Sardar Pram Singh Dandpat Chauhan - 'Memorandum on behalf of The Adibasis...'

REGIONAL AUTONOMY SHOULD BE CONFERRED ON THE ENTIRE 

TRIBAL AREAS IN ORISSA. 

———– 

MEMORANDUM 

SUBMITTED 

TO 

THE HON’BLE PRESIDENT 

CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY INDIAN UNION 

NEW DELHI 

SUBMITTED ON 30-7-1949. 

———– 

ON BEHALF OF 

The Adibasis & Other Backward People 

OF 

ORISSA STATES 

BY 

Sardar Pram Singh Dandpat Chauhan 

ADIBASI LEADER 

BONAI GARH. 

MEMORANDUM 

ON BEHALF OF 

The Adibasis Of Orissa States Now Merged In 

THE PROVINCE OF 

ORISSA 

TO 

THE HONOURABE PRESIDENT OF THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY 

NEW DELHI 

Introduction. 

The vast tracts comprising the Feudatory States of Orissa (now merged) abounds in hills and jungles. Its natural build is quite different from that of the coastal plain. As more advanced and civlised races in​ ​habit the coastal plains like wise Bhnia​n​s, Gonds, Juwangs and other tribal races predominate the hilly tracts and are the only original inhabitants of these areas. History bears testimony to the facts that long long ago the ancestors of these tribal races settled in the hearts of these dense jungles and forests and were master of this part of the country. In course of time as their population increased they set up ruling dynasties for the administration of the country. And even now most of the ruling dynasties of these States belong to the tribal races.  

As the Britishers ruled India with an iron hand with the sole object of exploiting the country so did the rulers of these petty States. Naturally discontents and unrest was brewing among the people of these States. When the late lamented Mahatma Gandhi led the Independence Movement in British India the people of these Indian States organised themselves into the All India States People Conference and struggled to bring an end to the autocratic rule in the States. 

India attained freedom on the 15th, August 1947. It was a happy event that as early as on the 14th and 15th Dec’ 1947 the rulers of all the Orissa States signed the merger agreement at Cuttack with the Government of India and accordingly on the 1st. January 1948 the Orissa Government as an agent of the Government of India took over charge of the administration of all the Orissa States. It was on this memorial day that the Hon’ble Sree Harekruson Mahatab the Premier of Orissa made a significant declaration that the Orissa Government will look to the moral material and intellectual progress of the backward areas in the States. 

Orissa Premier’s announcement a mere humbug 

The following instances will clearly show that the Orissa Premier’s announcement of 1st January 1948 is a mere humbug and neither the Premier’s declarations were implemented nor anything is being done to carry them into practise:— 

(i) The first act of the glaring disregard of the Adibasis‘ rights was that in the States Assembly later constituted for the States, adibasis were given a much smaller number of the seats. There were ouly six out of the total number of forty members of the Orissa States Assembly. What can be a greater injustice than this? 

2. Every year the Government of Orissa makes provision in the Budget for a large sum of money for the welfare of the tribal peoples in the province but only a nominal amount is spent for real uplift works and a greater percentage of the same goes as salaries and allowances for the non-tribals who man the whole staff of the department. For example very few adibasi students have been awarded scholarship and very few primary schools have been opened in the adibasi areas and nothing uptill now has been done for the medical relief of the people of the tribal areas in the States.  

3. It was announced by the present Congress Government of Orissa that all landless adibasis would be provided with lands and in many places lists of such persons were prepared. It is surprising to note that although thousands and thousands of acres of cultivable lands are lying waste near about the jungles the same are not being settled but on the contrary waste lands and grazing fields within the village areas are being settled with cultivators. This causes much hardship to the villagers as well as to the village cattle.  

4. There is a large number of States employees who have neither the requisite knowledge nore eveu the slightest idea of the welfare schemes for the uplift of the adibasis and they consider the continuance of the old regime as their only duty.  

5. In most States even high officials unnecessarily delay public works and poor people subjected to much harassment at length find no other alternative but to offer bribes. It is highly deplorable that the officials indulge in such illegal gratifications.  

6. Even at present in most States people are subjected to forcible exactions by the Police officers. No good comes even if it is brought to the notice of the higher authorities but on the other hand the unfortunate reporter or complainant is himself severly taken to task.  

