Adivasi Mahasabha, 1938
The Adivasi Mahasabha of 1938 was a political and social mobilisation of indigenous communities in India during the late colonial period. It represented the growing assertion of Adivasi (tribal) identity and demands for socio-political recognition amidst the broader Indian freedom struggle. The Mahasabha highlighted issues of exploitation, land alienation, cultural marginalisation, and the need for distinct political representation for tribal populations.
Background
By the early 20th century, Adivasi communities across central and eastern India faced severe socio-economic challenges. Colonial land revenue systems, forest laws, and the influx of moneylenders and non-tribal settlers led to widespread land dispossession and indebtedness. Adivasis were also subjected to bonded labour, social exclusion, and cultural erosion.
Parallelly, the Indian National Congress was mobilising masses against British rule. However, many tribal leaders felt that the specific grievances of indigenous peoples were not adequately addressed within the mainstream nationalist framework. This created space for the rise of Adivasi-oriented organisations.
Formation of the Adivasi Mahasabha
The Adivasi Mahasabha emerged as part of this assertion. It was convened in 1938 under the leadership of Jaipal Singh Munda, an Oxford-educated tribal leader from Chotanagpur (present-day Jharkhand). Singh had earlier formed the Adivasi Sabha, which later evolved into the Adivasi Mahasabha.
The Mahasabha was envisioned as a political platform to:
- Safeguard tribal rights over land and forests.
- Resist economic exploitation by moneylenders and zamindars.
- Demand educational and political empowerment for Adivasis.
- Promote cultural preservation and recognition of tribal identity.
Key Objectives and Demands
The Adivasi Mahasabha, 1938, put forward several demands:
- Autonomy for tribal areas, with local self-rule and protection from external interference.
- Safeguards against land alienation, ensuring that tribal land remained within tribal ownership.
- Recognition of Adivasis as a distinct socio-political group within India.
- Educational opportunities to uplift tribal communities.
- Political representation in legislative bodies to voice tribal concerns.
Role of Jaipal Singh Munda
Jaipal Singh Munda played a pivotal role in shaping the Adivasi Mahasabha. A charismatic leader and orator, he connected the movement to broader issues of identity and justice. His advocacy highlighted that Adivasis were the original inhabitants of India and deserved recognition as a distinct nation within the Indian polity.
Under his leadership, the Mahasabha avoided merging completely with the Congress, maintaining an independent identity to safeguard tribal interests. This independence later paved the way for the evolution of the Jharkhand Party in the post-independence period, which continued to demand statehood for tribal-majority regions.
Historical Significance
The Adivasi Mahasabha of 1938 was historically significant because:
- It marked the first organised assertion of Adivasi political identity at a national level.
- It laid the foundation for tribal autonomy movements that persisted throughout the 20th century.
- It exposed the gap between mainstream nationalist politics and the aspirations of marginalised groups.
- It contributed to later constitutional provisions such as Fifth and Sixth Schedules, which provided safeguards for tribal areas in independent India.
Legacy
The Adivasi Mahasabha influenced subsequent tribal political movements:
- It directly inspired the Jharkhand movement, which culminated in the formation of the state of Jharkhand in 2000.
- It shaped debates on tribal representation, autonomy, and rights within the Constituent Assembly of India, where Jaipal Singh Munda was a prominent member.
- It reinforced the idea that Adivasi struggles were not only about land and livelihood but also about identity, dignity, and self-determination.
The Adivasi Mahasabha of 1938 thus remains a landmark in the political history of India’s indigenous peoples, symbolising their collective resistance to exploitation and their assertion of a distinct place in the Indian nation.
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