Fair Sex in Tribal Culture

Introduction

India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru once “stated”, “In order to awaken the people it is the woman who has to be awakened.” Socio-economic position of women is low in many countries with special reference to the tribal communities. After fifty years of Independence inspite of many welfare projects set by the Government, it is high time to examine the situation carefully and to suggest the remedial measures, if needed. Naturally to raise the status of women, the women at home should be given prior emphasis. A major section of the women including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and some other castes people of varied natures- live in rural areas as well as in jungle-covered rugged terrains. Actually in rural areas, sometimes it is very difficult for an unknown passer-by to feel and to differentiate between a poor Scheduled Caste woman and a Scheduled Tribe woman. As it appears, most of the time they are under the same cruel buffet of poverty. It is a fact that the tribal people who are more nature-based, live sometimes in an isolated way or in the areas of less contact. Though apparently there is very little difference in identifying the tribal women from the rural folk, in reality the tribal culture has its separate identity pigmented with many traits.

While considering the issue in general we find that the tribals have to face many difficulties. Due to the low level of their education, the modern process of development touched their culture only partially and as such they are recoiled to the age-old traditions and have very little urge to overcome this problem.

Of course this study is an attempt to reflect the ethnography of a few tribal people who have echoed their lifestyles with rhythmic vibrations. It is true that any individual has to react with three situations: man with nature or geography, man with man in bewildering situations, man with supernaturals. Thus, all these interactions moulded the character as well as the image- profile of the people and in course of time, these have become culturally isolated manifesting their distinctiveness- indicating differences.

In tribal life, women have to play a vital role, they have to take the main role in economic activities, household work, child rearing activities and to look after many more aspects which help the community to combat dangers and tide ‘over the problem of extinction.

II After Independence constitutional facilities were extended to overcome the difficulties of the so-called weaker sections by providing for them facilities in the form of grants and employments. During that time the tribals had also been awakened by the administrators, policy makers, and high officials of bureaucratic organizations, along with social workers and social scientists. All of them have argued that the total development of the nation cannot be possible without the development of these downtrodden people who are scattered in various parts of this country. Actually, they were considered to be the original inhabitants of this country and known as early settlers or autochthones.

Das and others (1990) wrote:

The evideces of pre-historic period reveal the existence of man in India from Paleolithic period (old stone age). The culture of early man through an evolutionary process reached a climax during Chalcolithic period in the formation of Mohenjodaro and Harappa Civilization about 3500 BC.

But due to upheavals of many new migrant groups from different historical periods, these original settlers might have been uprooted and with many difficulties had to take shelter in different inaccessible areas where nobody would disturb them. In this circumstantial exigency these people developed a culture of their own, where modern civilized traits had little impact on their lifestyles. Except this, during the time of colonial administrations, the Britishers had exerted little influence on them. They actually did not want to bring them up among the mainstream population.

The British administrations in our country did not seriously think about the development of these down- trodden and hapless communities, rather they preferred to keep them aloof and in isolation. This in due course of time created an emotional gap between the tribals and the so called bhadralok or the affluent people’.

By this time many more developmental works had been done through government patronage, by the Ministry of Welfare or through voluntary organizations or the Missionaries, just to overcome their immediate problems. But in many cases no scientific, systemic attempt had been made to ameliorate the plight of these people.

Naturally, it is expected to get a clear picture of the situation and an attempt has been made to distinguish the groups as well as the impact of ecology, environment and surrounding social groups of varied nature. The amazing conglomeration of traditions, beliefs, philosophies and materialistic activities for the survival, of course, vitalizes this lifestyle just to combat the difficulties which may appear in their struggle for existence. The nature of reaction of the people at different ecology either in the scorching rays of the sun, torrential rainfall areas or in the waning moon, their essential activities continued when we get the nature of differences of the six tribal groups.