7. It is an offence to critcise the action of the Orissa Government. The critic is prosecuted under the Orissa Public Safty Act and the people are terror stricken and do not dare to protest against the government actions.  

Onslaught on the immemorial rights of the adibasis.  

The Orissa States people had heartily welcomed the announcement which the Orissa Premier made on the 1st January 1948. They entertained high hopes that they would be freed from the evils of the prevailing mal-administration and would attain peace, happiness and prosperity under the new regime. But things went on as usual. There was no check upon the evils coming down from the days of princely autocrates. There was no sign of improvement in the situation and the administration in the States is going from bed to worse. 

, In Bamra, Bonai, Keonjhar and Pallahra there are over 2000 sq. miles of hilly tracts known as Pauri Elaka. Such tribal races as Bhuians, Juwangs and Khonds inhabit these areas. From time immemorial they clear the plain areas on the jungle tops and grow food crops there. This is known as ‘Briuga‘ among them. During the days of the Rajas such areas were clearly demarcated and each family growing food crops by ‘Bringa‘ method used to pay I/2md ‘Urid’ pulse and Rs. I/4/- (Rupee one and annas four only) to the State as annual land rent for all land in its possession. The present Congress Government ef Orissa strictly prohibited cultivation by ‘Bringa‘ method and poor people are deprieved of their sole means of livelihood. But what gross injustice it is! That the above land rent is still being realised from these unfortunate dwellers of the jungles, 

2 Even during the long regimes of the Rajas’ rules none in the ‘Pauri Elaka’ ever paid any tax for rearing cattle but the present Congress Government of Orissa levies taxes on cattle and goats and sheep. This is known as Grazing Tax.  

3. The rights of hunting in jungles by adibasis have been prohibited dy the present Congress Government of Orissa. The laws are so strict that one cannot even take as food an animal found naturally dead within the PAURI ELAKA.  

4. The present Congress Government of Orissa is not satisfied by deprieving adibasis of their age long rights in the Pauri Elakas. They are being terrorised in various ways in order to force them to come down from the Pauri Elakas to the plains but it must be remmembered that the plain lands formerly belonged to the Bhuiyans and other adibasis who first of all reclaimed these jungle plains at a heavy cost of labour and made them cultivable and fit for human habitation. It is true that those living in the plains especially the non-adibasis had driven them away from the land of their ancestors. Poor unfortunate Bhuiyans and other adibasis were forced to take shelter in the jungle and hilltops. Thesc so called civilised people in the plains need labourers to work for them and pressure is being exerted on the government to persuade, threaten or force the adibasis to come down from the jungles to the plains below. What a great wrong? And a great injustice it is? That people should be driven away from their hearth and home again recalled and ensalved! The freedom loving Bhuiyans and Juwangs do not and can never welcome this policy of the government. Their claims is that if they are asked to come down to the plains they must be provided first with their lands from which they were deprieved of by the aggressors.  

5. It is a fact that among Bhuians, Hos, Santals and other adi basis ‘Handia‘ or rice juice is used from time immemorial in all religious and ceremonial occassions. Use of ‘Handia‘ on religous and ceremonial occassions has been strictly prohibited. Those adibasis who break these laws are severely punished and the offenders have to suffer both imprisionment and fines. Even in the present day there is a great many under trial adibasi prisioners whose only offence was that they had used ‘Handia‘ for appeasing their gods on some religious occassions and some ‘Chalnis‘ (Bamboo sheaves) were recovered from their houses.  

6. Attempts are being made to take forcible possesssion of such jungle areas as the Rajas or the Rulers had settled with the adibasis for converting them into arable lands. And in some cases penalty have been imposed on the people reclaiming the land already settled.  

