Banjara voices from Telangana speak of pride, struggle and the fight to preserve a fading heritage

The Hindu

3 days ago

As the world observes the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, individuals from Telangana's Banjara community have shared their journey, the challenges they continue to face, and their efforts to preserve a cultural heritage that is at risk of fading.
The Banjaras, also known as Lambadis, are among India's oldest nomadic tribal groups, spread across nearly 15 States. They are known for their distinctive attire, jewellery, traditions and language.
A scholar's decades-long journey
For Surya Dhananjay, Vice-Chancellor of Veeranari Chakali Ilamma Women's University, the road from a modest indigenous background to academic leadership was long and demanding. 'My path was filled with struggle for at least three decades before I could reach my present position,' she said. Her career spans higher education, research, teaching and public service, with a focus on documenting tribal history, preserving indigenous cultures and advocating for constitutional rights.
'We must document oral histories, safeguard traditional dress, crafts, and music, promote festivals and introduce the Banjara language in schools, colleges and universities. We also need community museums, cultural centres and digital archives, with youth playing a central role. The Banjara community, like other tribal groups, faces poverty, landlessness and low educational access. Women in particular face heavy workloads, limited decision-making power and poor access to healthcare,' she added.
She called for a separate State-level ST Commission, recognition of Banjara Boli as an endangered language, and its inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
A writer's call for clarity and courage
Writer and poet Ramesh Karthik Nayak who is the youngest and the first Telugu author to be honoured with the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar 2024 believes that while art and scholarship are important, real change must begin in the villages.
Mr. Ramesh challenges the perception that the Banjara are uniformly well-settled compared to other tribal groups. 'Yes, some have done well, but that does not mean everyone has. Many work as auto drivers, gig workers, gardeners or gatekeepers in Hyderabad. We tend to focus on the few who get national awards or become IAS officers, but the struggles of others remain invisible.'
He adds that discrimination is a shared experience with other marginalised groups. Mr. Ramesh hopes to see more indigenous literature across Indian languages, especially from the 33 to 35 tribal communities in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. 'We need more tribal people telling their own stories, and society must give them the time, space and respect they deserve. I hope our literacy rate increases, not just for the Banjara, but for all tribal communities.'
Art as preservation
For artist Srinivas Nayak, heritage is kept alive on canvas. Encouraged by his school drawing teacher he pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts before dedicating himself to full-time painting. His works capture the flowing skirts, embroidered blouses, mirror work and heavy jewellery that once defined Lambada attire.
'Our elders' clothes carried meaning in every stitch. Now, very few wear them, and these customs are disappearing. Through my paintings, I try to preserve what is vanishing,' he said.
While education and urban migration have brought opportunity, Mr. Srinivas laments the slowly disappearing of cultural identity. 'Children today often do not know our songs or embroidery patterns. Some cannot even speak our dialect.'
Meanwhile, social media has become an ally for Mr. Srinivas. 'When I post portraits of Lambada women in traditional dress, people respond with pride and nostalgia. Some even ask for portraits in that style. It is a small way of keeping our heritage alive,' he said.