But it has been found that the amount of real change in the lifestyle of the tribal people has been very insignificant. Still now they are the most unprivileged section of the society and have been suffering from illiteracy, poverty, health problems, housing problems and a number of allied problems at every moment of life. The situation is more frustrating in case of the tribal women. Their progress is not much satisfactory. One of the important reasons of this relative backwardness of the tribal women is that their participation in educational institutions is very poor. According to Basu Roy (1992):

The strength of a nation is thought to be hampered with the backward section of its population (Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes etc.). Similarly, the counterpart of the developing males will hinder in faster progress if remains backward. Hence, education as a tool is supposed to change the outlook, to accept new ideas, to grow with broader worldview and to brush off old prejudices, superstitions and misconceptions.

A number of decades have passed after Independence leaving little impact on the actual position of the women of our country. It has been reiterated that only a little section of them are getting the fruits of various developmental schemes and welfare projects. The Government is trying and encouraging to ensure their progress through different welfare measures by starting girl hostels, training programmes and extending many facilities but the results obtained so far are not upto satisfaction. Thus, Ministry of Welfare, Government of India restructured their setting, encouraging researchers to pinpoint the problems, i.e., where shoe pinches. In this respect Professor Sachidananda (1985) pointed out:

The impact of development on different sections of tribal women in our country has not been even. For a small number of tribal women who have taken advantage of education, new vistas of employment have opened up and they have realized self-fulfilment.

III Women throughout the world play the most important role in the part of the socialization process where social self of the individuals are developed. The initial parts of the socialization process like feeding habits (including breast feeding), weaning and toilet training are most imporant for the children where the role of women is immense. The children are considered to be the future citizens of a nation and the total personality system of the children mainly develop through the nature of interaction between mother and child. Women’s education, awareness, social positions, healthy body and minds are undoubtedly considered as different inputs for the total development of the nation.

Though the status of women is not equatable with that of the men yet the status enjoyed by the women varies from society to society and group to group.

It is a matter of great disgrace that tribal women are still in darkness. Their progress is not at all satisfactory. Only a small section of women is getting education. The increased number of literates in each decade depicts the picture of enhanced male participation in education. If we try to get the impression from different parts of West Bengal, that will show the same scene-females are in the backlog. They are unable to keep pace in equal steps with the males2.

It is generally observed in tribal societies that though the tribal women are less educated they are more free to liberate themselves from their social bindings. Social norms are not so rigid as to bring about their confinement to the non-lovable ways of life. In many tribal societies they enjoy the right to divorce; to select their own partners and even after the death of a husband they can choose a new one. Poverty is there but it does not destroy their human qualities. Singh, Vyas and Mann (1985) observed:

The tribal women in general and in comparison with caste women enjoy more freedom in various walks of life. Traditional and customary norms are comparatively liberal to women.

In each and every society women are regarded as indispensable partners of men but their position or importance varies from society to society. Women in the global context are not equatable with men. The variations are observed in consideration of the nature of society- developed, or least developing countries.

In general women in India suffer on numerous fronts. By and large their concentration is in low skills and they are low-paid. Since they are, in general, not involved in decision-making, they are not found holding many positions in political and economic institutions. For various handicaps based on religious elements, including their impurity and subsequent pollution, the women are again debarred from holding positions in the religious hierarchy and sphere. On many accounts they are discriminated against in day-to-day life. Illiteracy is rampant among women and so social and cultural taboos….purdah (veiling) system, with all its attending impositions and restraints, hinders the progress of women in various walks of life Women receive less than one-tenth of the world income, but do two-thirds of the world’s work…. When house work and child care are taken into account women on average have a 60 to 70 hour week.

Irrespective of country women are considered to be a weaker section of the society. Physically they are not fit like men, they have to take special care and to spend much more time for their family, specially for their children. Women have three distinctive roles in society Productive and Community managements.

Reproductive, Child rearing is the most effective role for women in all aspects of economic development.

