Vanvasis—a reservoir of indigenous knowledge

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Vanvasis—a reservoir of indigenous knowledge

>From Our Correspondent

 

 

"The so-called intellectuals living in cities have to learn many

things from the Vanvasis, specially in respect of culture, human

relations and herbal medicine. There is also a need to redefine the

concept of tribal," said Prof. P.K. Mishra, a retired professor of

anthropology at the N.E. Hill University, Shillong and a visiting

professor of USA and Tridindad universities. He was speaking at a

seminar organised by the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Mysore to celebrate

the golden jubilee year of the Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan

Ashram.

 

Prakash Kamath, south zone organising secretary of Kalyan Ashram

said that several voluntary organisations like V.G.K.K.B.R. and

S.V.Y.M. had set good models of Vanvasi development in Mysore

district, which could be emulated in the entire country.

 

Speaking at the first session, which was on health, Dr Prashant, eye

specialist of Sargur Hospital, pointed out that earlier the Vanvasis

suffered mainly from skin and tuberculosis, but now, owing to the

growing influence of city culture, they have begun to develop

diabetes, blood pressure and heart disease also. Dr Tara Singhal of

S.V.M.M. Muttil, Wynad district of Kerala who conducts monthly camps

in Gundulapet taluk, emphasised on the need to create health

awareness among the Vanvasis. Smt. Kouslya, a full-time worker of

Kalyan Ashram said that full-time women teachers, living in small

huts put up by Vanvasis, conduct classes for primary school children

and teach adults also. They also impart sanskars to them through

bhajan kendras. Dr Balasubramanya stressed on the need to impart

vocational training to Vanvasis. Shri Ravindra emphasised on the

usefulness of the single-teacher schools, which are producing good

results in Vanvasi areas.

 

Economic development of Vanvasis was the topic of discussion in the

subsequent session. Ramesh Kikkeri, an organic farmer with a degree

in mechanical engineering, spoke on the ill effects of chemical

fertilisers and pesticides. He said that organic farming was best

suited for world agriculture. Shri Sachidananda Hegde, a senior

journalist and trustee of Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, exphasised on the

need for collective co-operation among NGOs and for exchange of

ideas and experiences. He said that Vanvasis, Gramvasis and

Nagarvasis were all children of one nation and their diverse

cultures should be preserved while encouraging the process of their

development.

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