Tribals are seen as objects of entertainment to foreigners.
By DoctorDidi
@DoctorDidi (7018)
India
September 4, 2012 8:08am CST
Tribal areas are the new and happening tourist spots in India. But tribal groups gain little from efforts by tour operators and government departments to sell tourism in these underdeveloped regions. If a tourist is tired of the usual tourist spots in India like the mountains, the monuments, there is always tribal tourism. Private operators and government tourism departments in Odisha as well as in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand and in other parts of India-are showcasing their tribal areas as the new and happening tourist spots in India. The tourism promoters see the exercise as beneficial to the state, to tribals and visitors. But experts point out that tribal communities gain little from the multi-crore business, which benefits tourist operators and hoteliers. The tribal rights activists see the promotion as an effort to exhibit the people like exotic animals. Tour operators in Odisha often make the people sing and dance. But it is really disturbing to see that tribals are seen as objects of entertainment. The tour operators exploit the long cherished dream of the rich foreigners to catch up with the colourful tribals in the weekly markets. Thus tribal tourism may well be treated as human safaris which benefit only the tour operators and hoteliers but never the tribal. It is high time the government to realize that the ‘Adivasis’ are not commodities of tourism and ‘Adivasi’ areas are not recreation spots for tourists. It is disturbing that the government kept these tribal people illiterate for years only to display them in front of foreigners. It is now time to change this mentality. Isn’t it?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@WakeUpKitty (8691)
• Netherlands
4 Sep 12
First of all: tribals always been entertaining to people, already before the middle ages so this is nothing new. It's the same with a safari (killing/shooting animals). People (foreigners) always like to know how other people are living, the rules, law etc. People in India are not different if they are abroad!
If there is someone to blame you go to your own touroperator or government, but I assume they agree with it since it's business a way to make money. So they will only promote it more as long as there are people willing (or stupid enough) to pay for that. I don't believe this is a long cherished dream of foreigners. This is what touroperators invented and sell as a great product or opportunity. So if you want to change a mentality you should change the mentality of your country. Forget about the tourist, forget about making them pay for all these nonsense and show them the real country, the way people live, without seeing them as a walking wallet!
1 person likes this
@DoctorDidi (7018)
• India
6 Sep 12
A agree with you that it is nothing new, it has been in vogue since before the middle ages . But you have forgotten one thing which I like to remind you that is, we have now reached the highest level of civilization which was not existing in those middle ages. Thus at this stage of civilization, it is not expected from a society that belongs to the largest democracy in the world.
@safwan0012 (117)
•
5 Sep 12
yes.its time and not this time but since 1947 when you get freedom.educating people should be the top piriority of government from first day.this is really bad to present humans as monkeys or some jugglers.they are humans and should be treated as human and should given some respect.also the tourism is because of these people so a large revnue should be spend on their development.
@DoctorDidi (7018)
• India
6 Sep 12
The government of India would have to take necessary steps for uplift of these people who were being exploited from time immemorial from the so called upper section of the society who always claim to be civilized. But it is a pity that the government did nothing for their welfare. However, it is a good sign that different activist forums have come forward and have now made it an issue. So, I hope the government would be compelled to pay heed to them.
@rogue13xmen13 (14402)
• United States
5 Sep 12
When you say "tribal", the first thing that pops into my head are the Native American tribal reservations in the United States of America, or places where there are tribal people who want to be left alone.
I think that many tribes are resorting to tourism because it is money and they are realizing that the way they used to live isn't really cutting it.
Here in the USA, many of the Native Americans sell jewelry, pottery, blankets, animal skins, moccasins, dream catchers, and you name it in order to get money for their tribes. They also have Casinos and they have other projects to make their tribes money. Many of them have to do it, or have had to resort to it because they don't have much else. My mother is 1/4 Native American, and she thinks it's terrible that her people have had to resort to these things, but at the same time she knows that they have to survive like anyone else, so they will do what they must do.
These people are trying to survive. I don't think that it's right or fair for them to have to resort to this, but they don't much have a choice. They have to deal with modernization, colonization, colonialism, civilization, and chances in their landscape and environment. It's horrible to see them as forms of entertainment, and it is terrible to have to see them resort to this, but this is what it has come to for them.
@SHAMRACK (8576)
• India
4 Sep 12
Dear friend,
Here in Kerala there are lots of tribal people even do not have the right to be in their own lands or natives even though they say that there are strong tribal rights awareness. Once, when I had went to Orissa and other North Eastern States I could the pity conditions of them. But here there are lots of tribal people whose land had been taken by cheating them and also giving them many gifts and other benefits through words by great politicians. I could many politicians see them as mere slaves for their monetary and leadership benefits.
But whoever be, if that individual search back to human being ancestors they all end up in a tribal grandparents. Even though if still gone back they could be considered as monkeys or even going back one could find just being a bacteria.
@DoctorDidi (7018)
• India
4 Sep 12
It is unfortunate that our leaders shed only crocodile tears for them and use them for their own interests. They never have any headache for their true development, they forget that the tribal people are actually the true son of the soil of our beloved motherland.
1 person likes this
@hsofyan (3446)
• Jakarta, Indonesia
5 Sep 12
This is one of the cultural tourism.
Yes, I agree with you. Anyone who becomes the object of tourism, should receive its fair share. The local government should regulate it, considering the marketing concept and well-being.
@DoctorDidi (7018)
• India
6 Sep 12
If it is an example of cultural tourism, I think it is high time to abolish this sort of cultural tourism where the poverty, illiteracy and backwardness of a class of people are treated as the principal capital to earn lots of money.
