Samvaad, a one-of-its kind pan India tribal conclave organised by Tata Steel Foundation, is set to be back with its seventh edition from November 15 to 19. This year's conclave will take the conversations and celebrations onto a digital platform due to the ongoing pandemic.
The Samvaad ecosystem has brought together more than 30,000 people from 117 tribes across 27 states of India and 18 countries in the last six years, and is also an event that the citizens of steel city keenly looks forward to. The theme for this year, `Coming together for social change ‘, representing a belief that there are inherent aspects of tribalism that places seamlessness as a core value of society and valuable lessons in wonderful stories of tribal communities coming together to positively influence their core development challenges.
“We are living through times of immense uncertainties but our responsibility towards the extended Samvaad family is to not disrupt the wonderful journey of celebration and contemplation of event. This has given us the confidence to set up Samvaad 2020 online. We are doing this through a model which respects the current restrictions of mobility while balancing the gains and limitations that the digital format places on sustained conversations. The theme for this year is particularly relevant in the altered paradigms that have evolved in the last six months and will possibly continue doing so in the near future,” said Sourav Roy, chief, corporate social responsibility, Tata Steel.
Tribal artists perform in Jamshedpur last year. Bhola Prasad
The conclave will hear stories from across the country. The event encourages participants to engage in experience sharing sessions in various areas that affect the communities and gives them an opportunity to enrich the platform with their thoughts. The five days will therefore witness a cross-pollination of ideas among more than 1,000 tribal women and men who are expected to join online and celebrate the vibrant cultures of different tribes.
The many offshoots of Samvaad such as tribal handicraft,, tribal film screenings, tribal cuisine and the cultural performances of various tribes that contribute significantly to the essence of Samvaad will bring the traditional practices and rich heritage to the common masses through its YouTube channel.
The conclave will celebrate traditional cuisines of 16 tribes across 10 states with the dishes exclusively available for the people of Jamshedpur on online aggregator platform Zomato.
Cinema lovers have a lot to look forward to as tribal films will be screened on the YouTube channel which will be held followed by discussions with the filmmaker. Around 500 school children from Jamshedpur will attend the screening.
Art enthusiasts will get a chance to attend master classes on Oraon, Sohrai, Gond, Saura, Warli and Rajwar Bhittichitra art forms that will be hosted by tribal artisans. Each day will conclude with cultural performances from celebrated artists like Guru Rewben from Manipur and Tetseo Sisters from Nagaland and cultural groups from tribes of Galo, Siddhi, Damdami Madia, Bhumij and others.
This year will also witness a release of a musical composition as a tribute to Birsa Munda, curated by Padma Shri Mukund Nayak and the Samvaad musical collective, Rhythms of the Earth.
