Prakriti Dharma

The Santhal Parganas is home to some 15 lakhs Santhals 1991 census -- one of the major tribes in this country. Known for their hard work...

The Santhal Parganas is home to some 15 lakhs Santhals 1991 census 8212; one of the major tribes in this country. Known for their hard work, their labour has been exploited to the hilt in the last 200 years, for clearing the jungles of Assam and converting them into tea plantations, for construction work of all sorts and, more recently, for building roads and bridges in the difficult terrain of the northwest and northeast. They are reputed for their skill in clearing jungle and settling land. Land is very dear to the Santhals and their identity, even though they are not the best of settled agriculturists. It is no wonder then that they have struggled for a separate land 8212; Jharkhand 8212; for more than 70 years now, since the time the Simon Commission came to India in 1927.

According to the tradition of the Santhals, the parents of mankind were Pilchu Haram and Pilchu Budhi, sprung from the eggs of a pair of wild geese. Once they were hatched, there was no place for them to stay, as the world was then a watery one. So Thakur, or God, took the assistance of an alligator, crocodile, prawn, boar-fish, stone crab, earthworm and tortoise to bring up the earth from the bottom of the ocean. This first pair had seven boys and girls, who were married and had children. Thereafter, however, the grandparents decided that henceforth brothers and sisters should not marry and they were divided into seven exogamous septs. Each sept has a password 8212; an animal or bird 8212; that is special to that sept and worshipped by them.

As this origin story reveals, the life and very being of the Santhals is close to nature. Even today they depend on the elements for their survival 8212; land and forests. Animals and birds are a part of their environment, with whom they coexist rather than compete. The Santhals hence worship nature. Their religious place is the jaherthan 8212; a sacred grove of sal trees on the edge of the village. quot;Our religion is nature, prakriti dharma,quot; according to Shibu Soren, a leading Santhal name. quot;We are not Hindu or Muslim, though some amongst us are now Christians. We are secular in the true sense of the term, worship our bongas or spirits under trees, but have no objection to other religious practices.quot;

For instance, Chando bonga 8212; the sun 8212; made the earth and protects it. He gives rain and crops, life revolves around this, the cycle of day and night, season after season. Today, often chando is equated with Thakur, the supreme being and creator. There are several other bongas or spirits of nature and its elements, mountains and rivers, trees and forests, that can both protect and destroy life, hence need to be appeased with offerings, normally consisting of little chicks and rice. In cases of calamities, largerofferings are made. It must be admitted here that the ceremonial aspects of the Santhal religion are entirely male, representing as they do the male interaction with the evil spirits of nature for the protection of thecommunity.

The Santhals also worship their ancestors at home, and these are the orak bonga. In these ceremonies, women too can participate. Much of this nature worship has been called superstition by outsiders in recent times, in their attempts to convert the Santhals to a more quot;civilisedquot; faith, whether itbe idol worship in temples or liturgies in the parish.

Though the early missionaries in that region did have conversion on their agenda, a quick visit reveals that it is only the church that has been of service to the people in that remote area, particularly to women.

Atilde;sup2;f40Atilde;sup3;The writer is a development researcher and activist, working on organisation, livelihood and education in the Santhal Parganas.