by Arun Ghosh
For the last seventy/eighty years.
Since 50s of the last century.
Last sixty/seventy years.
Spread of awareness about the importance of knowledge among the Santali people developed during the fifties of the last century. Though the converted Christians among the Santali people started visiting schools/colleges even before that, they were either interested in learning through the Bengali/ Hindi/ Odia language or through English. A sense of ignorance towards their own language grew among them, ultimately leaving their own language. As their (the Christian Santali) contact with the neighboring people did not result in any change in their language, that is, Santali, we are leaving that period as insignificant in the area of contact.
Since 1980s
The script ɔl ciki, a separate script for Santali (developed in 1925 by Pandit Raghunath Murmu, a Santal social reformer and writer) was recognized as a medium of instruction by the Government of West Bengal in 1979, leading to publication of text books and journals in this script. This event left an indelible impact in the mind of the Santali people and the Santali society as a whole became aware of the importance of their own language and education. They started sending their wards to the schools in large numbers which are also attended by the Bengali boys and girls. Around the same time the Santali people started entering politics in significant numbers as they thought the communist government (Left front government assumed office in 1978 in West Bengal) would address their grievances sincerely. A sense of belonging grew among them. They thought education would help them eradicate their poverty and superstition and they can also contribute in nation building. The Santali language was recognized in the 8th schedule of the Constitution of India in 2003 by the government of India. In Sahitya AcaDEMEy Santali language was recognized and a separate section for Santali literature came into being. This also gave an impetus to Santali language and literature. Literature in ɔl ciki script started publishing in large numbers, Sahitya AcaDEMEy started fellowships for the Santali writers. Though setting up of tribal schools was legislated during this period, not much headway was made in this respect. Therefore, Bengali medium schools and English medium schools were the main points of entry in schools, leading to regular contact with the Bengali students. From 2006 onwards Santali was recognized as a subject of study in colleges of the areas where Santali people concentrate in large numbers. In 2008-9 Santali was also recognized as a subject of study in at least two Universities in West Bengal, University of Burdwan and Vidyasagar University. A Central University like Viswa Bharati, started Santali Department much earlier.
The Santali and the Bengali people have been working together approximately for the last 150 years, specifically since 1872, with the establishment of the tea gardens in Jalpaiguri district and the contiguous Terai (plains) region of Darjeeling district in the state of West Bengal. The Sardars (Headmen) were employed to recruit labours for tea plantation from the tribal areas of Central India. The Santals (not individual but the whole families) were brought in the plantation sites as labours.
Tea plantation in West Bengal started more than a decade after it was started in Assam in 1858. The district of Jalpaiguri and the Terai (plains) areas of the Darjeeling district was possibly chosen as the areas were contiguous to Bhutan and Nepal and the climate was and still is conducive for tea plantation. When the Santals were brought in to the plantation sites contact was marginal as different ethnic groups like Santals and others settled in jhupries (huts) wide apart from the other. Contact used to take place only while working in the tea gardens.
Since independence of India in 1947.
Earlier, especially till late-19th century the Santali people, in general, were hunter gatherers, concentrating in the jungles and hilly areas and isolated themselves from the neighbouring non-tribal people. After independence of India in 1947 the predominantly tribal areas were open to the other communities, here the Bengali people by a constitutional provision Schedule V which declares the central Indian tribal areas as mixed zone where any Indian can own land, build their residence and settle. Since that time under constitutional provision/ pressure the period of isolation of the Santali people was over. They had to mix and interact with the neighbouring non-Santal communities, especially Bengali people, interact with the Bengali people in large scale, in local markets, shops and agricultural fields.
Last sixty/seventy years.
Prior to 1950 though the Santali people were residing in the bordering districts, like Bankura, Midnapur (Medinipur), Purulia, Birbhum and other areas of West Bengal their contact in the local community with the Bengali people was not remarkable. They used to settle in isolated settlements away from the Bengali locality. There was hardly any chance or intention of mixing with the Bengali people. No scope of regular contact between the focus group, here Santali and the neighbour group, here Bengali. With the course of time isolation of the Santali people has come down significantly. Both the groups now reside in the same village.
Since late 60s and early 70s of the last centuries when both the groups came in greater contact under the influence of the Leftist parties and its leaders.
Since that time their isolation was breached as the Bengali community started encroaching the tribal areas and the Santali people started coming down to settle in the vicinity of the Bengali settlements for their existence and better living.
For the last 60-70 years or even before.
Before dispersal in different places the Santali people were hunter-gatherers and through the means of forest produce, they used to earn their living. When they were not distributed in contiguous areas of the neighboring communities like Bengali, they used to travel miles away from the place of their concentration to sell forest produce and woods in the weekly markets. In earlier days when the money economy did not infiltrate in their society, they used to depend on barter system. In the process they used to collect salt and occasionally oil in exchange of woods and forest produce.
Since 50s of the last centuries.
From this time their dispersal made them reside in the nearby places of the neighbouring community like the Bengali and/or in the same village.
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