Why Tribal Art Matters

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By Smriti Sahu

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    Tribes comprise an integral part of the Indian population. A tribe is a community of individuals connected by shared ancestry and culture, often choosing to live together in a close-knit environment. In India, tribes are not restricted to specific states or regions; rather, they are dispersed throughout the Indian mainland. The states with the maximum number of tribal settlements include Mizoram, Lakshadweep, Meghalaya and Nagaland. Apart from these states, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and West Bengal also have significant tribal populations. Inevitably, each community has its distinctive way of expressing its identity, and artistic forms serve as a gateway to understanding, appreciating, and even internalising the wisdom passed down through generations. To revive and honour these traditions also means to move away from the occidental notion of the “high” standard art, embracing instead the idea that art is a boundless realm open to everyone. 

    Community and ancestral values:

     

    Bhon in Warli Painting by Dilip Rama Bahotha

     

    Bhon in Warli Painting by Dilip Rama Bahotha

    One of the essential elements that cannot be done away with in tribal societies is the sense of community. The relevance of the tribal community cannot be overstated. Consequently, the artworks created by them document the collective experience of people coming together rather than of an individual. The Warli tribe of Maharashtra, the Saura tribe of Orissa, and the Rathwa and Bhil tribes inhabiting the regions of Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat are adept at chronicling their daily lives and communal celebration through animated wall and cave paintings, using a combination of dots, patterns and lines. In Warli art, opposing triangles and a basic combination of lines make animal and human bodies. Activities like farming, hunting, and drum-playing are vividly documented by the community. Equally important are the ancestors and tribal deities, devotedly referred to as Kul Devta and narratives around these gods and goddesses. The central deity of the Warli painting is their Mother Goddess, Palghat Devi. Likewise, the Pithora Deva is the principal deity in Pithora paintings. 

    Female-centred space:

    Rural women in Tikuli by Ashok Kumar

     

    Many tribal and indigenous art forms in India are centred around women and their identity. The 800-year-old Tikuli art of Bihar heavily integrates tikli or bindi patterns, traditionally worn by married women between their eyebrows. Today this indigenous art has become the means of earning livelihood for as many as 300 women in Bihar. Teeming with geometrical patterns and nature-inspired designs like peacocks, tigers, florals, and Vedic yagna, the Mandana art form drawn on the walls and floors by the women of the Meena community serves a vital purpose of protecting their homes as well as welcoming Gods. Handmade ornaments are a huge part of the enhancement of the beauty and identity of tribal women in India. One of the fascinating facts about these pieces of jewellery is that they are made using variegated elements like silver, bronze, shells, wood, and stones; moreover, these are designed for almost every part of the body. The Gond and Satnami women of Chhattisgarh wear ornaments like pajeb (anklets), kardhan (waistband), and phulli (nose ornament). Similarly, the Tsukru necklace of the Angami tribe of Nagaland is a very beloved accessory worn by women during traditional events. In the Ghotul tradition of Bastar, young boys gift carved wooden combs to their love interests, who display them in their hair. When these girls reach marriageable age, they choose a comb and assert their autonomy in selecting a life partner. 

    The convergence of sustainability and creativity

    Cow and Snake in Sohrai by Rukmani Devi

     

    Nature’s bounty significantly influences tribal art, with forms like Madhubani, Kalamkari, and Sohari art drawing environmental inspiration. Most importantly these art forms even employ natural colours while incorporating symbols and motifs in the artworks. The colours used in Gond art are sourced organically from natural resources like charcoal, cow dung, flowers, and leaves. The Adivasi women of Jharkhand derive their paints from tree bark, soil, clay and plants, and use datun (chewed neem stick) to paint murals. In an era dominated by consumerism, the jhabua dolls of Madhya Pradesh, and the chanapatna toys of Karnataka crafted from natural materials encourage cultural significance and sharply contrast with the mass-produced items prevalent today. The expertly woven bamboo and cane crafts in Assam, Jharkhand, Mizoram, West Bengal, and Tripura are poignant reminders of the ingenuity of the local artisans and the need to embrace a sustainable lifestyle.

    Storytelling through art 

    Baal Ganesh: Kavad Painting by Dwarka Prasad

     

    Brimming with colours, creativity and characters, indigenous artworks such as Kavad, Pattachitra, Cheriyal scrolls, and Phad paintings bring to the forefront the power of visual narratives. Some of these artworks are collaborative efforts, unfolded in stages by multiple individuals. The preparation of Kavad, a mobile storytelling device, starts in the homes of sutars or jangids. Then the chitrakars or painters draw animated yet graceful illustrations of local deities, legends, and episodes taken from epics like Ramayana, and Bhagavad Purana. Finally, a wandering priest, locally known as Kavadia Bhatt goes from one village to another carrying these panels to sing and narrate tales for the spectators. These appealing artworks have played a vital role in serving as an educational tool to inform history and narrative while shaping and rendering perspectives.

    Tribal art with its emphasis on simple yet subtle elements of life, has been igniting the imagination while connecting every generation to its roots, history and cultural practices. These artistic expressions celebrate the beauty of culture born in the cradle of nature. Tribal art has been an outcome of the collective spirit and it must continue to thrive to remind us of the vital connection between creativity, community and the natural world.

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