Gadchiroli March 29 (District Correspondent) ‘Adiwasis are the original residents of this country, they are the owners of this land. They never surrendered to the enemies but they were displaced; surrendering is not their history. However, efforts are being made by some quarters of the society to call them Vanvasis, not the Adiwasis. The tribal litterateurs should focus on this’.
This was stated by noted journalist and thinker Prof. Suresh Dwadashiwar while delivering a lecture at the seminar on the subject ‘Adiwasi Literature in Maharashtra’ organized jointly by the Sahitya Akademi and Dandakaranya Shukshan Sanstha at Vidhate Bhavan here this afternoon.
Dr. Rajabhau Munghate, president of Dandakaranya Sanstha, Mr. Omprakash Nagar, In charge Officer of Sahitya Akademi, Mr. Vinod Kumre of the Mumbai University, Dr. Pramod Munghate, member of the Sahitya Akademi were prominently present.
Prof. Dwadashiwar further said that the tribals were the rulers of this country. They have created history. Their history has always been the history of winners, not the losers. However, problems of the tribals are not over yet. The established class of society however does not speak against such problems. The authors and the members of society who have nothing to lose should therefore stand against the exploitation and injustice, he stated.
Mr. Vinod Kumre spoke in detail about the upcoming ultra-advanced technology like artificial intelligence and said will largely affect the literature and the litterateurs and cautioned that this is going to be great challenge before the society. Tribal literature is the original one, not the duplication. This literature should continue in the background of this new change, he opined.
In the second session, well known poet Waharu Dada Sonwane said Adiwasis are the real inventors of the development. There are many things to be learnt from them. Their traditions and culture are very rich but the same tribals are now being asked to join the main stream of society. There is no such need of joining as there is no guarantee of the tribals will be treated with dignity in the so-called main stream. He called upon the tribal writers to bring forward the real history of the tribals.
The other speakers including Mr. Prabhu Rajgadkar, Dashrath Madavi, Govind Gayki, Asaram Lomte, also expressed their views on the various aspects tribal literature. Dr. Hemraj Nikhade conducted the proceedings of the inaugural session. A large number of litterateurs, eminent citizens, students attended the programme.
