On the 24th of January 2019 Nirman (Using Diversity Partner Organisation) organised the ‘Dharti Dongar Samwad’ program at the Baiga village of Tantar in Dindori District of Madhya Pradesh. The objective of the program was to celebrate and exhibit the rich diversity of traditional crops and uncultivated food of the Baigas.
Naresh Biswas (Chief Functionary of Nirman) shared that the baigas often say that in earlier times their elders used to eat food belonging to 12 different races but today only one race is available. The main source of the 12 different races of food that was available to all baiga households was Bewar – the traditional agricultural practice of the Baigas, through which they cultivated crops belonging to these 12 difference races. Naresh pointed out that the principal focus of the ‘Dharti Dongar Samwad’ and the Using Diversity program as a whole is to ensure that the 12 different races of food are once again available to all baiga household. In this context 20 to 25 different traditional cereals, pulses and other crops cultivated by the Baigas were on display.
The Baigas also depend on their forest for a variety of different uncultivated food items like wild leafy vegetables, tubers, fruits, flowers, seeds and mushrooms. There were over 80 different uncultivated food items on display. Over 300 villagers from 15 villages came together to display the rich diversity of traditional seeds and uncultivated food items of the Baigas. This program also served as a platform for the villagers of the area and their leaders to discuss and share experiences with regards to the revival of Bewar and the protection and safeguarding of their forests as well as their rights to these forests especially with regards to the proper implementation of Habitat Rights which have been received by 7 villages as well as other tenets of the Forest Rights Act like Community Forest Rights and Individual Forest Rights.
The program commenced with a traditional Baiga dance performed by women and men from Silpidi, Tantar, Tharpatra, Kendra and Kanda Tola villages. The women adorned in their traditional attire danced to the beats of Mandar, Timki and Bansri. The Chief Guest of the program was Dr. Dubey of the Anusandhan Kendra, Krishi Vibhag, Dindori and other guests included Arujun Singh Dhurwe a member of the Baiga Mahapanchayat, who is committed to the promotion of Baiga culture and tradition; and the Sarpanch of Charra Panchayat, Gobind Singh.
Sri Charra Singh Rathuria from Bijli Tola in Silpidi village had brought a number of seeds being cultivated in his village for display which included Bela Rahar, Chawar Madia and Bhallu Salhar. He shared that the variety of cereals and pulses on display were an integral part of their ancestors’ diet and they helped them remain healthy, strong and full of energy. Their ancestors weren’t as susceptible to diseases as the current generation and they had no need for modern injections and pills. Instead they depended on a variety of medicinal plants, roots and herbs from their forests. Charra emphasised that with an increased dependence on rice the current generation is more susceptible to illnesses and often suffer from breathing problems. Their ancestors used to start thir day with Loda ka peench along with Cheench bhaji and this used to give them the strength to plough their fields for the entire day and it also helped clean and clear their stomach. Their traditional cereals had manifold benefits. Their grandmothers used to feed young maidens Madia roti at child birth and this made the young mothers strong and healthy.
Meiki Bai a young woman from Tantar shared that the tubers and other wild food from the forests of the area are the source of the Baigas’ strength and stamina and this helps sustain them. A large variety of wild edible tubers were on display and they included – Kanhia kanda, Longi kanda, Donchi kanda, Ravi kanda, Saidu kanda, Birhar kanda, Burhand kanda, Karu Geth kanda and Rathal kanda. The villagers shared that as a result of rampant logging and harvesting of timber by outsiders and the forest department their rich forests are being lost to them and as a consequence the availability of tubers and other wild foods is rapidly declining.
The program ended with a delicious meal of Kutki and arhar after which all the villagers pledged to work together to ensure the revival of Bewar and with it the variety of traditional crops that had been cultivated by their ancestors for several generations. They also pledged that they would work together to ensure protection, management and improvement of their forests and the improved implementation of Habitat Rights, Community Forest Rights and Individual Forest Rights as prescribed under the Forest Rights Act.
