Vidyapeeth Tribal Museum to incorporate artefacts of 10 more tribes

By Rachana Naik

Ahmedabad, Feb. 19: The Tribal Museum at Gujarat Vidyapeeth is being expanded to include display of ten more tribes belonging to regions in and around Gujarat, pushing the total number of representative tribes to 19.

The museum, which showcases the traditional habitats and practices of the adivasi (tribal) populace of the state, is aided by grants given by the state and central governments. Curator of the museum Arvind Ghosalkar said the expansion is undertaken to make people aware about the cultural richness of tribesmen spread across Gujarat.

According to him, the tribes to be included in the museum are Nayakda, Kunkna, Gaamit, Dhodia, Vasava, Daanghi bheel, Sidis, Padhaar, Kathodi and Bheel.

He said, "Every tribe has its own cultural and natural environment which is unique to itself. Because they live amidst nature and varying geographical conditions, it is important that their specific types of huts, clothes, jewellery and other paraphernalia are properly depicted."

To achieve this, attention to minute details — like the kind of wood used for huts and the nature of the roof depending on climatic conditions — are essential, Ghosalkar added. Extensive research therefore forms the core of the entire planning.

"We spent a month doing physical research on every tribe to be included in the museum. Going to villages to track the tribes was the first step, after which we talked to an elderly of each clan to obtain complete know-how about their age old practices and way of life," he said.

To achieve exactitude, an artist from each tribe was called upon to build the huts to be put on display. Explaining the reason behind this, Ghosalkar said, "The kind of wood and materials used by different tribes to build their houses depends a lot on their environment. For example, huts of tribes in North Gujarat have heavy roofs to prevent it from getting carried away because the weather there is windy. Only an artist of a particular can furnish the display with such exact details."

For him, such attention to matter is vital in order to do "complete justice to the ethnic identity" of tribes and to those who hold interest in tribal studies. That way, it becomes more than a museum. "It becomes an educational institute," he said.

Scheduled to be completed in two months’ time, the amount spent on the statues, according to Ghosalkar, is Rs 5.5-6 lakhs. He added that expansion work progressed as government aid flowed in.

On future presentation of tribal culture and life, Ghosalkar said, "We are thinking of constructing a museum with huts of various tribes, in which you can hear traditional songs and tunes of tribes upon entering."