Sunday, August 18, 2002, 4:00 pm, $5
As the second most populated country in the world and with a population of over 1 billion, India is home to 1, 500 different languages and dialects, a varied ethnic makeup, and rich cultural diversity unmatched by any other country of the world. Among this mix of people are Indias indigenous communities often referred to as aboriginal or tribal communities. Although these communities form a significant proportion of Indias population they are often invisible in the discourse on Indian society and culture. Dr. Sudha Anand will discuss the cultural diversity of the tribal communities of the state of Madhya Pradesh, India, that is home to a large percentage of Indias tribal population. Her talk is accompanied by two short graphical presentations: “The Elves Of the Forests” illustrates the primary clans, customs, rituals and life styles of the tribal communities; “The Lost Horizons” is a sequel that highlights the discrimination, social rejection and marginalization that these communities encounter when they are forced to migrate to urban areas in search of a better livelihood. Dr. Anand is a Professor of English and a social science researcher from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.