The woman plays the role of an affectionate mother, loyal wife, beloved daughter and loving sister but the status held by the woman differs basically from her male partner in the society in which they live. The sex roles of male and female attached with various customs and activities differ from one society to another. Men are characteristically assigned to the work according to their physical strength and ability which take them far off from their homes.

The fair sex or women are therefore, shaped and processed in accord with the cultural patterns. The role and status of women, their ethics and world views are the outcome of the age long traditions of the cultural groups in which they are born and brought up. Thus to understand and measure the extent of the problem of women folk in relation to any society, the concerned cultural patterns are needed to be focussed accurately.

IV Many important studies have been conducted by Malinowski (1949), Lowie (1920), Majumdar and Madan (1969), and others by concentrating on the issue of the status of tribal women. No consensus has developed regarding their opinions. To evaluate the status of women one has to judge and explain it in terms of the particular cultures and economic activities on which they depend. Generally in tribal society the status of women is dependent on the nature of the social organisation. It is observed that if the socio-economic condition of women is high in a particular culture her status will be high automatically. For example, in case of the Toda, South Indian Tribe, the status of women is not high because they do not take upon themselves the direct economic burden as men do. The women are not allowed to do all economic activities like the men, whereas among hunting-gathering tribes, like, the Andamanese, Birhor, Lodha, women enjoy parallel status with the men because they also take part in their daily economic activities’. Gond women enjoy better status and greater freedom, specially in the choice of a husband, premarital sex licence, seeking of divorce and so forth. But women form a depressed lot in other areas.

The husband’s authority is largely curtailed among the matrilineal clans. A woman’s initiative is foremost in family affairs. Again the women command high respect and freedom in case of the tribals of Lahaul, Spiti, Ladakh, Kinnaur and Arunachal Pradesh. In social matters the tribal women enjoy considerable freedom of movement compared to their non- tribal counterparts.

The Dhebar Commission Report (1961) mentions that the tribal women are not a drudge or a beast of burden but exercise a firm hand in family matters. The tribal women are treated more humanly and humanely than the non-tribal women. The male partners are not allowed to take dowry. Naturally dowry deaths, brideburning etc. are totally absent in most of the tribal societies. Boys and girls are treated equally. Women in some society also inherit parent’s property.

Elwin (1975) remarked:

The tribal is no, generally subject to early child-bearing. She is married when she is matured and if her marriage is a failure she has the right of divorce. The lamentable … She is restrictions of widowhood do not await her. allowed even enjoyed to remarry.

As primitivism persists along with modernity, since Independence, a countrywide attempt has been made in every corner, in every accessible or inaccessible part, to locate the downtrodden groups and to underscore their problems. So the tribal women who were once the gift of nature are no more so much dependent on it. Due to deforestation and the impact of industrialization and urbanization the plain living tribal communities have been adversely affected. With the changing ecological setting, the

tribal women also have to accept the new social status and role in which often they are confused and feel gloomy. But the slow process of acculturation and absorption with the greater Hindu Society often lead them to be the victims of The socio-economic condition of tribal women is not good. Most of them are illiterate and have drinking habits. Lack of awareness in their ways of life often proves detrimental to the governmental projects. Various efforts are now being made to develop the tribal communities and thus there is a growing need for knowing and assessing the life of the tribal women and its allied problems for their overall welfare and betterment of the whole society in a spirit of harmony.

In general, development means removal of poverty, improvement of productivity and consequently raising the quality of life in a given society. This means better education, health and nutritional status for population backed by purchasing power and access to well developed social services.

The term ‘development’ is very often bracketed with the term ‘social progress’. Tribal people are identified as “Scheduled” as per the Constitution, considering their nature of illiteracy, poor socio-economic position and the low level of representations in different types of job. So these groups are lagging behind from the others. Development of these groups is only possible through various welfare measures. Of all developmental items, education plays the key role. It can change the way of life of the people. From time to time the concept of development comes through various dimensions in the minds of the people. After the mid-seventies the concept of development includes the per capita income with the assurance of an improved quality of life.

