A Report of the Seminar organised by Solidarity Forum for Adivasi Rights Struggles (SFARS) on9th and 10th of August, 2024 in Hyderabad

Indian government declared war on the Adivasi (Indigenous) people of Central and East India in the states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha and the bordering regions for the past two decades first with the launching of Salwa Judum in 2005 followed by Operation Green Hunt (the most comprehensive offensive yet) in 2009 and its subsequent intensification with the operations Prahar and Samadhan and then Operation Kagar (‘Last War’) launched in 2024. Thousands of Maoist revolutionaries (most of them being Adivasis), unarmed civilian Adivasi youth, women and children have been killed, brutally tortured, women raped and thousands more imprisoned in these two decades. Hundreds of thousands of military, para-military and police personnel, and quasi-vigilante groups have been deployed in these areas to displace, dispossess the Adivasis and either drive them out of the forest or subjugate them. They have launched even air strikes with drones.

The Indian government and the state governments are resorting to such brutal oppression to serve the interests of big comprador capitalists and the imperialist MNCs. These Adivasi areas are huge reservoirs of various kinds of minerals, coal etc. During this process, the governments are violating the Indian Constitution and the very laws that the Indian parliament has enacted to protect the rights of the Adivasis and the forests. The Indian government is violating various UN covenants that protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples, that govern the conventions to be followed during armed conflict etc. to which it is a signatory.

In the name of ‘Last War’ (Operation Kagar), the government has concentrated further more armed forces in the area of Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, making the region one of the most densely militarized zones in the world.

Certain civil society groups and democratic intellectuals in the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have come together to protest this brutal war of the Indian government on the Adivasi people and formed Solidarity Forum for Adivasi Rights Struggles (SFARS).

SFARS held an All-India seminar in Hyderabad on 9th and 10th of August, 2024 with the theme of ‘Adivasi Rights – Corporatization- Solidarity Movements’.

The Solidarity seminar began on the 9th of August with the welcome address by Prof. Laxman. He welcomed the speakers, the delegates who came from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Delhi, Odisha and Adivasis from the two Telugu states, Chhattisgarh, Odisha etc. He spoke about how the corporates and their mining is destroying the forests in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, which are the lungs of India and are crucial for not only the Adivasis living there but to all the people of India. He warned about what happens if the forests are handed over to the corporates comparing the situation in Wayanad where hundreds of people have died due to man-made disaster.

Prof. Haragopal presided over the first session. Prof. Madabhushi Sridhar addressed the gathering as the chairperson of the reception committee. He said that generally we talk about rights when there are violations of it. So, we are talking about Adivasi rights on this day because Adivasi rights are being violated. He said that the new criminal codes enacted are themselves criminal giving unlimited powers to the rulers.

After the welcoming words from the Chairperson of the reception committee, Justice Sudarshan Reddy spoke. He lamented that there is no public discourse in the ‘main stream media’ and the social media about the injustice being meted out to the ‘forest dwellers’ / indigenous people both historically as well as in contemporary times. They think of the indigenous people as ‘the others’ and lesser people and potential enemies. They are not thought of as protected by notions of justice He spoke about the ‘settler genocide’ which is less marked than the overt violence where culture of the indigenous people is replaced by the culture of the settler colonialists. Genocide is not limited to mass killing of the people but to the destruction of the way of life, culture, economy, and institutions etc. of those people. Attempts at describing the extreme destructive processes unleashed by the elite centric economic development are met with social hostility as well as state persecution.

British considered the forests in India only as the sources of timber and minerals with utter disregard to the forest dwellers. Indigenous people occupied very scant space even during the discourse of constitution framing by the constituent assembly.Only in 2006, Forest Dwellers rights were recognised. The amendments made in 2022 annulled the rights of the ‘Gram Sabhas’ (Village Councils) to decide upon what happens to their villages and the forests around them. This is again a whole sale attack on the rights of forest dwellers. In conclusion he says that continued articulation of the adivasi rights to their modes of life and social justice within constitutionally permitted means is absolutely essential. Equally importantly the idea of social justice for Adivasis must also be located at the centre of the debate regarding the protection of the environment.

Prof. Manoranjan Mohanty started by recollecting about his association with the Telugu people and the Adivasis of this area. When we say Adivasis, it is a recognition of the fact that they are a civilization and were subjected to aggression on many an occasion in the history. Colonialism has resorted to two gradations – gradation of labour and gradation of cultures. To fight all the oppressive regimes, it is important to go to the roots of knowledge and know how the oppressors have appropriated, in the name of civilization, its resources – economic, political and cultural. Today we are subjected to economic, political and cultural violence. He called for rejection of describing Adivasis as unique and then adopting a patronizing attitude towards them. Adivasis are part of the diverse peoples.

