The Adivasi Way

This is an photo of an Adivasi (Aboriginee) boy I took in India. I observed him for quite a while before taking his photograph, as he was playing around with crabs in the rice fields of rural Kashid.

Let me tell you some things about the Adivasi.

The Adivasi are the indigenous dwellers of India, keeping their ancient, traditional lifestyle up to the beginning of the 20th Century, after which modernization hit them. Much of the Adivasi culture is now lost to us, due to government reform programmes, education, and exploitation.

Some aspects of their life still remain though, which are fascinating, looked at from our (supposedly) educated, westernized viewpoint.

Adivasis never had a concept of money like we do, so even today, an Adivasi does not grasp the idea of money. In particular, the concept of 'saving up' money to spend later is lost on the Adivasi. Most of the money earned by them, through day-labour, rice-planting etc, is spent the same day on alcohol and dope.

Which basically means, that they sing and dance their way through the day, drunk and stoned.

Another interesting aspect of their culture is their lenient views on sexuality. The Adivasi man or woman sleeps around frequently, as their social structures don't condemn extramarital affairs. They don't even get 'married', they simply try out different partners, choose one and have children.

This more relaxed ethic on sexuality, as opposed to the traditional, rigid, christian doctrine of monogamy, does seem a bit freeing.

So can we learn something from this ancient way of living? A lot can be learnt from the past, we just have to go searching for it.

by bargayott