Bhaderwah : The first-ever All India Adivasi Indigenous Tribal Writers Conference commenced on Saturday here at the Lad Ded Auditorium, Jammu University Bhaderwah Campus, with the aim of safeguarding authentic tribal literature and encouraging young Adivasi writers to showcase their unique culture through their writings.
The two-day conference has brought together 37 Adivasi writers, poets, and cultural experts from various tribes across the country.
A collaborative effort between the ‘Jharkhandi Bhasha Sahitya Sanskriti Akhara’ and ‘Anjuman-e-Taraqqi Gojri Adab’, the conference was inaugurated by Vishesh Paul Mahajan, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Doda, along with Dilmir Chowdhary, ADC, and Vinod Sharma, ASP Bhaderwah. This gathering aims to provide a platform for Adivasi writers to foster cultural exchange and address the challenges they face in preserving their unique identities.
Representatives from different tribes, including Santhali, Gondi, Ho, Bhundhari, Koya, Banjara, Kharia, Kudhuk, Gujjar, Bakerwal, Gaddi, and Munda, have come together from states and union territories such as Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, and Andhra Pradesh.
The workshop coordinator, Vandana Tete, emphasized that the tribes of Northern, Central, and Eastern India share fundamental similarities. The objective of this workshop is to unite all tribes under one umbrella, facilitating the exchange of culture and addressing the challenges they encounter in preserving their distinct identity. Through this conference, the rich diversity and vibrant heritage of Adivasi communities are celebrated, fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of their literary contributions.
