Words and Silences September 2019 “Memory and Narration”
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Words and Silences is the Digital Edition Journal of the International Oral History Association. It includes articles from a wide range of disciplines and is a means for the professional community to share projects and current trends of oral history from around the world. http://ioha.org Online ISSN 2222-4181 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA Words and Silences September 2019 “Memory and Narration” Presented @ IOHA 2018, University of Jyväskylä Session 35: Memory and Oral Traditions Oral History and Folklore: A Study of Traditional Environmental Knowledge and Perceptions Among Ethnic groups of Aravalli Mountains of India Nikhil Kumar Mohan Lal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India [email protected] ABSTRACT The proposed article intends to highlight oral history as an alternative source for the writing of history, particularly of the Aravalli mountain region of India, which is inhabited by numerous indigenous communities such as Bhil, Garasia, Meena, Saharia, Kathodi and Damore. The article is completely focused on the traditional knowledge of these ethnic groups because there is a dearth of written documents, archaeological and other evidence. In this study, we tried to present the richness of their narrative extracted from oral history, as a source of environmental facts and symbols concerning how they interact and perceive their ecosystem. Still, these ethnic groups believe in the traditional way of treatment of various ailments, by using medical plants rather than modern treatment. A study was conducted to record the plants used by tribes of Aravalli mountains to treat their ailments such as injuries, wounds, cuts, cold & fever, bone fractures, asthma, snake bites, sexual diseases etc. The oral history interview process allows these groups to reflect on their landscape aesthetics preferences, leading to bottom-up proposals for conservation, and reconstruction of landscape changes. As an alternative source, the study of oral traditions is significant to explain and understand societies in the context of preserving cultural diversity and protecting minority cultures of indigenous peoples, as it is a living and still 1 developing tradition, rather than just a memory of the past, particularly with the growth of ethnic identity crises in recent times. The purpose of this research article is to examine: the factors that determine environmental perceptions among various ethnic groups; to study environmental knowledge which reflects in their belief systems and folklore; and how this role and environmental perceptions are affected by global environmental change in this region. INTRODUCTION Across the world, Traditional Environmental Knowledge is well-recognized and defined as an intellectual activity in a wide range of social, cultural, and environmental contexts. Many researchers also define Traditional Environmental Knowledge as a design of a people-centered approach; practice and innovations that are distinctively associated with many indigenous communities by customary laws; and a cultural heritage of the society which preserves and transmits between generations. In the developing world, Traditional Environmental Knowledge is a key element of the social capital to produce food, health and in shaping local visions and perceptions of the environment and society. Moreover, indigenous knowledge and management practices can provide ecosystem services and helps in understanding socio-ecological and adaptive management systems. In India too, Traditional Environmental Knowledge is a vital source to deal with health problems, food security, socio-cultural practices, environment and biodiversity conservation. Unfortunately, in many developing countries, this knowledge system and its values are not counted in the economic analysis of natural resources. 2 Since it was believed that everything in nature has some sort of power and spirit, likewise each plant has its own properties. The oral study of these plants brings to light numerous known or unknown uses of plants that have the potential of wider usage. It has relevance also in conservation of genetic resources. It helps in the search of new sources of drugs, food, fodder and other life supporting species found in nature. The tribal people or ethnic groups of Aravalli Hills, like other ethnic groups in the world, have developed their own culture, customs, religious rites, taboos, totems, legends and myths, folklore, food, medicinal practices, etc. Numerous wild and cultivated plants play a very important and vital role among these cultures and this interrelationship has evolved other generations of experiences and practices. The ethnic groups of Aravalli hills depend on the plants found in their surroundings. They have acquired knowledge of economic and medicinal properties of many plants by trial and error. Consequently, they became the storehouse of knowledge of many useful as well as harmful plants accumulated and enriched through generations and passed on from one generation to another, without any written documents. It is therefore important to study the traditional knowledge system of these ethnic groups and it must be properly documented and preserved urgently, because most of the tribes are being assimilated into modern societies. The treasure of knowledge is fast disappearing. Each ethnic group in itself is a self-reliant unit. They have great indigenous knowledge and skills regarding each and every aspect of life. Their knowledge about the environment and management of resources is unmatched. By studying the folklore of these groups, I tried to categorize their environmental knowledge and perceptions as follows: 3 1. Knowledge about Fauna - Many animals of Aravalli region have become the subject of superstition and come under attack due to their unusual appearances or strange characteristics. On the contrary, other animals such as snakes have been placed on pedestals due to native beliefs that they hold special wisdom or power. It means tribes categorized animals as useful and harmful. The oral study showed that they have precise knowledge about their habitats; they know where wild animals live and can be found. For example, in the folksongs of some ethnic groups there is a request to protect flying foxes as they find it to be of great utility. They consider the flying fox very useful because it eats the rind of Mahuwa (Madhuca Indica) seeds and drops clean seeds during night time. Tribals collect these seeds and extract oil out of them, which is used as butter in their kitchen. Folksongs and folktales also reveal their knowledge about snakes and various kinds of birds. 2. Knowledge about Flora – Plants played an important role in the life of Aravalli tribes. In their folklore plants are mentioned in the sources of religion and mythology, fairy tales, beliefs and magical rituals. The ethnic groups of Aravalli have good knowledge of various plants, flowers, fruits along with certain techniques to modify phenology according to their requirements. They have a strong knowledge about the medicinal value of plants and have their own drug preparation methodology. The present paper is entirely focused on the study of plants used by ethnic groups of Aravalli hills. In the following pages a humble attempt has been made to present the common beliefs, superstitions and rituals regarding trees, plants, flowers, fruits, and vegetables which are prevalent among the ethnic groups of Aravalli Hills. The present study has been divided into two 4 parts. The first part is related to the folklore associated with plants and gives brief information about mythological trees, sacred trees, and trees and plants of non-sacred character. The later part includes the importance and medicinal use of those plants and trees and connects environmental knowledge with ecology. Also, the main impacts of this research will be seen in establishing a dialogue between different approaches of sciences such as environmental sciences, climatology, meteorology, and anthropology and ethnic communities in the study regions, the practitioners of traditional knowledge. This study will fill the gap in research on environmental traditional knowledge in Aravalli hills and provide a possibility for comparison to similar studies among indigenous people in other parts of the world. It will also be a contribution to the understanding of how groups tied closely to the environment are affected and respond to environmental change. STUDY AREA The study was conducted in the region of Aravalli Hills. These Hills, one of the oldest hill systems of the world, form most dominant geological structure in the formation of the northern Indian terrain and drainage system. The Aravalli Hills form the sky-line of North-West India i.e. Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana states and Delhi union territory stretching from South-West and North-East direction. Extending for about 692kms from Palanpur in Gujarat up to Delhi through Rajasthan and Haryana states, this range forms the main water divide of the North-Indian drainage system. At a few places in the Aravalli range, the hills are discontinuing and gaps exist. In the absence of the adequate forest stock on the Aravalli hills, these gaps turned active and caused drifting of desert sand towards fertile plains engulfing parts of north India. 5 ETHNIC GROUPS IN