Development of women with special reference to the tribals is an integral part of social or human development. Development comes through alternations in the major social institutions-like changing the family’s income, opening formal and informal educational institutions, introducing new co-operatives and banking services for giving loans as well as improving the rural economy. Medical and health

services are also essential for better medical help specially for the children and the mother. Except these, general awareness should be increased to improve their quality of life. As a whole, development indicates the new social adjustment of the people with the changing improved environment where majority of them express their happiness.

The main thrust of this project is to locate the problems of the fair sex of six tribal groups settled in the same ecological zone. These groups are not pursuing the same type of economy, though economy is the most important determinant to understand the status of any population. Although in this present worked the economy of the tribal people does not play a significant role to determine their problems like poverty, illiteracy, exploitation, lack of opportunities, idleness, which are important factors to hinder their attainment of goals and to make interactions with other groups in their day-to-day life processes.

Among these six tribal groups, two tribal groups, the Birhor and Lodha, belong to gathering-hunting group, the Mahalis are the basket makers, the Santal, form the agricultural tribe, the Mundas constitute the migrant agricultural community, while the Bhumij tribe is the Hinduised tribe- all these tribal groups have been selected for this work. They all live in the same setting of ecology, i.e., lateritic undulating zones clothed with dwarf trees in patches, having less communication facilities of the Bengal -Bihar-Orissa region.

The problems of the tribal people are numerous and it is very difficult to categorize these problems quite distinctively because in most of the cases their problems are interrelated and interwoven with each other. These six tribal groups are basically the people of Austro Asiatic language group and are concentrated in the border districts of Midnapur and Purulia (W.B.), Singbhum and Hazaribagh (Bihar) and Mayurbhanj (Orissa). There are, of course, other ethnic groups who have a strong impact on their lifestyle. The recent development programmes initiated by the Government have also similar impact on them. But these development programmes are not implemented equally in very little changes can be found and in some places no all areas, even after the implementation of these programmes change can be noticed in their day to day life. These impoverished groups still suffer from the problem of isolation due to their poor education or lack of education, and low social position in the social hierarchy. However, the major problems generally faced by them are:

(i) Underdeveloped economy. Most of the tribal women under study are agricultural labourers or casual labourers in the off season. Naturally there are hungry mouths to be fed during the lean period. For cultivating they have to depend on rain. Inadequate money for purchasing better seeds and fertilizers and inadequate knowledge to maintain a happy life are important factors for their low level of living.

(ii) Hygiene, communication and lack of awareness. Socio- economically they are generally considered a backward community. Poor economic condition does not permit them to maintain a decent life. The villages hardly get sufficient drinking water and good medical facilities. In most of the cases good medical practitioners are not available and hospitals are not seen in town areas. Governmental efforts are also considered very poor to make them aware of the application of modern medicine and to arrange for them proper medicine also.

(iii) Education. Proper education can only bring a new light and a refined life to the backward community. Formal ways of education are very poor which distinguish them from the general level. Lack of education, rather a detached attitude to formal education separates them from the mainstream population, so they are lagging behind. Now there are provisions (special seats) for employment, they have a minimum standard of education which can provide them with some jobs, which undoubtedly improve their economy and the pattern of social interaction.

(iv) Conflict between tradition and modernity. It creates many problems in their day to day life. Considering all these basic general problems, the researcher has designed the following objectives:

(a) find out the problems of the fair sex of six tribal groups separately.

 (b) locate the point of difference and similarities in the problems of the fair sex of six tribal groups and to find out the real causes for understanding these.

 (c) understand the nature of the problem of women of each tribe belonging to two different states of same ecology, as ecology offers common geo-physical background which in its turn provides economic facilities.

Reference

Bhowmick, 1985.

Basu Roy, 1992.

Ibid., 1985.

Rowobothom, 1992.

Piza Lopez, 1991.

Moser, 1991.

Singh and others, 1985.

Paul Chowwdhury, 1991.