Voicing my Adivasi-ness

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Manish Surin

Manish Surin is pursuing his M.A. Social Work in Dalit and Tribal Studies and Action from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. His current research is focused on Pathalgadi Movement in Jharkhand and Assertion of Tribal Self Rule; wherein he seeks to unravel its perspectives from within.

Latest posts by Manish Surin (see all)

• मेरी आदिवासियत की आवाज़ - April 10, 2020
• Voicing my Adivasi-ness - September 3, 2019

how could I theorize your concepts?

when you never realize my context?

of

imposition

subjugation

marginalization

through

the

forests evicted

land lost

and

rivers dammed

i reject your concepts because

they have always imprisoned me

as

outdated

uneducated

unsophisticated

and to not forget

ASSIMILATED
but do you know what I am?

i am antecedent

i have existed before

and I will continue without you

i have seen

communities come together

and fight for survival

i am Adivasi

and my Adivasi-ness

will not be

weakened by your portrayal

you make money

and take the limelight

while asking why I don’t

articulate  for my community

you may write papers

and publish articles

but my narratives

will remain

undiscovered

undisclosed

unrealized

for they have been carried down

from my forebearers

to me

what you write

may one day perish

but what i inherited

will

stay

revive

survive