“History is the witness,” they say. How do we really know what happened in the times that are by gone? What stands as the living proof of the same?
Folk and tribal culture go hand in hand, in India. It is not a lesser known fact that India is famous for its culture, folklores, tribal cultures and then the art. Tribal art is another such form of representation of Indian tradition that has been passed on to the generations and generations, from our ancestors. A part of the fact being that India has great potential market value in terms of its ancient, vintage goods and customs representing India. To be very specific about the Tribal culture and the art, tribes are the true class of people who are still carrying the ancient culture and customs of India. It is with them, that we know the songs of the glorious victories of our warriors in the days that went past. It is because of them that we know how people of their clan used to live in the days bygone. All of the songs, dancing backgrounds and the art culture rise from the tribal clans of India. It can also be termed as the ‘Tribal art’ that depicts the diverse heritage of India.
In the days of the past, every corner of India was filled with the tribal people worshipping their masters and singing folklore, writing and then dancing about their lifestyles. They are considered to be the true carriers of the tradition. Since it is the Tribal art that is carrying forth the customs and beliefs of our ancient India, the folk cultures are hence assumed to be present because of the presence of the Tribal people and their art. To be precise, the folk of India is said to be the ones pertaining in the rural areas of the current country of India. They are the people who haven’t been disturbed by the colonization and the developments happening in every corner of the country, sticking firmly to their rituals and customs and being very tact about how they should be living their lives; as they have always done under their masters.
The Tribal art, the dances, the songs and the plays; everything about that particular tribe, reflects the folk or the clan that used to live centuries apart. It reflects the energy with which they believe that the ancestors still pertain within them, keeping up with the fire of their souls, their pride and fiery, their beliefs of their blood and everything of the history. The tribal art is just a picture of the history and an effort to reflect on to the history in the present days. History can be forgotten easily if only the tribal art and the folk culture weren’t there. The glory of the masters and the kings would have been gone with the sands of time if there weren’t the tribal people and the clan who stick to carrying forward the legacy of their blood and the rulers. It is because of them that the beliefs of the old days are still burning and are alive.
Again, the tribal art is not just about the art, songs, and dances; but also about the practices an apprenticeship. Like, there are some parts of the country that still practice swordsmanship, archery and then techniques of fighting with the enemies. They all are a part of carrying forward customs and rituals that the men of the olden days used to carry out when the men were young. The same and mirror of those days are carried on in the present days with a few alterations. The craftsmanship too is a part of this. The crafts and the items of the past are still recreated in certain parts of the country that fall under the tribal clan. What is it if not reflecting the folk culture of India?
Everything needs to be given due importance. It won’t be a good thing for us, to forget what our ancestors did and what they intended to do. That is the main aim of the tribal clan to carry in on their shoulders, the folk culture and the importance of history; and not to succumb to the colonization and the urbanization of the country and the ways of living of lives.
The next onto discussion is the FOLK ART. It is not an unknown thing to us that when we visit some ancient monuments and history of the rulers of India, the place has a lot of artistic display in the places. They have been done by the people of the olden days, but have been preserved by the recent ones. If we are to talk about the economy that is helped by the reviving of the ancient and the folk culture, there’s a lot to mention. One thing is that the current below poverty line people have been looking forward in many areas to revive the tradition to earn a mere income and get their families going. Also, many NGOs across India are motivated for the dual purpose. They also help in restoring the ancient cultures and the customs of the country, at the same time provide an income source for the people who are below poverty line and the ones with disabled traits. Hence, the economy and the survival strategies of many people are supported due to the reflections of the folk culture by the tribal art.
The world’s perceptions might have a certain understanding with an Indian tribe and individual art elements which often get duplicated through the medium of print on various products. They get altered. However, you might not know the original source of those art forms that indicate and signify an element of India. Indian art elements are as different as Native lifestyle itself, but one may still be familiar with the coming back signs of deities, plants and creatures, courtly life and traditions among other pictures which have often been produced by individual artists.
Art, as the name suggests does not only deal with the old days but also with the latest ones. It is a beautiful form in which one displays the emotions. Another category is the clothing and the apparel section. The kind of attire people used to follow in the olden days and the ones that are still pertained are all a part and parcel of the ancient traditions and the customs.
What do you think?