"We're Not Hindu": Tribals From 5 States Urge Centre To Recognise Religion
NDTV
"We Adivasis are neither Hindus nor Christians. We have our own way of life, religious practices, customs, culture and religious thoughts, different from any other religion," a tribal leader said.
A large number of people from various tribal communities of five states, including Jharkhand, Odisha and Assam, staged a demonstration here on Thursday, demanding that the Centre recognise their religion as 'Sarna' and ensure their enumeration under this category during the upcoming census.
The agitators also took a pledge to intensify their struggle in order to get the government recognition to the 'Sarna dharma code' and held a mass prayer at Jantar Mantar, seeking blessings of their deities and revered leaders.
The agitation was organised to mark the anniversary of the beginning of the Santhal Rebellion against the British on June 30, 1855.
The members, majority of whom belonged to the Santhal tribe, raised their demands under the aegis of the Adivasi Sengel Abhiyan (tribal empowerment campaign) from as many as 250 scheduled tribes-dominated blocks from 50 districts of Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal and Assam.
