| Who are Vanavasis |
| Vanavasi Location |
| Vanavasi Culture |
| Vanavasi legends |
- Vanavasis are our brethren who live in the remote forests (vana) and hilly areas of our nation.
- They are known as Janajatis in the constitution of India.
- They constitute nearly 8% of India’s population.
- They are in every state of our nation, but majority of them are in Northeast India.
- Vanavasis worship the nature - animals, the Sun, trees, forests, idols, stones, various Gods and Goddesses, and even the formless God.
- There were legendary heroes among the Vanavasis who fought against foreign aggressors, including British, for centuries – Birsa Munda (from Bihar), Talakkal Chandu (from Kerala), Punja Bhil (from Rajastan), Rani Durgavati (from M.P.), Padma Vibhushan Rani Gaidinliu (from Nagaland) to mention a few.
- They have been victims of foreign conspiracy since the British rule.
- Even today some of them are not even reachable to the so-called civilized society.
- In spite of independence, industrial development and globalization, the living conditions of the Vanavasis are pathetic compared to the “Nagaravasis” (city dwellers) and “Gramavasis” (villagers) of India.
- In spite of the various cultural onslaughts, they have retained their deep cultural values.
- Their innocence and poverty have made them victims of anti-social and anti-national forces causing serious problems for the national integrity. (Ref: Niyogi Enquiry Commission Report 1956 - 57.)
- Western Ghats or Sahyaidri Hills – Belgaum, Uttara Karnataka, Shivmoga, Chikkamagalore
- SoligaBetta KurubaJenu KurubaKadu Kuruba
- Yerava
- Malaya mountain range of south Karnataka Mysore,Kodagu,Chamarajanagar, Bandipura, Gundlupet
- Koraga
- Malekudiya
- Western Ghats Dakshin Kannada, Udupi
- Valmiki Nayaka
- Valmiki Beda
- Shivaji (1627- 1680), the Chatrapathi, who fought against Mughals, Britishers and French, was helped by the Mavlas, the tribals, in his war.
- Rana Punja was the chief of the Bhil tribesman, and one of the most trusted and respected leaders who fought along the side of Rana Pratap, in the battle of Haldi Ghati (1576 AD). Now, Rana Punja Award is instituted in his name.
- Rani Durgavati (1524 – 1564): After the death of her husband, the Gond King, protecting her son and Gondwana, she fought mighty Akbar’s army; when defeat was inevitable, she stabbed herself with the dragger to save her vanity. Rani Durgavati University, in Jabalpur is in her name.
- Birsa Munda- (1875 -1901) was revered as God among his tribes in Jharkhand. He was a fierce freedom fighter. Worried by his popularity, Britishers treacherously caught him and jailed. He died mysteriously at the age of 25 in Ranchi jail. The Airport at Ranchi is named in his honour.
- Tilka Manjhi of Santhal tribe (from Bihar) - In 1785, was hanged to death in Bhagalpur. He had formed a force of ten thousands Santhals to run a parallel government against the British rule.
- Talakkal Chandu (from Kerala), The Kurichiyas and Kurumbas tribes inhabiting the mountains of Wayanad in Malabar were led by their chieftain Talakkal Chandu and brought many victories to Pazhassi Raja through guerilla warfare against the British. Talakkal Chandu was captured by British in 1804.
- Padma Vibhushan Rani Gaidinliu (1915- 1993): At the age of 13, this young girl from Manipur joined the revolutionary movement against the British. She was captured and sent to life imprisonment for waging war. She was released after 14 years on 14th October 1947.
- Haipou Jadonang (1905- 1931): He organized Heraka army – a separate women battalion and challenged mighty British Empire. The great freedom fighter of Manipur was captured and hanged by British Empire on 29th August 1931.
- Tatya Tope: A Bhil was awarded death sentence on April 17, 1859 by British for his part in the First Freedom struggle of 1857 in nearby Jhansi. He was hanged to death in Shivpuri.
India is described as a continent for its diversity in culture. The Vanavasi festivals, dances, customs, costumes, beliefs, methods of worships are part of this diverse and remarkably deep-rooted culture. We can find wonderful harmony in this diversity.
The tribals are part and parcel of the Sanatana Dharma. The all pervasive Aditi, referred in Upanishads, is the mother of Aditya the Sun God, Indra, Agni, Vayu, Varuna are the basic natural forces worshiped by tribals in different forms. The great epics, Ramayana and Mahabharatha, are originated from forest. Valmiki, the author of Ramayana was a tribal. Shabari’s love and affection towards Rama, brotherly feeling of Rama embracing Guha, the Nishadha and the tribal king give us a glimpses of the tribal character and value systems during Ramayana.
Ekalavya, from the Nishadha tribe, is one of the inspiring characters of Mahabharata, who learned archery through the statue of Guru Dhronacharya and excelled Arjuna, the great warrior to whom Sri Krishna narrated Bhagawat Geeta. It is again the Tribal who give information of Duryodhana hiding in Vyshampayana to Pandavas resulting in the victory of Pandavas in 18 days Dharma Yuddha at Kurukshethra.
There were legendary heroes among the Vanavasis, who fought against foreign aggressors, including British, for centuries –