Seminar on “Tribal Nationalists in India ”  

Diocese of Durgapur , Church of North India , organized a three-day seminar on Tribal Nationalists in India at the Tribal research Centre (Shanti Griha) on and from 4th May 2007.  

Participants from Eastern Himalayan Diocese, SBSS-Ranchi, Chotonagpur Diocese and Durgapur Diocese attended this seminar. A good number of educated tribals from adjoining districts also took part in the deliberations.  

While welcoming the delegates Mr. N.B. Mitra, comparer of the seminar on behalf of the Diocese of Durgapur, said that the idea of establishing a tribal research center at the Diocesan complex was conceived by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Probal Kanto Dutta, Bishop, to encourage the tribals as well as the research students to discuss, analyze and disseminate burning tribal issues and published a book entitled “Journey with the Tribals” which has been highly appreciated by the academic circle in India, U.K. and U.S.A. He further added that there has never been any serious attempt to highlight the tribal nationalists and the aim of this seminar was to bestow the due honor on the unknown tribal leaders who also fought against oppression, injustice and alien rule.  

Dr. S. K. Bhowmick, a renowned anthropologist and a father figure to the tribals in West Bengal discussed the origin and history of the tribals and their contribution to other major languages and culture. He also spoke about the tribal leaders who led their community against oppression and social injustice.  

Dr. Rajat Kanti Das, as anthropologist and a retired professor of Vidyasagar University , Midnapore, spoke on tribals in national perspective. Dr. Sushil Hansda, a tribal and an Inspector of colleges, Vedyasagar University , critically assessed the plight of the tribals since time immemorial and how they are being neglected till date. He lamented that not a single tribal figures in the list of recipients of Tamrapatra and that neither the govt. nor any organization has so far tried to find out tribal nationalists in India . He expressed his gratitude as a tribal that the Diocese of Durgapur has undertaken a commendable project to bring the tribal nationalists into limelight. Miss Amita Khalko of SBSS-Ranchi discussed the contribution of the Christian missionaries towards tribal nat