Adivasis Are Not Hindus; Give Us 'Bhil Pradesh' – Indigenous Communities from Four States Rally at Rajasthan's Mangarh Dham

Banswara/Udaipur- In a powerful display of unity and determination, thousands of members from tribal communities assembled at Mangarh Dham in Banswara district to advocate for the creation of a separate Bhil Pradesh.

Representing tribes from Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh, the attendees rallied around a central demand: the formation of a new Bhil state by consolidating 49 districts from these four states, which are predominantly inhabited by the Meena population.

The gathering saw leaders and speakers from various regions emphasizing the need for this new administrative entity to address the distinct needs and aspirations of the Bhil community.

The cultural rally was hosted by Adiwasi Pariwar and Bharat Adivasi Party. Tribal leaders, including Banswara- Dungarpur MP Rajkumar Roat and MLA Jaikrishna Patel addressed the large gathering.

Tribal communities participated, signaling a renewed struggle for a separate Bhil state. MP Rajkumar Roat emphasized that the demand for a Bhil state reflects the wishes of their ancestors and that it should be fulfilled. Additionally, he remarked that the demand for a Bhil state is not new and that BAP has been actively advocating for it. He mentioned that after the rally, a delegation will meet with the President and Prime Minister to present their proposal.

Menka Damor, a founding member of the Adiwasi Pariwar, stated from the stage that tribal women should not follow the customs prescribed by priests.

She emphasized that tribal women and girls should focus on education, abandon fasting and other rituals, and that the tribal community does not adhere to practices like applying sindoor or wearing mangalsutras.

Several speakers at the conference reiterated that their religion is not Hindu but a separate tribal faith and reinforced the demand for a Bhil state. However, the state government had previously rejected this demand.

Government’s Stance on the Bhil State Demand

TAD Minister Babulal Kharadi responded to the demand for a Bhil state, stating that a state cannot be created based on caste. Such a move would set a precedent for other communities to make similar demands.

He also clarified that those who have changed their religion would not benefit from tribal reservations. Kharadi made these comments during his visit to Dungarpur.

While thousands of tribal members rallied for a separate state, in Udaipur, MP Dr. Manna Lal Rawat addressed a press conference where he criticized the leaders of the Bhartiya Adivasi Party (BAP), particularly targeting Rajkumar Roat without mentioning him by name.

Rawat accused certain individuals who are demanding a separate state and visiting Mangarh Dham of being influenced by British and Church ideologies.

According to Dr. Rawat, these individuals have long been misleading the youth of the region, turning them into stone-pelters, and are now creating a confusing atmosphere at Mangarh. He clarified that it is not the entire tribal community but only a specific organization making these demands.

Speaking at a press conference in the Zila Parishad Auditorium, Dr. Rawat denounced these individuals for spreading sectarianism and casteism for political gain. He criticized them for propagating the false notion that tribal people are not Hindus and warned against such elements that threaten social harmony.

He emphasized that the tribal community itself did not travel to Mangarh. He explained that Mangarh Dham is a sacred site dedicated to Adi Dev Mahadev and Adi Shakti, where the tribal community had gone to perform a ritual of offering ghee on Purnima as per their ancient traditions.

In 1913, the British had brutally massacred the tribal community there. Today, those demanding a separate state are continuing the politics of those who carried out the massacre.

Dr. Rawat highlighted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, the central and state governments have implemented beneficial schemes for the local tribal community and southern Rajasthan.

The BJP established a separate Ministry for Tribal Welfare at the center and also set up the Tribal Commission during its tenure. The current governments continue to make relentless efforts for the upliftment of the tribal community. According to Dr. Rawat, the agitation against this progress is being fuelled by ideological pollution.

De-Listing, a Current Necessity

Dr. Rawat noted that the tribal community has been a victim of conspiracy influenced by missionaries since the inception of the constitution in 1950. At that time, a notification from the President clarified that only individuals from Hindu society could be recognized as Scheduled Castes.

The same provisions were meant for Scheduled Tribes. However, due to missionary influence, a double standard was applied to the tribal community. Those who converted from Hinduism to Christianity or Islam due to missionary pressure are now considered a minority and should not benefit from tribal reservations. However, they still do, which Dr. Rawat deemed unconstitutional, undemocratic, inhumane, and unethical.

He claimed that these converted individuals, making up just five percent of the tribal population, are depriving the remaining 95 percent of their rightful benefits.

A movement for de-listing these ineligible individuals is ongoing across 22 states, and those opposing this movement are connected to Church-influenced ideologies. This issue has been identified in Jhabua and Jharkhand, and similar efforts are now infiltrating southern Rajasthan.

Dr. Rawat warned that these elements are trying to disrupt social unity and harmony through local Church-influenced organizations at Mangarh Dham. He urged vigilance against such elements to preserve national interest and eternal culture.