accomplish all his dreams. The dream of establishing Jharkhand as the most enviable cultural heritage of India.

All we can say is “May his dream come true”.

By: Niharika Choudhary

Rally and Dharna

Birsa Chawk, Ranchi

29 August 2011

Language and culture of Jharkhand was the basis for the establishment of new separate state. The aborigine of here have always been the victim of sploitation and negligence by the government. So the people of here have always been struggling for their right. The establishment of separate Jharkhand state was the consequence of those struggle and movements. It was hoped that after the creation of new state, they will have the right to strengthen and spread their language and culture. The history and identity of Jharkhandi people would revitalize. But after the establishment of the state all the exp

ectation was put aside by the government. The language and culture have no importance for them. Industrialist and capitalist have full control over the government because they have become the king maker. The stability and function of government is is decided by their own will. The language and culture of here are on the verge of obliteration.

In those adverse situation Ja

nmadhyam started to work in 2007 for the strengthening and spreading the language and culture of Jharkhand. For creating awareness in mass it has started the work of research, publication and campaigning by conducting seminars, debate and discussion, worksh

ops, and many cultural and educational programs.

Janmadhyam has clear concept about children that they should be provided primary education in their own mother tongue. Many child right and educational activists have been advocating for it. But not any steps yet have been taken in this direction. it is clearly

encroachment of child right to not let them knowtheir language and culture. To ensure the right the first step should be taken is providing all Jharkhandi languages the status of second language of Jharkhand. With that demand, one day rally and dharna was decided to be organized before the Legislative Assembly of Jharkhand by several social organizations in the leadership of “Akhra”.

On 29 Aug. 2011 a large number of people gathered at Birsa Chawk for the participation in rally and dharna. deman

ding second language status for 9 Jharkhandi tribal languages-Snthali, Ho, Kudukh, Mundari, Khariya, Panchparganuya, Kurmali, Khortha and Nagpuri. The rally started from St. Loyola Hostel and reached to Birsa Chawk. There were teachers, professors, writers, journalists, intellectuals social thinkers and the people from all walks of life. The main gate to the Legislative Assembly had been closed. So the dharna was held at the gate. The style of demonstration was unique. People were assembled in a circle and sang and dance on the music of dhol and nagada. Birsa chawk was echoing with the beating of drum and nagada.

The demand letter wassubmitted to the district magistrate who had come to the agitation spot. MLA Smt. Geeta Koda and ex MLA Bandhu Tirkey participated in the agitation and addressed to the gathering. They appealed to the people to demand strongly for the law for safety and development of their language and culture. They assured the people that poor Jharkhandis will not let to suffer the consequences in the name of development. There were representative of several organization who addressed the rally. Faisal Anurag, Parvin Kumar, Jitendra Mahto, Nuri Toppo, Babulal Hansda and Shamim Ansari participated in the agitation from Janmaduyam.