State Minister for Tribal Affairs, Durga Das Uikey, stated today that the contributions of tribal communities have been significant throughout history and must be preserved and promoted. He was addressing the inaugural session of the 10th National Tribal and Folk Culture Literary Festival in New Delhi. Mr. Uikey described tribal literature and culture as an integral part of India's civilizational consciousness. He said that tribal narratives reflect philosophical insights, ecological balance, and social values, and called for their integration into mainstream discourse. He also highlighted the role of tribal communities in the freedom struggle, recalling leaders like Birsa Munda.
The two-day festival is being organized by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi National Museum. The festival, themed "Celebrating Tribal Literature, Languages, Knowledge Traditions, and Cultural Expressions," will feature discussions, lectures, and cultural performances with participation from scholars, researchers, and artists from across the country.