Backwaters of creativity: so called ‘backward’ tribals
It is generally believed that people can only try for higher order goals when their basic needs are met. Legacy of Maslowian theory of hierarchy of needs has been unfortunately accepted uncritically by a large number of people.
But then you pass through the tribal areas of Gujarat and move into Madhya Pradesh, you begin to see a different world. One’s fundamental assumptions about the motivations of common people change. Recently while going through Ghojjiya village in Distt Dahod, as a part of 23rdShodhYatra, we met Kanu Bhai Kagu Bhai who had made an extraordinary wish. He had resolved that if his particular wish was fulfilled, he would get his wall painted.Pratap Bhai Dhira Bhai lakhara of jipatiya village, a tribal artist was then invited to paint the wall with stories, traditional and modern motifs and a commentary on social evils such wife beating etc., The shodhyatris were wondering why did Kanu Bhai get his house painted when he had hardly any belongings in his house? This way of fulfilling made his own life colourful but also provided employment to an artist. Under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Program, only work that planners in delhi can think for Babubhai is breaking stones and digging earth.
if art can be conserved by people who don’t have enough to meet their basic needs, does it not show that high order goals can indeed be pursued without meeting the basic needs. In fact, much depends upon the value context in which knowledge system evolve in different localities. The aesthetic sense of people on the edge of survival under harsh economic and social conditions need not be poor. While there may not be any public policy at state or central level to conserve such arts, and artistic traditions, local communities are trying to their bit as long as they can. In the entire walk of about 100 km, we came across only one more household just at the base of Ratanmahal sanctuary on MP side, in which similar paintings were seen, though with lesser quality of details.
During the course of Shodhyatra, we passed through many village in and around Ratanmahal sanctuary. It did not require a great deal of analysis to notice that that this region has not received attention of those who matter, be it in the field of education or economic development, water supply or health etc. The only redeeming feature of this walk on Gujarat side was that many drinking water wells were being dug under employment program - something that had not happened for a long time and people were happy that it was happening at long last. But there were also villages where the water was being brought from distant small springs- having not very clean water. It was embarrassing to see so much hardship in a region which was not too far away from highly develop Durban enclaves. May be Gujarat also needs an EGS ( employment Guarantee Program started in 1972 drought in Maharashtra) which was funded by the professional tax on the Mumbai residents. There is no reason why we all living in major cities of Gujarat should not pay a tax which would not become part of the common budget of the state. It would remain dedicated and earmarked for the poverty alleviation and infrastructure improvement in such disadvantaged regions. PURA ( providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas advocated by Dr Kalam or rurban development suggested by the state government) could become a prime mover in this direction.
