Karnataka   

Helping tribal people fight for their rights

NAGARAHOLE: After dusk, a 14-member team of the Adivasi Moolabhoota Hakkugala Horataga Sangha enters one of the tribal settlements in the Nagarahole forest area, lights a kerosene lamp and starts beating the drums.

As residents of the settlement assemble, tribal activists of the sangha stage a street play to create awareness among the tribal people of their rights.

The play commences with Rama talking about the happier days when tribal people were the kings of the forest. Then other members of the team start depicting aspects of the rich tribal culture.

It is then that the forest officials arrive. The actors narrate the harassment of tribal people by officials of the Forest Department, the machinations of politicians and “conspiracies” by international financial institutions. The narration of the play is in the Jenu Kuruba tongue.

When the actors narrate the story of Metikuppe Ravi, who was killed when officials of the Forest Department allegedly opened fire.the tribal audience is in tears. The street play ends with tribal people being forced to become bonded labourers in coffee plantations and the sangha entering the scene.

The sangha has been staging this two-hour street play for a month in various settlements in the Nagarahole forests to instil confidence among the local people to fight for their rights.

According to Kaalinga (30), a tribal activist of the sangha, there has been an overwhelming response to the play.

Though Kaalinga, a theatre veteran, is the creative mind behind the play, the tribal people developed it based on their experiences.

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