PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Nov 15: Samvaad, one of the largest ecosystems on tribal identity enabled by Tata Steel Foundation, began at Gopal Maidan today.
Unfolding to the traditional beat of 351 nagadas, dhols and musical instruments, this day also commemorates the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, the iconic tribal freedom fighter of Jharkhand.
The theme for Samvaad 2023 is – Walk with Me – recognising the journey of ideas, individuals and collectives from and amongst the tribes of India.
The theme is aligned with the conversations and dialogues that have been unfolding at the Samvaad conclave over the past decade, and how they are poised to resolve the challenges that lie ahead, with shared wisdom, exchange of ideas and self-learning.
Samvaad is held at multiple locations and this year it is spread out across five locations – TSF Community Hall (RD Bhatta), Jamshedpur Nature Trail, Tribal Culture Centre, Gopal Maidan and Johar Haat. Gopal Maidan and Tribal Culture Centre are the main activity areas for Samvaad 2023.
A cloud kitchen facility is being set up at the Johar Haat arena, in Prakriti Vihar, where food for home delivery will be prepared, and sent through Zomato, the official delivery partner.
A healer’s workshop will be conducted at the TSF community hall to offer a closer look at traditional healing practices. At the Jamshedpur Nature Trail, Samuday Ke Saath film screenings and workshops along with an immersive artisan workshop will be conducted.
In the run-up to Samvaad 2023, the Tribal Identity team of the Tata Steel Foundation has been convening regional Samvaads, residencies with artisans and musicians, cinema-based dialogues, extensive on-ground mobilisation for fellowships and the Tribal Leadership Programme, allowing to meet old friends and new communities in the remotest parts of the country to build a rooted and representative discourse at Samvaad this year.
Over the years, Samvaad has directly brought together 40,000 people from over 200 tribes of India and 17 other countries in an impartial contemplation of the tribal development narrative balanced with an unstinted celebration of tribal culture, wisdom and way of life.
Samvaad 2023 will shed light on various elements that have emerged from the conclave over the years, growing into individual identities of change.