Then he asked to adopt the spirit of ‘Ubuntu’, a Zulu term, which denotes – ‘I am because of you are’ and transform the relationship of exploitation into a relationship of Ubuntu, a relationship of mutuality – Interdependence of equals. But Corporates like Adani, Ambani, Tata, Vedanta etc. are renewing their MOUs and asking for sacrifices in the name of development and national interest – not mutual interest. This is not Ubuntu frame work or paradigm of development.

There is a lot to learn from two revolutionary movements from the colonial times. One is Birsa Munda’s Ulgulan (Great Turbulence) and the other one is Alluri Sitaramaraju’s revolutionary movement. Both of them were anti-colonial as well as anti-feudal movements. They articulated the rise of the Adivasi civilization. On this 30th anniversary of this day, we have to resolve that Adivasi term becomes the rise of that civilization. In Adivasi exploitation, mining exploitation is obvious to e eye but it is not limited to that only. It is the exploitation of all their other resources like forests, rivers and even language and culture etc. Modern development has led to politics of dispossession and disentitlement. Adivasi people have an inherent nature of sharing. But they share on the basis of Ubuntu and not in the name of the so called national interest. We have to oppose the politics of dispossession and disentitlement.

In the last decade three things have happened. Sarasvati shishu Mandir movement. Nanaji Desmukh’s social welfare programmes in Adivasi areas in the name of Vanvasi Kalyan Asrams. The third one is the symbolic appropriation of the names, institutions etc. By doing all this they want to ‘assimilate’ Adivasis into the ‘main society’ by doing away with their distinct identity etc.

In the name of development, loot of Adivasi areas by the big Corporates is promoted. They are destroying the planet by destroying the rights of the Adivasis. Therefore this conference has to rightly challenge that and Mr. Mohanty has congratulated the SFARS for organising this conference at this critical juncture.

Prof. D. Narasimha Reddy, Retd. Professor of Central University of Hyderabad spoke. Colonialists started treating colonial people as lesser people and lesser culture and took upon the ‘Whiteman’s’ burden of ‘civilizing them’. Now we see Adivasis as a people of lesser culture. By August 9th 1994 when this day was adopted as a day of indigenous people, many Adivasi communities in America and Latin America were actually exterminated because they were residing in the lands of rich resources. This was called ‘resource curse’. This type of imperialism is called ‘Extractive Imperialism’. In India, there is internal imperialism. This whole process of extraction is also Ecological Imperialism. The resources in these places are so rich that can be gauged by the salary taken by the CEO of the French cement company set up in Dalli Rajhara area of Chhattisgarh. His salary per annum is 5.6 billion dollars. To get these super profits, they are resorting to all the repression. Therefore it is imperative for all to stand in solidarity with the Adivasi struggles to stop this juggernaut of imperialist and big capital plunder.

After lunch break Himanshu Kumar spoke. He started by saying that those who toil are poor and those who don’t toil are rich. This is injustice and where there is injustice, there cannot be peace. No Naxalite or communist needs to teach to oppose this injustice. This fight cannot be curbed by any military repression as long as there is injustice and inequality. Himanshu Kumar narrated the tales of latest oppression.The Adivasis are not being allowed to go to the jungle. All their tools are being confiscated. Their musical instruments are being destroyed. He also narrated how Adivasi youth are being jailed continuously. He recalled how Jaipal Singh Munda had told Nehru that if he pursues the mode of development modelling the American development model, then Indian state will end up one day waging war against the Adivasis of this country. Bhagat Singh and Gandhi also talked about this war. Bhagat Singh stated that the state of war exists and shall exist as long as the loot of labour and resources continue whether under the regime of the British or after the change of regime. Gandhi says that the model of development of the British is the model of the Evil (Saitan). In the Adivasi areas there are hundreds of camps to enrich the treasuries of the rich people. There is a war going in Adivasi areas. There are bombs, aerial attacks, guns etc. that are used in any war. There is also that one thing that happens in international wars – Rape. Forty women were raped in Pedda Gelur. There are many other instances where ten to twelve women are raped in many villages. Even the National Human Rights Commission says about an incident that there is prima facie evidence that the security forces have raped 16 women. But nothing happened. In Chhattisgarh, the system has collapsed. There, the State is the murderer and rapist. When the State is the oppressor, where would you go? To the courts, one may wonder. But Himanshu says that he has filed 522 cases in courts. But the Supreme Court in the case of Gompad massacre, fined Himanshu himself a fine of Rs. 5 Lakhs. What use is it then to go to courts? In US 6 crore Native Americans were killed. In 65 countries the Europeans exterminated native people.

