The forgotten Plateau

Chhota Nagpur Plateau is one of the oldest physiographic divisions of India, situated since time immemorial. This region is associated with glorious past and enriched with mineral deposits. Total area of the plateau region is approximately 65,000 sq km (25,000 sq mi) which covers much of Jharkhand as well as parts of Odhisa, West Bengal, Bihar and Chhattisgarh. Inhabitants of this area are mostly Kurmis, Santhals and others who might be the oldest settlers of this area. They live in a symbiotic relationship with the nature, which forms the basis of their existence. Nature exerts a profound influence on these people. A yearly round of rituals associated with the agricultural cycle as well as those for birth, marriage and ultimately, death involves beseechment to the spirits and also includes animal sacrifice (usually birds). Despite insufficient education, food and nutrition, irrigation, transport and all the other modern amenities, the poor villagers are always in a jovial mood. During festivals, they play music, dance together and eat meat based special dishes – traditions which have been going on since ancient times. Presently, young people of this region are moving to big cities in search of stable future, leaving their villages and century-old traditions. People of this dry and rustic region fascinate me. I was amazed to witness the intensity and engagement of the folks of such remote part of the country with their festivals and traditions. The series of photos exhibits my exploration of Purulia, a district of West Bengal and an extension of Chhota Nagpur Plateau. It is a journey in search of ethnicity, root and cultures, not yet affected by time - a survival of various artists who are tirelessly fighting against hunger and money in order to keep the art alive and flourishing. Though there is a serious lack of understanding about the form of art of the inhabitants and also their survival in the contemporary world, this photo essay tries to depict how, against all odds, beauty emerges from the forgotten Plateau.