In November 2020, Indigenous politics in India took a new turn as the Jharkhand government passed a resolution to recognise Sarna as a different religion for Adivasis. The recognition of Sarna dharma has been a long-time demand in a state that, according to the 2011 Census, has 26.2 per cent tribal population.
The objective of the Sarna code bill though was to get a separate column in the 2021 Census, but due to the prolonged delay, its future is currently uncertain.
During the two-day Jharkhand Adivasi Mahotsav 2023 organised this week, the Editor of Outlook India, Chinki Sinha had a conversation with Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren. Soren, throughout his career, has contributed to the Adivasi causes. Starting from the Jharkhand statehood movement to the fight for Adivasi rights, he has been at the forefront.
In this backdrop, the discussion brought up issues ranging from Sarna to Adivasi rights, and from preservation of culture to assertion of identity.
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