E. Venkateswarlu, MLC from Kakinada, AP spoke. He expressed concern about what is happening to the Adivasis and Forests of Central India and his and his teachers’ organisation’s support and solidarity to the Adivasi struggles.

Dr. Gopinath presided over the second session. He raised the question of whether the exploitation and oppression of Adivasis has begun only with the arrival of the Aryans. He also spoke about the enormous mineral resources under the feet of Adivasis and that the present war being waged on the Adivasis is for the exploitation of these minerals. He raised the question as to how BJP could win three MP seats from Adilabad, Karim Nagar and Nizamabad, once hotbeds of Naxalite movement. He said that it is the collective responsibility of all as we did not understand the social, cultural and spiritual reality of Indian society properly. He called upon the civil society to fight here apart from standing in solidarity with the Adivasi movement. He called upon all to fight Brahmanism.

Then Bhasha Singh, a senior journalist and author of ‘Un-Seen’ – The Truth about manual scavengers in India, happened to be in Hyderabad and came to the convention. She warned about the communal agenda being spread by the Sangh Pariwar in Adivasi areas, inciting communal riots between Adivasis and Muslims and Christians. State tried to criminalise the whole Pathalgarhi movement of which Father Stan Swamywas a part. She exposed the fallacy of the government’s call to plant a tree in mother’s name, as it is the same government that cuts off thousands and thousands of hectares of forest like in Hansdeo forest. State is trying to criminalise everybody who opposes or resists such loot. This is especially so in the case Adivasis, Dalits and women. She called upon all to be vocal and vigilant about this corporate loot as well as their communal agenda.

Dr Saroj Giri of Delhi University spoke on the topic of India’s constitutional democracy and violence against Adivasis. He asked if operation Kagar and extermination of adivasis’ life is consistent with the basic structure of the Indian Constitution.

He started by saying that the most important revolutionary struggle is going on currently in Silger, Bechapal, Sarkeguda, Gompad etc. where mass resistance of Adivasis is going on against setting up police camps and also against mining. Thus, he says, Adivasi has become revolutionary subject since 1967 Naxalbari revolt and the most advanced detachment of revolutionary transformation in the country.

He further posed the question why an important operation like Kagar is not put up for deliberation in Parliament. He also questions the constitutional courts as to why they don’t intervene to decide on its constitutionality because it violates the basic principle that a state cannot wage a war against its own citizens.

He also questions all the opposition political parties which are giving the slogan ‘Save Democracy and Save Constitution’ as to why they are not making Operation Kagar as part of this discourse.

He asserts that Operation Kagar is not an exception to the rule of law and constitution but their essential kernel, their hidden underside forbidden to public view and scrutiny.

He said that the Adivasi Movement that is going on in Bastar and other places cannot be just seen as a struggle for Jal, Jungle and Zameen. The adivasi is fighting a bigger fight. They are challenging the entire system of wealth creation, distribution etc. They are for the Revolutionary transformation of whole of Indian society.That is also the reason for the level of repression in the Adivasi areas using even aerial bombing and deploying para-military and military in the Adivasi areas.

In between these speeches there were songs and cultural performances by Praja Kala Mandali, Arunodaya and Samskrutik Kala Manch from Bastar.

The second day started with songs. First session on the second day was chaired by Prof. Anwar Khan. Soni Sori, the well known Adivasi Rights Activist, Raghu from Moolvasi Bachao Manch, Prof. Harathi Vageeshan from NALSAR spoke in the first session.

Moolvasi Bachao Manch has been leading the sit-in Dharna at Silinger in Sukma demanding the withdrawal of CRPF camp set up there. That Manch is continuing its struggle relentlessly braving cane charge, firing and harassment. This struggle inspired struggles at many other places to oppose the camps set up there.

Prof Vageeshan talked about how the government sees adivasis and forest as separate entities. But we should demand that they should be seen and considered as one entity. The symbiotic relationship between the Forests and the people residing there and the animals inhabiting there should be recognised.

The constitution has part 10 which gives exclusive rights to the adivasis. It is part of the Federal structure of India where adivasis have been given separate rights. So the struggle that the adivasis are waging in Silinger or during Pathalgadi movement is completely within the ambit of the constitution. Adivasi struggles are as important to them as they are to us living outside the forest in the plain areas and the cities. Because it is the forests that provide us with pure air and water etc. And it is adivasis and their way of life that is protecting all this. Therefore it is imperative for us to stand in solidarity with their struggle so as to protect not only the adivasis but also ourselves.