Ruthless suppression of popular movement  

1. On 26th March’ 48 a public meeting of theabibasis was held at Deoghar in Bamra and resolutions demanding the establishment of responsible government in the states were passed and copies of the same were sent to the Central Government and the Govt. of Orissa. Afterwards when no reply came either from the Central Government or from the Provincial Government the adibasis again held a public meeting for the second time at Deoghar and strongly condemned the policy of the Provincial Government and put forward the demand that the State people must have voice in the administration of the States. The Orissa Government disregarded this popular demand and in May’ 48 all leading adibasis of almost all the States were arrested and detained in jail. The adibasis of Bamra in the months of June & July’ 48 repeatedly demanded that all their leaders be forthwith released and they be given representation in the government. As a consequence the administrator of Bamra made an announcement that their demand would be considered on 25 Jnly’ 48 The simple ignorant adibasis readily believed this and on 25th July’ 48 they went to Deoghar in large numbers to know about the fate of their beloved leaders. When the adibasi mass approached the administor’s residence on the following day they were directed to go to the Circuit House situated in a lonely place inside the jungle where the most loyal and notable Rai Bahadur Durga Charan Das the District Magistrate and administrator was halting. This District Magistrate had stationed an armed force near the Circuit House. As soon as the adibasis entered the jungle the armed force under the order of the heartless District Magistrate opened fire on the innocent and unarmed adibasis. As a result of which Five adibasis were killed and fifteen wounded including men, women and children. Afterwards the force looted the adibasis in the moffusil villages.  

2. When this question was raised in the Orissa States Assembly the Hoh‘ble Sri Kapileswar Nand, the Executive Councillor for the States, evaded reply by brandishing adibasis as Communist. But it is so strange to find that he could not give a sing​a​l instance of an adibasi Communist in any State.  

3. When in Dec’ 48 the Premier of Orissa was on tour in Bamra State the Adibasis put forward the demand for compensation to the bereaved family of the victims of Bamra Firing and loss of property due to loot. The Honourble Premier gave an assurance of a due and just consideration of the matter. Thereafter on 10th Jan’ 49 the Working Committee of the Bamra Adibasi Mandal sent one copy of its demand of 13th Dec’ 48 each to the Prime Minister, the States Ministry of the Indian Dominion, the President Constituent Assembly and the Orissa Govt. but all to no efect uptill now.  

Orissa Government not a well wisher & benefactor of adibasis.  

It appears from the facts that the Orissa Government is not the sincere well wisher and benefactor of the adibasis. The Orissa Government does not seem to have the idea of bringing the backward adibasis to the level of the more advanced races of the province nor is the Government anxious to get the co-operation of the adibasis. How can one expect all round upliftment of the adibasis in Orissa? 

Orissa Government unfit to administer Tribal Areas.  

It is a pity that the present Orissa Government has not the slightest idea of the Tribal Administration nor has the requisite knowledge of it. This has been proved by the recent serious blunders committed by the Orissa Government in the course of its administration in the several newly merged States where thousands of innocent lives were lost fcr nothing.  

Administration of its own way by its own people is the only solution for the speedy development of the tribals  

To day every one realises the importance of uplifting the backward races in India. This can be possible only when the language, culture and civilisation of the adibasis are adequately protected and above all when adidasis are given the administrative machinery best suited to them.  

All former Indian States predominately inhabited by tribal people should be included in the List of Scheduled Areas.  

It is gratifying to note that in the whole of India certain tracts have been constituted as Scheduled Areas for the all round development and progress of the Tribal People. But it is unfortunate that at the time when the Tribal Areas Advisory Sub-Committee of the constituent Assembly was touring in the different provinces of India the States had not then merged in India. So they were excluded from the list of Scheduled Areas recommended for the different provinces. Happily for the country almost all the States have merged in the provinces of the Dominion of India. We most earnestly and strongly appeal to the Hon’ble President and all the Hon’ble Members of the Constituent Assembly that all such States or portion of such States as are predominately inhabited by tribal people be included in the list of Scheduled Areas before the New Constitution is finalised.  

Thirteen Former Orissa States be included in List of Scheduled Areas.  

As in course of their tour the Tribal Areas Advisory Sub-Committee had not visited the States there may arise some difficulties in deciding the question of including a particular tract in the Scheduled Areas. To overcome this in convenience we produce the Table I as shown in page 6, based on the 1941 Census, showing the population according to communities of all such States or areas within the province of Orissa which are predominately inhabited by tribal and other backward people.  

Census Figure of 1941 not genuine. In fact adibasi figure must be very high.  

