The Adivasis

This book brings out a rare collection of material relating to the Adivasis of Jharkhand collected by German missionaries during the period from 1845 -1873; first of course the Mission history of that period then the more mundane subjects, the legends of Adivasis and their social, political and cultural life. The missionaries did not feel it necessary to publish the material in English but used their own language German, depriving sadly, access to such a literature to people who could have read it with the most interest viz. first the educated Adivasis themselves, then the larger Indian readers and finally the whole English speaking world. The first part deals with the history of the Mission itself written by the protagonists themselves in a most insightful manner which was also their first encounter with Adivasis. The second part of the book starts describing the breathtaking beauty of the countryside. The narrative goes on to outline its people and their vivid legends in all its richness. The political and social life, likewise describe the history, the peoples' struggles and battles they fought to preserve their freedom, even with the British troops well equipped with sophisticated weapons. A full chapter is devoted to the legend of Creation and the God Singbonga or Dharme. Similarly one would read in this book the many festivals of Adivasis and the significance behind them. The village and family life are the high points of Adivasi life described from a very humane point of view. The missionaries also found the wedding customs of the Adivasis very interesting and they observed the ceremonies minutely and recorded them in detail. In short every aspect of village or family life including social and political institutions, dancing floors, youth dormitories and the ancestral burial grounds were observed in a new light.