The political ambitions of Adivasis in the state of Gujarat are changing. They now understand the essence of representation well, and they do not seek just constitutionally mandated representation given through reservation in government jobs, educational institutes/universities, and political reservation, or just the representation in Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC), but they seek it beyond this, and they are asserting to get their representation every possible sector or organization such as in political parties, cooperative organizations, the private sector, etc.
Hence, they are trying to become more active politically and want to assert their rights through it. Though many factors are responsible for the political ambitions of Adivasis, the main reasons here are the new projects coming up with the name of development which is leading to land acquisition and destruction of forests, violation of cultural identity and rights, and disregard of constitutional rights. They think that political change is only the solution to counter and save their resources as well cultural rights.
The entire belt in South Gujarat from Ambaji to Umargam, Adivasis predominantly inhabit that constitute 15% of Gujarat’s total population. The big development projects or industries have been implemented and established in these areas. Ever since Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of India, the ‘Gujarat Development Model’ has become popular all over the country. For the so-called Development Model, south Gujarat plays a major role in the development of Gujarat. Surat is known for its diamond industry, and the big industries/factories have been set up at a large scale in the districts of Ankleshwar and Valsad-Vapi. Apart from these, big dams such as Sardar Sarovar Dam, Ukai Dam, and others supply water to more than half of Gujarat. And these are situated in South Gujarat. For all these projects Adivasis have sacrificed their land and other natural resources such as forests and these projects have directly or indirectly affected tribal lives and livelihoods and their culture.
Secondly, development projects are directly affecting Adivasi’s cultural identity. The deities, cultural customs, or traditions of the Adivasis are connected with the forest land, i.e. Prakriti (Nature). When lands and forests are taken away from them, they not only lose resources but also lose their traditional culture. And these questions are directly related to the so-called development. People who have been evicted from their place in the name of development, have been shifted to some other place, and thus the traditional nature worship, they did for years has now stopped and thus their culture has been destroyed. The new generation is not aware of their own culture due to the destruction of the culture that their ancestors believed in. It might also be difficult for them to prove of being Adivasis in the years to come.
And lastly, the provisions of the 5th Schedule of the Constitution and the implementation of the PESA Act in the Scheduled areas are being grossly violated. Under the PESA Act, the Gram Sabha is a powerful body that has every right to the village’s development either to give permission for developmental projects or does it reject them. Even though it is necessary to take the permission of Gram Sabha before implementing any projects in the Adivasi areas, those are being implemented in violation of the PESA Act. Along with this, every non-frontier state especially where the 5th Scheduled is applicable has a Tribal Advisory Committee, which represents the Adivasi areas in respective states and which presents its issues to the governor of its respective state but that too has not been implemented including Gujarat. There are many such issues for which Adivasis are fighting on the streets today in Gujarat.
Currently, when the campaign for the state assembly election is going on very vigorously in Gujarat, every political party has become active in the state and they are trying to attract different communities and especially the communities that are angry with the government including the Adivasi communities. The government is bringing various projects to South Gujarat, and Adivasis are constantly opposing the state government for it. The Adivasi communities, which constitute 15% of the population in Gujarat, reserved 27 seats of the total Gujarat assembly seats which cannot be denied. They play an important role in the politics of Gujarat indeed. In the 2017 Gujarat Assembly elections, the BJP formed the government under the chiefminstership of Vijay Rupani and two ministers were appointed from the Adivasi communities in his cabinet. And suddenly on 11 September 2021, Vijay Rupani resigns and his cabinet also was also dismantled. After that Bhupendra Patel belongs to the Patidar community is made the Chief Minister of Gujarat and this time three new ministers have been appointed from the Adivasi communities in his new cabinet. Along with three new Adivasi ministers in the new cabinet, more importance has been given to MLAs who come from non-reserved constituencies in South Gujarat, where to some extent, the Adivasi electorate has some influence. In addition to it, generally, Adivasi ministers are given portfolios like the Tribal Development department or the Forest department but the Adivasis who have been placed in the new cabinet have been given other important ministries like Water Resources and Supply along with tribal development and forest department. This shows that the BJP-led State government does not want to take Adivasis and their protests lightly, especially for the upcoming assembly election.
In the last few years, many agitations were born in Gujarat, mainly Adivasis’ agitations drew everyone’s attention, especially the agitation against the Par Tapi Narmada Link Project that took place this year. Thus, even before the birth of the Narmada Bachao movement in Gujarat, Adivasi movements were constantly taking place due to various issues related to resources or cultural aspects but they were not given a space in the mainstream conversation or discourse. After the Narmada Bachao protests, Adivasis’ protests of Gujarat took center stage and debate began in the context of Gujarat.
Generally, the movements that took place in the Adivasi areas which the mainstream agencies took into account were all led by non-Adivasis, but after the Narmada Bachao movement, all the movements that have been taking place are mainly led by the Adivasis themselves and these movements too were taken into account. Since the Adivasi themselves have started to lead their people, their leadership has been well received by people and since then they have realized their leadership and negotiable capacity, and therefore their political ambitions have increased.
According to me, the two movements and protests that took place in Gujarat, namely the ‘Narmada Bachao Aandolan’ and the agitation against the ‘Par Tapi Narmada Link Project’, had a great impact on the Adivasis and created social and political consciousness among them. Even after so many years of the Narmada Bachao Aandolan, it has not been over yet, even today it is being fought for one reason or another. After the construction of Sardar Sarovar Dam, the state government erected the world’s tallest statue of Sardar Patel called the ‘Statue of Unity’ around the same dam, and many other tourism projects were introduced in the area and for which the lands of the Adivasis are again acquired. And therefore, even today so many agitations are still going on. And interestingly these movements are being led by the Adivasis themselves.
Besides this, many rallies were held against the Par Tapi Narmada Link Project recently presented by the Union Government. These rallies were directly led by the Adivasis and thousands of people participated in the protests under the leadership of their community leaders. In these rallies or protests, people put their religion, tribe, gender, and political party aside and became a part of these movements. And eventually, the Union and the state governments had to put this project on hold. So, such kinds of agitations show how political awareness and consciousness have been developed among Adivasis, and have also realized that democratic agitations/protests can be used to put pressure on the government and the political party.
Ever since Adivasis’ movements have become prevalent, every mainstream political party especially BJP, Congress, and Aam Aadmi Party have been working at the ground level to attract or convince Adivasis in their favor. Just a few days after the Gujarat government announced the postponement of the Par Tapi Narmada Link Project, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former president of the Congress Party Rahul Gandhi, and AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held rallies in Adivasi belts of South Gujarat. It indicates that the Adivasis of South Gujarat are coming together for a political change.
The 27 seats are reserved for Adivasis in the state of Gujarat. Until the present politics, Congress has been dominant in the Adivasi areas. But after 2014, the BJP strengthened its hold in the Adivasi belt. This time it performed well in Taluka/District Panchayat elections. But since the agitations that have taken place across South Gujarat against the Par Tapi Narmada Link Project, it has changed the political scenario in the Adivasi belt which may create quite a few obstacles for the BJP. Adivasi activists and people in general who are concerned about their issues feel that the upcoming assembly election is very important and that they could bring political change by challenging the power this time and would resolve their issues. And therefore, it can be said that this time it clearly shows that political ambitions have increased among Adivasis of Gujarat for the change.
Note: I am writing this article based on my observation in the field.
PESA Act means ‘Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996