Prof. Vageeshan concluded his speech by reemphasizing 3 points. The departments of forests and tribal welfare should be merged as one. We should develop an understanding about the collective rights that are there in the Forest Rights Act and the adivasis are also to be made aware of these rights. Whenever we speak about the federal structure of the Constitution we should not limit ourselves to the rights of the states and Centre but also talk about the rights of the adivasi areas which are a part of the constitution in the form of part 10.

Raghu of Moolvasi Bachao Manch started with Bhoomkal johar to the audience on behalf of the Adivasis of Bastar. Continuous massacres are taking place in Bastar since 2020-21 as though such things are taking place in an enemy country. In this year alone, from 1st January onwards, massacres are taking place with the killing of scores of people – sometimes 10, sometimes 12, sometimes 20 etc. In Bastar, at present mass movements are going on in 42 places. We are demanding that whatever takes place in our villages it is to be done only by the consent of Gram Sabhas (Village Councils). Before the Silinger movement, Amdai, Raoghat movements took place for some months. Silinger movement is going on since May, 2021 against setting up of the camps. CRPF fired upon the protesting people killing six people including an unborn child. 394 people suffered injuries.

Media and some people wrongly accuse us of opposing road building. That is not true. We need roads so that our motorbikes, cycles, ambulances, transport buses can move. But the very wide roads that are being built are not for that purpose. More over Adivasis can’t even use these roads, as there are camps set up every 2 to 3 km. Adivasis are stopped at every camp and harassed in various ways. Traditional weapons like axe, bow and arrows are like another organ of the Adivasi’s body, and Adivasis have been carrying them from time immemorial. But now it is made a crime and Adivasis are harassed and arrested or jailed. Now Adivasi women cannot walk alone. But since District Reserve Guards and Bastar Fighters have been formed comprising of Adivasis, they are forced to unleash repression on their fellow Adivasis. This is the unique tragedy unfolding in Bastar.

In 2024, in the four districts of Kanker, Narayanpur, Kondagaon and Bastar 168 people have been killed, most of them in fake encounters. In Sukma, Bijapur and Dantewada 48 have been killed in a similar fashion.Many times the whole village is rounded up and used as human shield to go through forest. Many Adivasi leaders like the president of Sarv Adivasi Samaj, Surju Tekam; Sunita Pottam, Gajendra Manali, who are leading the struggles are arrested and sent to jails. He then appealed to all the democratic rights activists and others to support and stand in solidarity with the Adivasi movements in Bastar and also propagate about the atrocities going on there in newspapers and other media in order to save Bastar and Adivasis.

Second session was chaired by Anuradha (IFTU). Soni Sori, Atram Suguna and Sandhya (POW) spoke in this session. Soni Sori started by expressing her happinesswith the presence of the large number of audience on this occasion in solidarity with the Adivasi movements. In spite of all the repression, Adivasis are not ready to leave their homes and forest. She accused Adani of trying again to acquire Nadraj Pahad. Earlier Adivasis defeated Adani’s efforts by their movement. Six month old child was killed in police firing when her mother went to stop the felling of the trees. Soni Sori reiterated what Raghu had said earlier about the construction of roads. She reemphasized that the roads are not being built for the interests of the Adivasis but to protect the interests of the big mining corporates and for the transportation of the security personnel who are there to protect that loot. In Mudvendi, Karcholi and other villages, small children died when they tried to retrieve unexploded shells dropped by the police. She says that Naxals are there in Bastar for the past four decades, but why only now such explosions taking place after the police are going into the interiors of the forest and setting up camps?

The police raised many vigilante Adivasi gangs and are trying to get Adivasis killed by Adivasis. These Vigilante groups are so brain washed to get them rid of any semblance of humanity in them. She lampooned the policy of giving rewards for killing because of which so many killings are taking place in the name of encounters, but which are mostly fake. In this year alone nearly 8-9 crore rupees have been dispersed for killing in the name of Naxals.

Rapes in Bastar are of a different kind. Lakke didi was dragged into the forest by the security forces in spite of the protest by other women. She was very very brutally raped and raped till she breathed her last. The police officials give three options to the Adivasis. Surrender, Jail or Encounter killing. But women are given the fourth option of brutal rape. She then narrated how pollution by the Bailadilla mines is causing numerous abortions in the villages affected by it. Some women even had up to nine abortions. The profits from Bailadilla are making some super rich. Can’t the Adivasi youth see that the forests are being felled, a lot of pollution is taking place in the name of mining and development and so, why would they need any Naxal-prodding to protest these?

