Mysuru: Union minister of state for Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey on Monday called for concerted efforts to preserve tribal languages, document indigenous traditions and honour the contributions of tribal communities to India’s cultural and national heritage.Inaugurating a three-day national conclave on Tribal Languages and Museums at Hotel Southern Star, Uikey said tribal communities had played a significant role in India’s history and freedom struggle, though the contributions of several tribal heroes remained overlooked for decades.Highlighting the importance of language preservation, Uikey said tribal languages were repositories of traditional knowledge, culture and identity. He said the Aadi Vaani initiative was being undertaken to preserve and promote nine tribal dialects and strengthen communication and cultural understanding among communities.Referring to his own Gond community, he said Gondi was spoken by more than 2.5 crore people across several states. He also cited Santhali, spoken by the Santal community, as an important tribal language requiring continued preservation. Uikey stressed the need to establish museums to document and showcase the courage, traditions, lifestyle and contributions of tribal communities.Responding to a proposal by Mysuru MP Yaduveer Wadiyar for a dedicated Karnataka Tribal Museum in Mysuru, he assured that the Union Ministry of tribal affairs would consider the proposal once a formal request was submitted.Karnataka minister for scheduled tribes welfare T Raghumurthy called for urgent measures to document and revitalise tribal languages, particularly amid declining usage among younger generations. He said the loss of a language would also mean the loss of valuable cultural traditions, ancestral knowledge and community identity. He also called for comprehensive language profiling, including digital resources, written documentation and geographical mapping, to safeguard endangered dialects.Referring to Karnataka’s 51 scheduled tribe communities, he said state and central initiatives were being implemented to improve infrastructure and ensure social justice. Earlier, tribals welcomed the guests with their traditional tribal dance, which also attracted people who had come to take part in the three-day conclave from across the country. Kanagavalli, secretary, and Anant Prakash Pandey, joint secretary, both from ministry of tribal affairs, Basavaraja Kodagunti, director, CIIL, were also present.
