Subject: Art and Culture

Why in the News?

Members of the Ho tribe in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district staged a protest for alleged interference in their traditional Manki-Munda governance system by removing village heads (Mundas).

About Ho Tribes:

• Location: Major community of Jharkhand (Kolhan, West Singhbhum), with presence in Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
• Language: Speak Ho language (Munda branch, Austroasiatic family), traditionally written in Warang Citi script.
• Livelihoods: Primarily agriculturalists, with farming, hunting, and forest produce as traditional occupations.
• Festivals: Mage Parab, Ba Parab, Sohrai, tied to agriculture, celebrated with dance, music, rituals.
• Resistance: Historically fought outsiders; staged Ho Revolt (1821–22) and Kol Revolt (1831) against British.
• Social Fabric: Clan-based, community-oriented, guided by customary law and collective decision-making.

What is the Manki-Munda System?

• Structure:
  • Munda: Village head (hereditary), resolves disputes, represents village.
  • Manki: Head of pidh (cluster of 8–15 villages), adjudicates inter-village disputes.
• Pre-British: Purely internal self-rule, no taxation or external sovereign authority.
• British Codification:
  • Wilkinson’s Rules (1833–37) codified system into 31 rules, formally recognising Mankis/Mundas as British agents.
  • Introduced private property; Ho became raiyats (tenants) instead of communal landholders.
  • Led to demographic influx of dikkus (outsiders), rising from ~1,500 (1867) to ~15,700 (1897).
• Post-Independence: Kolhan Government Estate dissolved (1947) but Wilkinson’s Rules still operative; Kolhan largely exempt from civil laws.
• Judicial View: In Mora Ho vs State of Bihar (2000), Patna HC treated Wilkinson’s Rules as customs, not law, but upheld their continuance.
• Current Practice: System governs village disputes; ~200 vacant posts filled by Gram Sabhas.
• Criticism: Hereditary leadership limits efficiency; many leaders lack education for modern administration.
• Reform Debate: Youth demand limiting hereditary succession and inclusion of non-tribal raiyats.
• Contemporary Role: Remains a symbol of tribal autonomy yet requires modernisation for democratic governance.

Why in the News?

On the 132nd anniversary of his 1893 Chicago address, Swami Vivekananda was remembered for introducing Indian spirituality and Vedanta to the world with a message of tolerance and unity.

About Swami Vivekananda:

• Early life: Born Narendranath Datta in 1863, Kolkata; Chief disciple of Sri Ramakrishna.
• Role: Monk, reformer, and founder of the Ramakrishna Mission (1897).
• Chicago Speech: Rose to global fame with his 1893 Parliament of Religions address in Chicago, calling for religious tolerance and universal brotherhood.
• Teachings: Advocated social service, education, and spiritual sovereignty as means of national regeneration.
• Legacy: Inspired the rise of Vedanta Societies worldwide, spread yoga and meditation in the West, and became a key figure in the Indian renaissance and freedom movement.

What is Vedanta Philosophy?

• Roots: Derived from the Upanishads, especially Advaita Vedanta (non-dualism).
• Oneness of Existence: The universe is one absolute Brahman; all souls are divine.
• Religious Pluralism: All religions are valid paths to the same truth; promotes harmony, not division.
• Self-Realization: The aim of life is to realize and manifest one’s innate divinity.
• Karma Yoga: Selfless service is a spiritual practice — “Jiva is Shiva” (service to man is service to God).
• Practical Vedanta: Application of spiritual wisdom to daily life and social reform, bridging tradition and modernity.

Why in the News?

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched the beta version of “Adi Sanskriti”, a pioneering digital learning platform.

About Adi Sanskriti:

• What is it: A digital learning platform launched by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• Objective: To preserve tribal art forms, create livelihoods, and connect tribal communities with the world; scale into a Tribal Digital University with certifications, research opportunities, and transformative learning pathways.
• Significance: Envisioned as the world’s first Digital University dedicated to tribal culture and traditional knowledge.
• Developed by: MoTA collaboration with State Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) to ensure authentic documentation and grassroots participation.
• Integration with TRIs: Contributions from TRIs of 14 states including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.

Key Components of Adi Sanskriti:

1. Adi Vishwavidyalaya (Digital Tribal Art Academy): Currently offering 45 immersive courses on tribal dance, painting, crafts, music, and folklore.
2. Adi Sampada (Socio-Cultural Repository): Houses over 5,000 curated documents covering paintings, dance, clothing and textiles, artefacts, and livelihood practices.
3. Adi Haat (Online Marketplace): Linked with TRIFED, designed to evolve into a dedicated e-marketplace for tribal artisans, ensuring sustainable livelihoods and direct consumer access.

Why in the News?

The Union Culture Ministry has invited experts to present their research on deciphering the Indus Valley script, also known as the Harappan script.

Recent Efforts and Theories on the Harappan Script:

• Taxation & Commerce Theory: Bahata Ansumali Mukhopadhyay argues the script encodes rules of trade and taxation, not phonetic spellings.
• Religious Hypothesis: Karuna Shankar Shukla claims Indus seals carried Rig Vedic mantras and Puranic references, used mainly for rituals.
• Proto-Dravidian Claims:
  • Prakash N. Salame (Nagpur engineer) says 90% of symbols represent Proto-Dravidian Gondi, building on Dr. M. C. Kangali.
  • Asko Parpola (Finnish Indologist) supports the Dravidian hypothesis, suggesting a logo-syllabic system of pictograms and rebuses.
  • Bryan K. Wells also backs Proto-Dravidian links.
• Santali Link: Prabhunath Hembrom connects the script to the Santali language, citing parallels with Parpola’s work.
• Scholarly Caveats: H. P. Ray stresses need for bilingual objects, contextual clarity, and warns against assuming a single language for the entire civilization.

