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| Baigas |
| Baiga Tribesmen, Women and Children, not forgetting
our Gond friends... |
| In Baiga and Gond Tribes you will find an openness and dignity
so refreshing and pure, even when life treats them cruelly. They have magical
qualities that relax, beguile and reward anyone who has the good sense to spend
time in their calming company, and their humour can bring a smile to the lips
of even the most tension filled of souls.
The most fascinating gift these wonderful people have is their jungle instinct
and ability to gently & voicelessly teach those of us who have been distanced
from our planet, just how to balance our lives by simply spending more time
closer to the only world that can ever truly support, protect and nurture us
– the natural world.
Baiga Tribesmen say that it was, is and always will be their Kartavya, (duty
in this life), to live close to Mother Nature, protecting Her from destruction.
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They also say they never ploughed the Earth, because it would
be like scratching the breast of their Mother, and how could they possibly ask
Mother to produce food from the same patch of earth time and time again –
she would have become weakened.
That’s why Baigas used to lived a semi-nomadic life, and practiced Bewar
cultivation (slash & burn) – out of respect, not aggression.Baigas
were able guardians of the natural world in years gone by, simply because most
“civilized” people were fearful of entering the dense Central Sal
jungles.
They dreaded & feared the presence of 3 “Devils” – The
Baiga, The Tiger and Malaria. Nowadays their former duties as joint protectors
of the Maikal Hills green belt have been substantially curbed in favour of more
modern processes. |
| Minimum wages work is available, but being the free spirited
souls they are, Baigas, especially, find it difficult to fit into the regimentation
of modern “work” norms.
However, there are still so many conservation techniques and skills we could
still learn from the Baiga & Gond, if only we were respectful enough of
their ancient skills and deep knowledge of these hills and took time to listen
to their no nonsense approach to life on Mother Earth.
We could actually learn so much from Baiga & Gond Tribes – if we had
the time to spare.
Please support Kanha’s Conservation Trusts efforts to strengthen the future
welfare of our Tribal communities around Kanha National Park.
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| Baigas of Bandhatola dancing |
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