By Lalita Roshni Lakra

Ranchi, Feb 25, 2019: A national consultation to prepare a tribal policy for the Indian Church heard experts stressing research and development to help indigenous people regain their lost glory.

Tribals were considered ‘backward’ and ‘savage’ from time immemorial, but the Church has helped change the perspective, especially in northeastern India, says Aveivey D, a research scholar.

She was speaking on “Critical analysis on the Church’s contribution among tribals” at the February Feb 19-20 consultation in Ranchi, capital of Jharkhand state, organized by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) Office for Tribal Affairs.

Aveivey, who spoke on the historical perspective of tribals in India, explained how she had experienced the stigma of being a ‘tribal’ and a painful discrimination that followed. She stressed research and development to help tribal leaders understand the ground realities. She also included the international perspectives of tribals and then critically presented the status and role of the Catholic Church in northeastern India.

Jesuit Father Joseph Marianus Kujur of Ranchi wants every tribal to realize the profoundness of their tribal values. Gender, ethnicity, clan identity, inter, intra and extra elements, social evils, jealousy, pride and language have divided tribal people, he said. “There is always tension between modernism and traditionalism. So, there should be integration between modern and traditional culture.”

Bishop Vincent Barwa, chairperson of the Office for Tribal Affairs, who opened the consultation, said the CBCI Standing Committee meeting held on Sept 26-28, 2018, had proposed to formulate a tribal policy and strategy to develop tribal theology and philosophy. This, it added, would motivate and create interest among the students during priestly/Religious training and to prepare them for their future mission in tribal areas.

As many as 26 participants attended the first round of national consultation.

Bishop Barwa of Simdega says the CBCI tribal policy “will help us translate the Constitutional provisions to realities for an egalitarian and communitarian life of tribals, which is broken today as many tribals are leading to individualism. On the other hand they are also harassed culturally.”

The proposed policy would also deal with tribals’ customs, traditions, standard of life, spirituality, socio-cultural, economic and community life, he added.

Divine Word Father Nicholas Barla, secretary of CBCI Tribal Affairs, spoke on “Church and the Tribals’ situation in India.”

In the discussion a few points emerged, such as – if same spirit of Jesuit Father Constant Lievens, a Belgian missionary in Chotanagpur would have been continued then a drastic change would have brought in the life of tribals.

“The challenge before us now is how to realize the provisions of Constitution today. In many Scheduled areas, tribals are demanding the implementation of the provision of Fifth Schedule. There is an urgent need to get involved in demanding for the Constitutional rights of tribals. We need to bring our tribal identity first followed by any other identities,” said Father Barla.

The participants held a sharing season on tribal situations in different states and the engagement of the Church by the participants.

The CBCI national tribal policy should be inclusive in its approach. Thereafter 13 names were proposed for drafting tribal policy.

The second part of the consultation focused on tribal theology and philosophy studies.

The self-discovery will help the tribals to relate to God, neighbor and one another. Tribal theology is so rich and profound and this has to be realized and practiced by all tribals, said Bishop Barwa.

“Tribals are growing in their consciousness of God. There is a need to do research in tribal ethos. More research work, seminar and mobilization are required about tribal philosophy and theology,” said one of theologians.

A research scholar and participant shared about the preservation of tribal cultures with a proper methodology.

“There is enough of tribal literature, so there is a need of re-visiting those ideas, concepts and expressions. Tribal history has been written by many non-tribals. So, we need to go to our origin, our roots, and our rich history. The signs and symbols are the part and parcel of tribal life, tribal faith as well as Christian faith,” said Salesian Father Zephyrinus Baxla, a participant from North East India.

There is a need to create the ambiance of tribal spirituality at seminaries and formation houses. It is difficult as how to articulate the language of faith, he added.

“The very word/term of ‘tribal’ denotes something that we are lower than others. We need to give a new meaning to our identity and to define ourselves,” said Jesuit Father Satya Prakash Tigga from Madhya Pradesh, central India.