Pathalgadi movement

From Bharatpedia, an open encyclopedia

The Pathalgadi movement was started by tribals in khunti district of Jharkhand as a resistance movement to assert their rights, including the right to sovereign territory. Pathalgadi literally translates to 'carving a stone'. On these stones orders would be carved by the tribals, orders such as restricting the entry of outsiders.[1][2]

About[edit]

Tribals from Scheduled Tribes in Jharkhand would sometimes erect engraved stones in times of birth or death.[3] This tradition took on a new shape with the passage of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA Act).[4] Two civil servants started erecting stones with the PESA Act and Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India on them, so as to spread awareness among the tribals about their rights.[4] Essentially, the stones were taken to indicate self-rule, demarcate sovereign territory and prohibit entry of outsiders.[2][5] An example of what is written on one of the slabs:[6]

English translation of the declaration on the slab

1 By Article 13 (3)(a) of Constitution of India, custom or tradition is the force of law (i.e., power of constitution)
2 By Article 19(5) prohibition is imposed on entry of outside or non-custom individuals to freely roam, reside, stay or settle in fifth schedule district of area.
3 By the constitution of India Article 19(6) prohibition is laid on outside to carry trade, business and seek employment in this area.
4 Under the fifth schedule area or districts according to Article 244(1) part (b) para (5)(1) no general law of centre or state is applicable.
— By Orders, Gram Sabha - Bhandra

The words on the slab are not a direct representation of the meaning as is conveyed in the Constitution.[6] These slabs were initially erected in four districts of Jharkhand - Khunti, Gumla, Simdega and West Singhbhum.[5]

History[edit]

In May 2016, the central government introduced two ordinances which enabled transfer of tribal land to the government as well as for commercial purposes. Following this the Pathalgadi movement regained prominence to fight for the tribal Jal-Jungle-Jameen (water-forest-land) and new stones were erected. The first tribal villages to start the practice were in Khunti district, the birthplace Birsa Munda.[7] The ordinances had to be withdrawn. The tribals behind the movement also boycotted the 2019 Indian general election.[1][4][5] In 2018, a list of demands had been sent to various officials, including the President.[8]

However by June 2019, many of the tribals, out of fear of arrest or harassment, have moved away from the movement.[9] In blocks such as Khunti, Arki and Murhu, nearly 10% of the population was booked.[10] People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI)[11] leaders associated with the movement had been arrested, thousands of tribals were arrested and FIRs filed against at least 14000 people. Some people were booked for sedition.[9][12][13] Among the leaders included Father Alfonso Aind, charged in the Kochang gang rape incident, which had been carried out as revenge against women who dared to enter a Pathalgadi village for the purpose of spreading awareness about human trafficking.[14] While the movement has faded away in a number of areas, in some places like Garhwa village in Khunti it continues.[9]

However in early 2020, seven people were beheaded in violence related to the movement.[2] An opium cultivation connection as well as a Maoist connection has been described in the India media.[8] Media coverage of the movement, though expansive, is critical, and considers the movement "anti-development".[6] "Samu Oreya, Birsa Oreya and Babita Kacchap involved in Pathalghadi movement in Jharkhand were detained in Gujarat. They were trying to incite people in Vyara and Mahisagar against the government," the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) said in a statement."They were trying to incite people against the present government in Gujarat's Vyara and Mahisagar. They were inciting people of Satipati community," said ATS.The special force also said that they were trying to raise money for the Pathalgadi movement.

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Tewary, Amarnath (2018-04-14). "The Pathalgadi rebellion". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2020-05-21.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Angad, Abhishek (2020-01-23). "Jharkhand: Days after cases withdrawn, 7 killed over Pathalgadi". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-05-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ↑ Kiro, Santosh K. (23 January 2020). "After Gruesome Killings, Jharkhand's Pathalgadi Movement Under Scrutiny Again". The Wire. Retrieved 2020-05-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Sharma, Unnati (2019-12-31). "What was Pathalgadi movement, and why Hemant Soren govt withdrew cases related to it". ThePrint. Retrieved 2020-05-21.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Maanvi (2020-01-23). "7 Killed in Jharkhand Over Pathalgadi: What Is the Movement About?". The Quint. Retrieved 2020-05-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Bhagat-Ganguly, Varsha; Kumar, Sujit (2019-07-30). "Understanding the Pathalgadi movement". India's Scheduled Areas: Untangling Governance, Law and Politics. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-22797-0.
  7. ↑ "'Jal, Jangal aur Jameen:' the Pathalgadi Movement and Adivasi Rights". EPW Engage. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Dutta, Prabhash K. (27 June 2018). "Pathalgadi movement, a rebellion against government with opium taint". India Today. Retrieved 2020-05-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Kujur, Anupa (2019-06-27). "Jharkhand's Pathalgadi movement loses steam as fear clouds villages". The Federal. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  10. ↑ "Activists Protest Repression of Tribals Engaged in Pathalgadi Movement". The Wire. 22 July 2019. Retrieved 2020-05-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ↑ Sarkar, Debashish (2020-02-01). "SIT links Jharkhand killings to Pathalgadi movement, PLFI". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2020-05-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ↑ Pandey, Kundan (22 July 2019). "Jharkhand govt must engage with Khunti citizens, protestors demand". Down to Earth. Retrieved 2020-05-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ↑ Mishra, Neeraj. "Terror Run". www.magzter.com. Retrieved 2020-05-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ↑ Saran, Bedanti (2019-05-18). "Life term until death to Father Aind, five others, in Khunti gang rape case". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2020-05-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
Stub icon

This India-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

https://m.timesofindia.com/city/ahmedabad/gujarat-ats-arrests-three-people-involved-in-jharkhands-pathalgadi-movement/amp_articleshow/77168394.cms?__twitter_impression=true

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pathalgadi_movement&oldid=159970"