Ninth edition of Samvaad begins

The tribal conclave hosts over 2500 tribal representatives from 186 tribes across the country

Jamshedpur: Samvaad, a one-of-its kind pan-India tribal conclave organised by Tata Steel Foundation on the occasion of birth anniversary of Bir Birsa Munda, unfolded today at Gopal Maidan.

The conclave began with paying homage to Bir Birsa Munda, India’s most widely revered tribal icon. The inaugural function witnessed the reverberating beats of 501 nagadas and unveiling of the Jawa amid much fanfare.

Traditional tribal heads including Baiju Murmu and Dasmath Hansdah of the Majhi Pargana Mahal, Ganesh Pat Pingua and Rameshwar Ch. Singh Kuntia of the Munda Manki Sangh, Pujar Kongari of the 22 Parha Munda Parha, Rabindra Baraik, Sabha Pati – Chik Samaj, Koushik Chatterjee, Executive Director & Chief Financial Officer of Tata Steel, Deepak Kapoor, Independent Director of Tata Steel, Chanakya Chaudhary, Vice President, Corporate Services, Tata Steel and Director, Tata Steel Foundation, formally declared the Conclave ‘open’.

The inaugural function witnessed performance ‘Colours of Jharkhand’ by around 32 tribes of Jharkhand showcasing their diversity and unity as well as cultural diversity of the state at its best. The performances not only connect the story of the struggles, aspirations and dreams of the tribal communities gathered at Samvaad but also celebrate tribal identity, culture, history and heritage.

Samvaad, a Signature Programme on Tribal Identity, is in its 9th edition this year, scheduled between November 15 to 19 at Gopal Maidan.

Reconvening offline after the pandemic years, Samvaad 2022 is hosting over 2000 people representing about 200 tribes, including 27 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) from 23 states and 4 Union Territories.

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 tribal 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.

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 contributing to the overall discourse in Samvaad.

Day-2 Highlights @Gopal Maidan, Bistupur

Tribal Art & Handicrafts (9:30 AM-12:30 PM & 6:00 PM-9:00 PM)

Tribal Healing Practices (9:30AM-1:00 PM & 3:00 PM-9:00 PM)

Tribal Cuisine (6:00 PM-9:00 PM)

Cultural Celebrations (6:00 PM-9:00 PM)