Table No. II based on the Census figure of 1941 shown the tribal population to be 47.6 per cent and that of the Scheduled Caste (Which have much in common socially, culturally, liguistically, economically and educationally) to be 10.2p.c. Thus consisting 57.8p.c. of the total population. But this calculation is not genuine as the non-tribals in the above States are to be found only in the capital towns and in a few villages in the sadar sub-division. The rest of the States are inhabited only by the backward tribal races. This being the fact percentage of adibasis population in the States must be very high.  

The districts of Koraput, Sambhalpur, Ganjam Agency and former 13 Orissa States as shown in Table Ii be declared auto- 

The total areas of the above States as shown in Table I is 23,457 sq. miles and it has a predominately tribal population. At present, according to the recommendation of the Tribal Areas Advisory Sub-Committee only Koraput and Ganjam Agency have been costituted Scheduled Areas. It is unfortunate that such a district of Sambhalpur which has a predominately tribal population and which was partially excluded area only the other day has been excluded from the list of Schedule Areas in the province. We appeal 

TABLE NO. I. 

SHOWING POPULATION ACCORDING TO COMMUNITIES 

OF 

THE 13 ORISSA STATES. 

——— 

TABLE NO. II. 

Showing population according to communities with percentage of the proposed
Regional Autonomous Area of ORISSA. 

N.B,—Others include, Muslim, Indian Christian, Anglo Indian; Pars​s​ee, Budhist, Jains, Sikhs & Caste not returned. 

Autnomous districts and Regional Autonomy be conferred. 

to the Hon’ble President and Hon’ble members of the Constituent Assembly to give a due and just consideration to this humble memorandum submitted by the Adibasis of Orissa States and forthwith constitute Koraput, Ganjam Agency, Sambhalpur district and the above Thirteen States which is a vast contagious geographical tract, larger than any of the Tribal Areas in India, with an area of 43,124 sq. miles and a population of 3,933,582 backward people (Scheduled Caste 691,229 and Scheduled Tribes 3,242,353) out of the population of 6,806,706, into Autonomous Districts and Regional Autonomy be conferred on the entire area as has very rightly been done in the case of Tribal Areas in Assam. 

NAME OF THE STATES SHOWN IN THE MAP. 

1.Mayurbhanj State, 2. Kalahandi State, 3. Patna State, 4.AthmalikState,
5, Bamra State, 6. Baudh State, 7. Bonai State, 8. Gangpur State, 9. Keonjhar
State, 10. Nilgiri State, 11. Pal Lahra State, 12. Rairakhole State, 13. Sonepur
State, 14. Sambhalpur District, 15. Ganjam Agency, 16. Koraput District,
17. Rest of Or!ssa. 18. Remaining States. 

NOTE. 

The map above shows the proposed Regional Autonomous Area to be 43.124 sq. miles. To this may conveniently be added 4505 sq. miles, i.e. the total areas of the remaining 11 States of (1) Athagarh (2) Barmba (3) Daspalla (4) Dhenkanal (5) Hindol (6) Khandpara (7) Narsinghpur (8) Nayagarh (9) Ranpur (10) Talchar & (11) Tigria. The population of these remaining States are of Tribal Origion but have been recorded otherwise during the last census. Most probably they have been ejected from the lands of their forefathers. 

The Publication Branch of Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, while dealing ‘Orissa States‘ in its illustrated book ‘Indian States To-day’ have very aptly proved these remaining states of Orissa to be Tribal Areas. The remark column of the above book runs thus. “These fifteen States have no connected or authentic history. They were first inhabited by aborginal races who were divided into innumerable tribal groups, each under its own chief or headman. They carried on incessant warfare with their neighbours. In course of time their hill retreat were penetrated by Arayan adventures who gradually overthrew the tribal chiefs and established themselves in their place………… The ruling family of Ranpur is Khond in origion and is the only known example of the origional settlers retaining their rule inspite of many vicissitudes.” 

The above facts go to prove how the more advanced & civilised races cf the costal plains covering only an area of 12,240 sq. miles exploit the people of the vast backward areas covering 47,623 sq. miles. 

Printed at South Bihar Printing Press, Chakradharpur.  

(Notes: 
1. Certain content in the document was unclear or incompletely written. The same has been marked as [unclear]. 
2. Typographical errors in the original document have been retained to ensure authentic reproduction of the original document.)