Why in the News?

Tiwa tribesmen recently celebrated Langkhun festival in Umsowai village in Karbi Anglong district of Assam.

About Langkhon Festival:

• Overview: A pre-harvest thanks-giving festival of the Tiwa tribe of Assam.
• Timing: Celebrated in October–November, just before the Rabi crop season.
• Core Belief: Involves worship of bamboo, seen as a symbol of prosperity and sustenance in Tiwa culture.
• Deities: Special prayers to Ramsa Devota and other local gods for crop protection, family welfare, and village prosperity.
• Ritual Practices: Include offerings, sacrifices, and prayers to drive away pestilence and evil forces and ensure a good paddy harvest.
• Duration: Celebrated for 2–4 days with active community participation.
• Traditional Dances: Langkhon dance, Moinari Khanthi, and Yangli form the cultural highlights.
• Folk Songs: Songs such as Lo Ho La Hai (naming, weddings, harvests) and Lali Hilali Lai (weddings) are integral to the festival.
• Games & Sports: Local games like Plasele and Sam Kava are organised, strengthening community bonds.

Why in the News?

PM extended wishes to the Odia-speaking communities on the occasion of Nuakhai.

About Nuakhai Festival:

• Meaning: Derived from “Nua” (new) and “Khai” (food); literally “new food”, marking the first consumption of freshly harvested rice.
• Region: Celebrated mainly in Western Odisha and also observed in parts of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand by Odia-speaking communities.
• Significance: Agrarian thanksgiving to deities, ancestors, and the earth; symbol of prosperity, good harvest, and family unity.
• Date: Observed on Bhadraba Sukla Panchami (5th day after Ganesh Chaturthi).
• Historical Roots: Traces to Vedic rituals of first grain offerings (Pralambana yajna); formalized in the 14th century by Raja Ramai Deo of Patna State, Sambalpur.
• Social Role: Strengthens community bonds; people greet with “Nuakhai Juhar”, reconcile disputes, and seek elders’ blessings.

Festivities and Cultural Elements:

• Preparations: Begin 15 days in advance; involve nine ritual steps (Navaranga) such as fixing the date, cleaning homes, harvesting grain, offering puja, and sharing food.
• Ritual Practice: Family head or priest performs puja, offering the first grain to the local deity, followed by distribution within the family.
• Cultural Celebrations: Sambalpuri folk dances like Rasarkeli, Dalkhai, Maelajada, Sajani; folk songs praising harvest and community spirit.

Why in the News?

For the first time, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has introduced Indian classical music, dance, theatre, and visual arts into primary and middle school textbooks (Classes 3 to 8).

About Classical Arts in School Textbooks

• For the first time, NCERT has integrated Indian classical arts (music, dance, theatre, and visual arts) into textbooks for Classes 3 to 8.
• The reform aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which mandates rooting education in India’s ethos and cultural heritage.
• Music content includes swar, laya, shabd, Sanskrit shloka recitations, folk songs, ragas from Hindustani & Carnatic music.
• Dance content covers 8 classical dance forms — Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam, Odissi, and Sattriya.
• Draws from ancient texts like Natyashastra, Brihaddeshi, Sangita Damodara, Abhinaya Darpanam.
• Pedagogy: Emphasis on exposure, appreciation, and creativity rather than mastery. Includes storytelling, abhinaya (expressions), theatre, group performances.

Classical Dance Forms Mentioned:

Why in the News?

The Gugga Naumi festival was widely celebrated across northern states of India on 17th August.

About Gugga Naumi Festival:

• Festival: Folk religious celebration in Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and northern states.
• Timing: Observed on the ninth day of Krishna Paksha in Bhadrapad month, usually after Janmashtami.
• Deity: Dedicated to Gugga (Gugga Pir / Gugga Zahir Pir / Guaaji), a Chauhan Rajput prince believed to control snakes.
• Tradition: Reflects syncretic worship by Hindus and Muslims, showcasing folk religiosity beyond formal religion.

Key Features:

• Duration: Begins on Rakhi and lasts nine days, with pilgrimages to Gugga Medi village in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan.
• Rituals: Garudas (snake charmers and healers) carry Gugga Pir’s Chahad (standard).
• Devotion: Pir ke Sole (songs) sung, fairs organised at shrines (Marhis).
• Depiction: Gugga shown riding a blue horse, with blue and yellow flags.
• Belief: Worshipped by mothers for children’s health, and by barren women for fertility blessings.

Why in the News?

Many legislators of the Goa Assembly across party lines demanded the legalisation of Dhiri Bull Fighting in Goa.

About Dhiri Bull Fighting:

• Overview: Goan sport where two bulls lock horns in paddy fields or grounds.
• Cultural Link: Associated with post-harvest feasts and church celebrations.
• Nature of Contest: Bulls push until one retreats; no matadors or killing involved.
• Event: Bulls given unique names, treated like local icons.
• Betting: High-stakes wagers involve locals and Goan diaspora.

Recent Controversy:

• Legal Ban: Banned in 1997 under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act after a fatality.
• Judicial Position: Supreme Court upheld the ban; events continue secretly.
• Political Push: Lawmakers (2024–25) seek legalisation for cultural/tourism value.
• Proposed Model: Advocates want regulated events, citing Jallikattu’s example.