This podcast episode delves into the complex world of Adivasi identity politics with excerpts from Outlook's latest issue. Discover the struggles of Adivasis amidst appropriation attempts and resistance in states like Jharkhand and Ladakh. With the upcoming general elections, the future of identity politics hangs in the balance.
#AdivasiPolitics #IdentityStruggles #OutlookMagazine #PoliticalResistance #JharkhandPolitics
#AdivasiPolitics #IdentityStruggles #OutlookMagazine #PoliticalResistance #JharkhandPolitics
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00:00 Outlook brings to you excerpts from its latest issue titled 'Adivasi' or 'The Earliest Inhabitants'.
00:07 This issue of Outlook looks at the politics of appropriation and resistance in the wake of recent
00:13 developments in the states like Jharkhand and the Union Territory of Ladakh. With the general
00:19 elections due this year, it remains to be seen how the Adivasis, who form more than 8% of the total
00:27 population, participate and how the identity politics shape up in the future. A contested
00:34 future by Abhig Bhattacharya and Muhammad Asghar Khan from Outlook. Adivasis have their own customary
00:41 traditions and enshrined constitutional rights. Yet, attempts are being made to not only take
00:48 away their guaranteed privileges but also to bring them into the Hindu fold. On January 31st,
00:55 when the Director of Enforcement arrested former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren after a
01:01 brief period of the alleged rumour that he has gone missing, political observers didn't realise
01:07 that it would take a new turn in Adivasi politics. But Soren made it apparent. While addressing the
01:14 Legislative Assembly after his party secured a comfortable win in the trust vote, Soren said,
01:20 "They can't stand an Adivasi riding a BMW." Notably, the ED had seized Soren's BMW from his
01:28 Delhi residence when he was allegedly absconding to avoid the 10th summons from the Central Agency.
01:35 However, this is not the first time Soren has been hounded by the ED since he took over as the CM
01:42 in 2019. In 2022, it questioned him over a case of illegal mining and arrested his close IDs,
01:50 leading to speculation that the Governor might dismiss his government. Interestingly,
01:56 these investigations started after Soren's government passed the Sarna Code Bill in the
02:02 State Assembly in November 2020, which seeks a separate religion column for the Adivasis in the
02:09 upcoming census. He has also asked the Union government to include it in the 9th schedule
02:15 to avoid judicial scrutiny. Till now, neither has the Governor signed the Bill, nor has the Union
02:21 government paid heed to the demands. Instead, in the recent past, the Union government has been
02:28 found to be assertive about the Hindu identity of the Adivasis in every possible political space,
02:35 including the Ram Mandir Consecration Ceremony. Addressing the nation after the much-celebrated
02:41 ceremony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi evoked Ram as the central character to unite India.
02:48 He also didn't miss the opportunity to invoke Mata Sabari, presumably an Adivasi character
02:54 in the Ramayana, whom Ram had recognised as equal. For this and more, read the latest issue of Outlook.