Discover Delhi XII: Tribal Museum: Tribal know how under one Roof

Hidden on the side of a busy road on Central Delhi’s Ambedakar Marg, adjacent to Jhandewalan Metro Station, is this treatise on tribes in India.  You can look for the life sizes images including one of Gandhi Ji, on top of a building to identify this building. Building is officially called Thakkar Baba Samarak Sadan in memory of the person who started this movement under the guidance of Mahatama Gandhi. As you see the building, you would see a worli painting in pale orange and wall murals of lots of tribal couples. Stand back and try and see the facial expressions of these murals, which on the first look may not look very attractive owing to bad maintenance. You may need to brave the dirty water flowing everywhere to reach the museum stairs. Museum upstairs has been decently maintained though.

Tribal or Aadivasi is a term used for describing the aboriginals of India living in small pockets across the country. They now form such a small minority that they almost need to be protected. Most Aadivaasis live in remote and usually geographically isolated areas, follow their own distinct culture, law and ethics and maintain a minimal contact with the outside world.  Their world is self contained in them.

Bhartiya Aadam Jaati Sevak sangh, an umbrella NGO works with various other smaller NGOs who in turn work with these tribes and try to integrate with the rest of the population. A museum and an extensive library has been setup by this organization which serves a reference point for all the information required on tribes in India. Library houses more than 6000 titles, all on tribes of India and sub continent. I was told by the manager that lot of research scholars come and study here.

Museum has 4 halls and a corridor making an attempt to bring the tribal life alive for visitors. A plant lined corridor takes you the museum entrance which has traditional murals on all its sides. The long corridor shows the dioramas of various tribes through the important life events like festivals, acts of animal sacrifice, marriages, polling during elections. On the other side there is a collection of garments from various tribes, showcasing the colors, weaves and patterns they use. Three doors from the corridor will lead you to three rooms that showcase the artifacts and items of everyday use. There are garments, masks, jewellery, arms like arrows and axes and bhalas, stone tools, hunting gear, jars and bundles of medicines or Jadi bootis used, bamboo articles, household items, musical instruments like Nagaras and flutes and dholak and chab, bags, ropes. If you imagine those items in use, you can have a mental picture of the life of a tribal.

One of the halls shows small sized dioramas depicting the everyday life of various tribes through their natural environment, their garments, their homes and their day to day activities. Interestingly a lot of them show women working with their infants tied around them. They weave, they make ropes, they cook, they dance, they play, they love, they bond, they flirt, they farm, they sell and they at times dress only using extensive jewellery.

Post the corridor there is a bigger hall that has life size dioramas, depicting more clearly the nuances of each of the tribes, their garments, their expressions. The expressions on each of the figures have been carved out so well that they almost look alive, but for the paint falling off their faces. There are tribes from Himachal, MP, UP, Rajasthan, Kerala, North East, Gujarat and Andhra. Try and guess which one is from where, it is not too difficult. Here you would admire the simplicity of tribal life which is yet to be corrupted by the consumerist culture.

The manager of the museum will happily describe the place to you along with its history and the activities of the NGO. There are not many visitors to this place, but I am sure it can do better with a bit of publicity or campaigns.

I enjoyed this quite visit to the museum, and since there were no other visitors, we had the whole museum to us for couple of hours that we were there.  I wish there are more visitors to keep this place alive.