Adivasi Lives Matter: Telling stories of the indigenous communities of India
The funky logo of a slogan on a yellow background is the first thing that catches one’s eyes. But this Instagram page is more than just about giving people a striking visual experience. ‘Adivasi Lives Matter’ ensures that the experiences of indigenous communities in modern-day India are given the attention and consideration that are not usually afforded by mainstream media.
Scheduled Tribes account for 8.6% of India’s population, which is around 104 million people. To put that in perspective, that’s the population of Egypt, or the populations of Sri Lanka, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia put together.
The page constantly shares news from these communities stretched across the map, from Andhra Pradesh to Gujarat, the Andaman and Nicobar islands to states in the North-East.There are troubling stories of discrimination – but also those of the individuals who brought an end to it.
And there are many other uplifting ones celebrating the history, culture, achievements and contributions of indigenous people, not just from India but around the world. With illustrations of traditional tribal attire, photographs of their art, and videos of their music and dance forms, ‘Adivasi Lives Matter’ goes to great lengths to ensure that every fight, victory, custom and every tradition gets the recognition it deserves.
