The Narrative of Development: In Search of an Alternative

Satish Patnaik . October 7, 2018

Realizing that the world of consumerism and many of the interventions carried out in the name of development will take their people away from traditional practices and habits that have sustained them in good health over centuries, the Kandho tribe takes active steps to resist any outside help that will snuff out age-old, time-tested resources and ways of living and life. In this, they are helped by Living Farms, a civil society organization, in South Odisha.

The Backdrop

A T 2 A.M. ON 17 JUNE 2018, THE train dropped me in the sleepy town of Muniguda. Harsh, the only person I knew there, was waiting for me. As we started walking towards the vehicle, my exposure to the work of Living Farms (a civil society organization, CSO, in Odisha) began. Our car reached Bondichuan village of Bisam Cuttack block at around 11 a.m. The villagers (including some from nearby villages) were waiting for us and apparently had begun gathering there since10 a.m. All of us sat under a large mango tree. The occasional falling of ripe mangoes brought a twinkle to the sad eyes of the older women and mischievous smiles to faces of the young folk. They are the progeny of nature and protecting nature is their duty. The oldest person of the gathering narrated the importance of staying in villages and the need for a forest around each village. The forest gives them food, shelter, water and medicines.

They are the progeny of nature and protecting nature is their duty. The oldest person of the gathering narrated the importance of staying in villages and the need for a forest around each village. The forest gives them food, shelter, water and medicines

The mango tree was at the base of a hillock, where shifting cultivation was being practised. The trees on the hillock had been burnt, as was the practice. Beyond the hillock, lush green mountains were covered by monsoon clouds. From the meeting place, we could see a small cluster of houses in the village. Goats and cows occasionally walked by as we proceeded with the meeting. And amid this unique setting, the story of the alternative unfolded.

Kutumb and Kunia

The meeting started with introductions, where we were referred to as kunia (guests) to their kutumb (family). Jagannath Manjhi, the facilitator of the meeting, informed me that, in their Kui language, kutumb means family and all the Kandho people, no matter where they live, belong to one family. They are the progeny of nature and protecting nature is their duty. The oldest person of the gathering narrated the importance of staying in villages and the need for a forest around each village. The forest gives them food, shelter, water and medicines. They also said that around 30 per cent of the food on their plate comes from the forest and they substantiated the claim with a report of a study by Living Farms.

Gradually, with modernization, values and cultural practices had become diluted. Before the villagers could prepare themselves and keep their culture intact, rapid modernization had taken control of their lives. This led the villagers to meet, reflect and critically examine the changes taking place and to initiate alternative actions for a meaningful existence.

The initiative started with realizing that their food diversity was decreasing. Over the course of the last nine years, many transformations had taken place in their food habits. There was, within the kutumb , a revolution and a resistance, in non-violent ways, to these external forces. They were able to reinstate the use of their traditional food among the kutumb .

Satish Patnaik works with PRADAN as Team Co-ordinator, Research and Advocacy

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