Lecture on ‘Tribal Languages and Tribal Lifestyles’ at the Headquarters of the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL)
New Delhi: The National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) organized a lecture on ‘Tribal Languages and Tribal Lifestyles’ at its headquarters. Delivering the welcome address, the Council’s Director, Dr. Md. Shams Equbal, highlighted the lack of awareness about tribal languages, literature, and lifestyles. He stressed the importance of mutual understanding in a diverse country like India, where learning about each other’s traditions, ways of life, and languages is vital. He also noted that tribal communities in India are among the closest to nature, maintaining a unique and harmonious relationship with the environment.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Ganga Sahay Meena, Associate Professor at the Centre for Indian Languages (CIL), Jawaharlal Nehru University, provided a comprehensive analysis of tribal languages, literature, and their underlying philosophies. He pointed out the limited knowledge about tribal languages and explained that tribal literature can be classified into oral traditions, written works in tribal languages, and literature written in mainstream languages about tribal communities. He emphasized that focusing on oral traditions and native writings is crucial to gaining an authentic understanding of tribal worldviews and their approach to life.
Dr. Meena further elaborated that tribal literature offers valuable lessons for improving the lives of current and future generations. He highlighted the collectivist ethos of tribal communities, where the individual is secondary to the group, and their deep reverence for nature and ancestors forms the foundation of their way of life.
The program was organized as part of the celebrations for ‘Tribal Pride Day’. It concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Shama Kauser Yazdani, Assistant Director (Academics). The event saw enthusiastic participation from all NCPUL staff members.
