Ghumantu Hai, Chor Nahin: Adivasi Maun Par Vimarsh is the Hindi translation of Dr Ganesh Devy's English original A Nomad Called Thief: Reflections on Adivasi Silence. The English original is published by Orient BlackSwan.
The essays in this book focus on the inadequacies in the way Adivasis have been looked at and thought about, resulting in their complete marginalization and oppression.
The essays are the result of the author's deep involvement with tribal peoples, their cultures and literatures, and also with the problems they face in the ‘modern’ world.
In this book interesting and pertinent questions are discussed:
--tribal aphasia, i.e., lack of communication,
--tribal silence in the face of the threat to their physical environment and to their knowledge systems (ch 6);
--the violence experienced by tribals (ch 2), and also
--the inducting of the tribals in the communal violence in Gujarat in 2002 (ch 3);
--tribal knowledge systems; and
--the relevance of Gandhi to our troubled times (ch 10).
The essays bring together the author’s insights from his decades of work as an activist, student, and teacher working with Adivasis on issues as varied as
--health,
--microfinance,
--education and
--literature.
The essays also highlight initiatives such as Budhan and Dhol (Adivasi news magazines), the Adivasi Academy where the world is studied through adivasi eyes, and the setting up of the unique Museum of Voice.