Dangs sit on a powder keg as power equations change

If you thought that the state’s southernmost district Dangs, which is a tribal abode is all about peace and tranquility, you need to read further.  The talks of Naxal activity may seem unreal as the Dangs police are quick to dismiss any suggestion that leftwing insurgency could be brewing in the district.

But non-communist activists working in the area are not so dismissive. They are deeply worried about the possible consequences of unresolved tribal tensions and growing inequality in the region.

Octogenarian Ghelubhai Nayak is a Gandhian who has been working in the area since 1948. “Dangs is dominated mainly by two tribes— the Bhils who comprise 33% of the local population, and the Kunbi (or Kokani) who are 40% of the population,” he said. “Under the British, the Bhils were the rulers of the Dangs and they had invited Kunbis for agricultural work. But the situation has reversed today.”

Nayak said that in today’s democratic set-up, Kunbis who are the new landlords have emerged as more powerful than the Bhils. “Discontent among the Bhils has been growing and they can be lured by the absurd promises of leftwing activists,” he added.

Bhils and Kunbis are frequently at loggerheads over the issue of ownership of land given to the Kunbis by the Bhils for farming.

“Such disputes are becoming more frequent,” Nayak said. “The Bhils now want to repossess the land they had earlier given to the Kunbis. The Bhil community is angry and if their alienation continues to grow, communists may move in and start adding fuel to the fire.”

The district has been flooded with developmental schemes launched by the state  and the Centre. But there is no significant  improvement in the life of most tribals. Ironically, most of them are not even aware that the schemes have been launched for their benefit.