The School of Theology and Religious Studies of MLCU yesterday hosted a talk in commemoration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People.
Prominent writer and contemporary scholar, Fr. Dr. Barnes Mawrie presented a talk on “Indigenous Peoples in India: A Latent Force to Contend With” and highlighted how indigenous people have a collective tie to the environment or Mother Nature and experienced displacement due to conquests or evictions.
Another dimension of the existential experience of the indigenous or tribal people he said is the lack of far-sightedness and astuteness, fickle-minded and are easily manipulated or duped. “More and more they are individualistic and selfish, they lack perseverance and are desirous of quick results, and with the loss of communitarianism they lack unity,” he said.
Dr Mawrie acknowledged the contribution of Christianity in the fields of health, education and social service. “However the Church today can do so much more in service and talent tapping of the indigenous peoples in different fields especially in areas where the government has failed,” he said.
Stating that with their potential and genius, indigenous peoples can teach the world but due to unfavourable factors these potentials continue to remain dormant, he said, “We live in a world where politics does not favour tribal people but instead, seek to oppress, exploit and isolate them.”
He opined that if tribals do not come together with a united political voice, they will always remain discriminated against and a discarded group. “There is great power and energy within us as indigenous peoples, but until we get an opportunity to tap this energy, it becomes a useless proposition,” he added.
Dr Mawrie further called for unity and a coming together of the indigenous peoples especially in politics and pressure groups, and likens the power of the tribals to that of the strong undercurrents of anillusory surface-calm water in power-generating reservoirs.
