Author: Avadhesh Kumar
There is nothing unusual in the fact that issues related to tribals are on top in the Jharkhand Assembly elections. 26.02% of the state’s population belongs to tribes and 28 seats are reserved for them. Of these, 19 seats were won by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in the last elections. Together with Congress, this figure had become 26, BJP had won only two seats. It is clear that no party can ignore the issues of tribals.
general conference between elections
There has been a controversy going on in the state for a long time regarding Sarna Code i.e. Sarna Law Code. The demand for recognizing Sarna as a separate religion and implementing the Sarna Code has been raised in every election. This time, during the elections itself, the 24th International Sarna Dharma Mahasammelan is to be held at Luguburu Ghantabari Dhoromagarh located in Lalpania, Gumia. The matter is even hotter than this. Apart from all parts of the state and country, devotees from Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan also reach this Mahasammelan.
all parties agree
Congress-JMM have promised to implement Sarna Dharmacode in their election manifesto. At the same time, BJP has announced to keep tribals out of the Common Civil Code. However, the Soren government had already passed the proposal to consider Sarna as a religion in the Assembly. Then BJP was not in favor of it, but now from the statements it is clear that it is also in favor of implementing Sarna Dharmacode.
Sangh’s stance
BJP’s current stand is different from the earlier stand of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its own. Sangh and its associated Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Tribe Suraksha Manch, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Dharma Jagran Manch – all have been saying that whatever group the tribals belong to, whatever their caste, they are all part of the Hindu religion. Sarna cannot be a separate religion. This is a worship method, which is linked to their culture. Even today, when talking to these organizations, the straight answer is that Sarna may be a sect and sect, but if it is recognized as a religion, then the long conspiracy to separate the tribals from the original Hindu society will be successful. Not only the Sangh, many people working on issues related to tribals and a large section of the tribals themselves have also not been in favor of considering Sarna as a separate religion. They believe that the feeling of separation from Hindu religion was created in them by the British.
what is sarna
For the tribals, it is a matter of their civilization, culture and tradition. Apparently Sarna is a traditional place of worship of the tribals of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Chhota Nagpur region of Odisha. The villagers gather here for their festivals and perform rituals. It is believed that Sarna is the abode of the village deity. In Chhota Nagpur, the village priest is called Munda and among the tribals, Pahan. The assistant priest is called Deuri. Pahan and Deuri sacrifice animals. Local tribals also call this sacred Sarna site as Jaher or Zahira or Jaherathan or Zahirathan. Village deity, Jaher Budhi, Sing Bonga, Buru Bonga etc. are worshiped here. Leo Bonga is a name synonymous with Surya.
British conspiracy
In this country full of diversity in terms of tradition, culture and civilization, such festivals and worships take place at different places with different names and methods, and there is a huge similarity between them. The British declared India a multi-religious country to divide the society. Christian missionaries increased this sentiment among the tribals and converted them.
religion not religion
Religion can never be synonymous with religion in the Indian sense. If we look at it in English terms, there are so many sects, sects, worship methods and languages in India that many religions will have to be recognized in every district. The Sarna Dharma Mahasammelan that we discussed is organized on Sohrai Kunami day, which is actually the local name of Kartik Purnima.
ignoring the truth
Since time immemorial, there have been three types of life systems in India – village, city and forest. Those who have studied the forest dwellers have brought such documents, ranging from land leases to old letters, inscriptions etc., which contain the names of the deities who belong to Sanatan Hindu religion. But, by rejecting this, the forest people were always described as different from Hindus and common Sanatans. In Jharkhand, non-tribals can also be seen participating in the Sarna festival or performing puja in their villages.
attack on truth
The common belief is that Sarna is basically a festival of the Oraon caste among the tribals. A total of 35 castes and sub-castes have been counted among the tribals in Jharkhand. However, it cannot be said that this enumeration is complete, because many times the enumeration is not possible in remote forests. During the British rule, there was a separate column for Sarna religion code in the census, which was abolished in 1951. The beliefs which were legalized by the British with a view to divide and rule the society, can they be continued even today? Sarna must be recognized as a sect and sect and its code must also be accepted, but considering it separate from Sanatan Hindu Dharma would be an attack on the natural truth of India.
(The author is a senior journalist and thinker)
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are those of the author
