It Takes a Village-The Banjara Tribe

Guest Blogger: Olivia Carrillo, MSW '10

As we continue to learn about the caste system and the many ways the people of India define the system we hear that there is a group of people that do not belong within the schedule caste system, but still hold lower status in society and have historically been marginalized – the Nomadic Tribal people or Banjaras. Without land and traveling from season to season to different areas to bring their cattle, to entertain towns, or to sell handicrafts the nomadic tribes people live in a world often untouched by outsiders. However, we had the chance to venture into the world and lives of a people of rich culture, warm hearts, and resilience. The mystique of nomadic peoples is their way of not following the daily structures of Indian society and for this reason they have been stigmatized by being branded as “The Criminals”. For hundreds of years the Banjaras have been accused of being thieves and untrustworthy because of a title that the British had bestowed upon them that ultimately keep the Banjaras from integrating into the larger society. They stand under the radar with no citizenship and no formal education, but continue to remain in the consciousness of others on the outside. You see their tents lining the roads to get to the marketplace and the many children playing within their designated home for the next 4 months. Some Banjaras have settled, which has allowed others to enter their world in efforts to understand the communities in addition to helping them find ways to develop sustainable occupations and to continue to thrive in a tradition of self-sufficiency.

We had the opportunity to have an festive welcome from the Mulegaon Tanta village where the men and young children had lined the streets and upon entering the village we continued to be presented with curiosity and hospitality of the people as the school aged children sat in rolls on the ground and the women sat on the sides of the open space in their traditional attire. The colors of the women's dresses illuminated the approaching sunset and the smiles from everyone brought an immediate smile on my face. They continued to welcome us and show their rich culture by individually greeting us with red pigment and rice on our foreheads and a fragrant bouque of yellow and red flowers (USC colors!). Then the women and girls performed traditional dances from the region. In addition, we saw how the Banjarasas have been successful in an independent business of making alcohol. Although considered illegal by the government, the settled Banjaras make their living on the insatiable appetite for alcohol in the local communities. They began this business because they had no other training and experience in other occupation sectors, so the distilleries were hoisted and then the production of alcohol from sugarcanes started. The community of Mulegaon Tanda has shown outside society their ability to be self-reliant, which allows their children and community to thrive. The system that they have works for them and together they work together to resolve issues of alcoholism, domestic violence, and illiteracy. They have the hospitality to invite foreigners in a manner that allowed me to feel the most present and connected throughout my stay in India. I was a spectator in the ceremony that they held, but the connection with the people affirmed my desire to work with rural and indigenous people. Seeing the resiliency of a people that have been stimatized and their ability to develop as a sustainable community will forever be imprinted in my mind when I think of the beauty of India.