Indigenous

International Day of World’s Indigenous People is celebrated on 9 August every year. It seeks to spread awareness about the indigenous population around the world and to protect their rights. The indigenous population across the world stays in close contact with nature in places that are home to around 80% of the world’s biodiversity

The day recognizes the contributions made by the indigenous people to protect the world’s environment. In India, the indigenous are known as Scheduled Tribes. They are called Adivasis to refer to them as original inhabitants. Many of them continue to deal with marginalisation, extreme poverty and other human rights violations.

The term is also used for plants and trees produced, growing, living, or occurring natively or naturally in a particular region or environment. Most plants and trees are distinct as they are rooted to the place they are born in. As the shoots go high, the roots dive deeper.

We must learn from the indigenous people to give back to our roots… our land, our environment and our culture. So easily we go astray and confirm that we are not indigenous. Let’s choose to follow the indigenous who stay connected with where they came from… an attitude of gratitude towards origins and a response to give back!

Look at the indigenous people, how they live

For everything received, they return to give!

~ Pravin K Sabnis