She questioned as to why there are no good hospitals, schools and colleges but only wide roads are being built when the government talks about development. She demanded that these rewards for surrendering and killing should be stopped and the promotions given for killing in the name of encounters should also be stopped. She again and again appealed to find ways to stop these atrocities and killings and rapes. She suggested that one immediate way of doing is to demand to put an end to the surrender and reward and promotion policies. She concluded her speech by appealing to all to stand in solidarity with their movements and keep questioning the government about its oppressive, exploitative and repressive policies.

Com. Anuradha (IFTU) chaired the Second session in the morning. Sandhya (POW) spoke. Then Prof. Kodanda Ram spoke about how Adivasi lives are endangered for the sake of mining. He reminded the audience about the present lack of much resistance to this exploitation and repression from the outside world. He recalled about earlier resistance and the resultant rights. He also spoke about the need to build such resistance movements from the civil society again. Then Atram Suguna (an Advasi rights leader) spoke. She also lamented about the exploitation that is going on in the lives of Adivasis even after 75 years of independence. She spoke about the collective life of the Adivasis and criticized the powers that be that are destroying the lives of Adivasis for the profits of the corporates. She informed the audience that Adivasis are just fighting for their rights in their own lands with the slogans of ‘mava nate mava Sircar (Our rule in our villages)’ and ‘Jal, Jungle, Jameen’ and appealed to stand in solidarity with the Adivasis.

Post Lunch session was chaired by Prof. Anwar Ali Khan, Easwar Gajveli, Battu Venkateswarlu and Kishore Kumar. Prof. Hargopal, Dr. Babu Rao, a scientist and Bellayya Nayak (National Chairperson for the ST department of Congress Party) spoke.

Easwar spoke about the need for categorisation of Scheduled tribes also along the line of Scheduled Castes so that the fruits of reservation are enjoyed by the more backward STs also. He spoke about the need to prepare more people from the Adivasi sections who can come forward vocally to speak about their own rights. He also reemphasized about the need of the forests not only to the adivasis but to everybody, including to those in cities like Hyderabad. Therefore it is necessary to speak about protecting the forests by all and not just adivasis.

Dr. Babu Rao spoke on the topic of ‘Development model and the impact on Environment. He criticized the present development model which is a continuation of colonial model and currently the imperialist model. The production of goods is not based on needs but market driven. Even what the people are buying things mostly influenced by advertisements and not based on their needs. Perceived obsolescence is the norm of the day. In the name of development, we should not decide what is needed by the Adivasis. They should decide on their own. The policies and development model are not need based but are designed by the elite bureaucracy who are completely out of touch with the people. This century is of the nature. Nature will have its course and not the present development model. The resources in nature are limited, but the development being pursued is greedy. Nature cannot sustain it. So it will have its course. The GDP growth of the top 20 countries is plateaued for the past few decades. 10000 crores of tonnes of non-renewable sources are being used annually. If the current model is continued then we will need 18000 crore tonnes per annum. Earth cannot sustain this. Adivasis live in a symbiotic way with the nature. Usage of limited fossil fuels cannot be sustained forever. Moreover their usage is causing green house effect and global warming. The temperatures are continuously rising. This is because of the developmental model being pursued. Many civilizations, approximately 68, have perished so far in history. This industrial civilization also cannot sustain. Only Adivasis have a sustainable way of living. The polity is using only commoditized science – Science that suits only their needs and not science that promotes sustainability. That science has no role for people. In Singareni government has violated norms in 18 mines. We can imagine what they are doing in the private sector. As they are unable to sustain their model, they are resorting to severe repression even on environmentalists. The situation that was there during 1930s is recurring again now. People’s protests are also bound to increase.

London Mining Network, Indigenous Women Network of America and Climate Policy Programme of Institute for Policy Studies (Washington DC) sent their messages of solidarity for this seminar and the Adivasi struggles, which were read out in the seminar.

On the second day a rally was taken out by the nearly 4-5 hundred persons from Sundarayya Vignana Kendram, the venue of the conference to Indira Park covering a distance of 3-4 km. Adivasi cultural activists and leaders of the mass organisations and parties walked in front of the rally. Slogans to put an end to the aerial strikes and drone strikes in the Adivasi areas; to lift all the police and paramilitary camps in Bastar, Gadchiroli and other Adivasi areas rented the air. This rally was a first of its kind in a decade. So everybody participated in a very enthusiastic manner. The rally culminated near Indira park.

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