FEMINISTIC ROLE OF TRIBAL WOMEN AT SOUTH ODISHA

                           

 The tribal community of South Odisha of the Koraput region is      very distinct primitive tribes who live in natural forest ambience. They have been preserving the ancestral heritage of their community. Around 62 varieties of the community are living in different locations of South Odisha.But, their amazing lifestyle      creates an illusion in this modern time.

Mostly illiterate and speak their typical native languages, the people of that tribe do not have mobility. They are depending on agriculture and forest collection. These are all their principal sources of livelihood of the tribes. They extensively practice shifting cultivation and they cultivate a mixed variety of millet, pulses and Niger . Being mostly agriculturist, they synchronize their cultural practices. The female members of this tribal group are very fond of ornaments such as bead necklaces, armlets, bangles earnings and nose rings.

 

                                                                                                          

 Tribal women in general in a society would not appear to be making any sort of complaint about their husbands. Mostly , they remain shy and silent.Perhaps, women have not experienced any domination and harassment by male folk and husbands or they could not visualize such situations in their  wildest imaginations. Literacy almost nil among tribal communities. But, these days the government is giving a lot of opportunities to make them educated. They prefer early marriage. The main intentions of getting married at an early time are to give basic training about house hold work as most of the seniors are busy with farming work so they need someone to look after the cooking.

 

The most peculiar system of their marriage is very distinct in nature. A women of the age group 16 to 20 years marries a male of the age group 12 to 14 years. This is how relatively mature women exercise  control over them later. Usually, older girls prefer to marry boys younger than them so that the later would earn for them when the former grew old.

Among all tribes both male and female members are economically self dependent. Both of them go for work to earn for their family. Therefore. male members domination over women folk for their dependence is not found as both enjoy approximately economic equality here.No discrimination is known to be made on the grounds of sex. No preferences are attached to either of the sexes.

Unlike the dowry system prevailed in the main stream culture in India, tribal bodies are given valuable at the time  of the marriage ceremony.Thus , the brides become distinct beneficiaries.

  

 The tribal women have a stable , tolerant, gender non -discriminatory and humane society. They follow and practice the principles of feminism spontaneously. This has been possible in these tribal communities due to the equality on economic terms. Tribal society is a  very primitive life style and attitude. It remains far away from the development achieved by the modern world. Despite their back ground, they are found to be much ahead of the non- hill people.They are natural feminists. In that sense, they are really modern though they might appear primitive.

Sapna Acharya
Travel Writer
Dt-4. 5.2020
Delhi