Jamshedpur: Samvaad, Tata Steel Foundation’s Signature Programme on Tribal Identity, is in its 9th edition this year and will take place in Gopal Maidan in Jamshedpur from November 15 to November 19. Reconvening offline after the pandemic years, Samvaad 2022 will be host to over 2000 people representing 200 tribes, including 27 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) from 23 states and 4 Union Territories. The sound of 501 nagadas from 31 tribes of Jharkhand will echo through the streets of Jamshedpur from November 15 till November 19.
Samvaad, over the years, has become an ecosystem where tribal communities from all over the country come together, to celebrate tribal culture and start conversations that centre on issues concerning tribal communities in a time of fast-paced development and industrialisation.
Every year, Samvaad is bound together by one specific theme- a theme that is borne out of numerous discussions surrounding tribal identity. The theme for this year is “Reimagine”- aimed towards fostering conversations around the role of indigenous people in enabling social change in this dynamic society and listening to voices from the communities themselves as to what this “reimagination” entails for them, “From responses to climate change, education, and nutrition, we are realising that the answer to the most critical problems that we are facing currently, lies with the indigenous communities of our country and the world. The Conclave will hear stories from across the country who will engage in experience sharing sessions in various areas that affect the communities and enrich the platform with their thoughts. We are confident that Samvaad this time will be instrumental in shaping our own thinking in the tribal way of life and the tribal development discourse of the country. The city has been wonderful host to Samvaad since its inception and we hope of Jamshedpur will have an immersive experience this year also.”
The discourse, one of the biggest platforms on tribalism in India, will see a cohort of tribal artists, weavers and artisans, musicians, healers, home chefs, scholars, film-makers, and performers coming together on one platform to celebrate tribal culture while also contribute to the overall discourse in Samvaad.
Samvaad 2022 will see participation from renowned leaders within their communities and in developmental spaces like Padma Shri Durgabai Vyam and Subhash Vyam, Japani Shyam, Dr Sonam Wangchuk and many more, who will highlight their experiences in different areas that affect the tribal communities through cross-cultural learning and sessions that will enrich the Samvaad ecosystem and take the discourse on tribalism even further by sharing their experiences and stories on the Samvaad platform.
This year, more than 175 tribal healers come together at Samvaad 2022 to put a structure to the Tribal Healer’s Collective- a collective focusing on re-establishing the importance of tribal healing practices and exploring ways of integrating these practices in modern contexts.
Over 41 art forms will be represented in Tribal Arts & Handicrafts through exhibition-cum-sale stalls, alongside live demonstrations of art forms like Santhal Puppetry, Warli Art, and Bodo Weaving among others, where visitors can engage in interactive sessions with the artists while also understanding how these art forms are created. More than 101 tribal recipes prepared by 112 home cooks will be served as Curated Lunches to promote the delectable flavours of these communities. People of Jamshedpur can also relish these dishes from the comfort of their homes by ordering online on “Aatithya@ Samvaad” on Zomato as part of Tribal Cuisine.
Rhythms of The Earth – an initiative to promote tribal music in mainstream spaces, will be showcasing its first full-length album with 12 original tracks, produced in collaboration with Swarathma.
In addition to these interactive sessions and live demonstrations, Samvaad will bring the rich tribal heritage, practices and culture to the ground through cultural performances from tribes all over the country.
