http://www.vishvish.com/story/the-usual-suspects <p>Gujarat's tribes number approximately four million people, mostly detached from mainstream society&mdash;lacking homelands, voting rights, human rights and education. Tribal people may interchangeably be called nomadic or de-notified--since some nomads were de-notified and vice versa--the latter term coming from the British "notifying" them of their "criminal" status by virtue of the 1871 Criminal Tribes Act.</p> <p>The act was vexatious as the tribes were retaliating, albeit violently, to the land-grabbing tactics, the violations of forest rights and indentured labour forced upon them by the British as they took traditional lands under colonial control for commercial exploitation. The legal suppressions of rights, movement and behaviour were enforced with one year's imprisonment for the first breach, several years for the second and life in jail for the third. Despite partial dismantling of the legislation in 1952 and again in the 1990s, the socio-economic divide remains, with most tribes currently living in settlement camps on barren, peripheral land.</p> Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0000 en-gb vishvish.com RSS generator 2.0 http://www.vishvish.com/photo/sargvada-ahmedabad-district-11 Sargvada, Ahmedabad District The Dafer community have a single voter card between them. Their settlement is on a farm, so they can work tending the land for the farmer. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-mahesana-district-12 Vijapur, Mahesana District The second largest settlement, bisected by a narrow gauge rail. The locals are hostile, but the community is very positive. The next set of voter registration forms are being prepared. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/basket-weavers-13 Basket Weavers The roadside settlement is small, noisy and dangerous. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/visanagar-mahasana-district-14 Visanagar, Mahasana District Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-mahesana-district-15 Vijapur, Mahesana District Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-mahesana-district-16 Vijapur, Mahesana District Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-mahesana-district-17 Vijapur, Mahesana District Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/basket-weavers-18 Basket Weavers Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/sargvada-ahmedabad-district-19 Sargvada, Ahmedabad District Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/visanagar-mahasana-district-20 Visanagar, Mahasana District Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-mahesana-district-21 Vijapur, Mahesana District Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-mahesana-district-22 Vijapur, Mahesana District Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/visanagar-mahasana-district-23 Visanagar, Mahasana District Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/visanagar-mahasana-district-24 Visanagar, Mahasana District Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-mahesana-district-25 Vijapur, Mahesana District Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/visanagar-mahasana-district-26 Visanagar, Mahasana District The rubble of his house, razed by the government for being illegally built. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/visanagar-mahasana-district-27 Visanagar, Mahasana District Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-mahesana-district-28 Vijapur, Mahesana District Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-mahesana-district-29 Vijapur, Mahesana District Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/visanagar-mahasana-district-30 Visanagar, Mahasana District Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/visanagar-mahasana-district-31 Visanagar, Mahasana District Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-mahesana-district-32 Vijapur, Mahesana District Until the tribe are given voting rights, temporary settlements are the norm, causing conflict with local villages. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/settlement-33 Settlement Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-mahesana-district-34 Vijapur, Mahesana District Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-mahesana-district-35 Vijapur, Mahesana District Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-mahesana-district-36 Vijapur, Mahesana District Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-mahesana-district-37 Vijapur, Mahesana District Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-mahesana-district-38 Vijapur, Mahesana District Many children have fathers in prison. Unable to reverse the long-standing presumption of guilt over innocence. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-mahesana-district-39 Vijapur, Mahesana District Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-mahesana-district-40 Vijapur, Mahesana District Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-mahesana-district-41 Vijapur, Mahesana District Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-mahesana-district-42 Vijapur, Mahesana District Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/basket-weavers-children-43 Basket Weavers' Children Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-mahesana-district-44 Vijapur, Mahesana District Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/bakshipanch-ashram-hostel-school-45 Bakshipanch Ashram Hostel School Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/basket-weavers-children-46 Basket Weavers' Children Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-mahesana-district-47 Vijapur, Mahesana District Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/basket-weavers-children-48 Basket Weavers' Children Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/bakshipanch-ashram-hostel-school-49 Bakshipanch Ashram Hostel School Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/basket-weavers-children-50 Basket Weavers' Children Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/bakshipanch-ashram-hostel-school-51 Bakshipanch Ashram Hostel School Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/basket-weavers-children-52 Basket Weavers' Children Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/bakshipanch-ashram-hostel-school-53 Bakshipanch Ashram Hostel School Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/prantij-sabarkantha-54 Prantij, Sabarkantha Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/prantij-sabarkantha-55 Prantij, Sabarkantha A BJP rally. VSSM and Janpath do not endorse any political party, including the right-wing nationalist BJP, but will provide support to the community in whatever they choose to do. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/prantij-sabarkantha-56 Prantij, Sabarkantha Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/prantij-sabarkantha-57 Prantij, Sabarkantha A young BJP supporter - the orange scarf marks him out. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/prantij-sabarkantha-58 Prantij, Sabarkantha Lunchtime at the local BJP candidate's house. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/prantij-sabarkantha-59 Prantij, Sabarkantha Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-mahesana-district-60 Vijapur, Mahesana District The head of the community counts the voter forms, ready for the upcoming round of applications. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/sargvada-ahmedabad-district-61 Sargvada, Ahmedabad District All the community gather to greet Mittalben from Janpath. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/visanagar-mahasana-district-62 Visanagar, Mahasana District Mittalben, far right, thinks of strategies to help the settlement deal with their pressing problems - now their houses have been razed by the government. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/sargvada-ahmedabad-district-63 Sargvada, Ahmedabad District The only man with a voting card in his settlement. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/voting-rights-64 Voting Rights These tribal villagers finally have voter ID cards. Without these, they have no access to government services, subsidized food, energy or education. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/voting-rights-65 Voting rights Have not yet helped - his son was arrested a few nights ago after a quarrel with the local villagers. Unable to visit his son as the police confiscated his bicycle - he was unable to prove he owned it. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/pulling-strings-66 Pulling strings Mittalben rings the local politicians in an attempt to find out what will become of the arrested man. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/dont-forget-us-67 Don't forget us He said. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-mahesana-district-68 Vijapur, Mahesana District Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/harinesh-pandya-69 Harinesh Pandya Harineshbhai from Janpath VSSM, activist and educator. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/mittal-patel-70 Mittal Patel Journalist-turned-campaigner for Nomadic rights. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/panktiben-from-janpath-71 Panktiben from Janpath Left academia to pursue work with VSSM. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/sargvada-ahmedabad-district-72 Sargvada, Ahmedabad District While the rest of the community tell Mittalben their news, the fields need watering. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/sargvada-ahmedabad-district-73 Sargvada, Ahmedabad District While the rest of the community tell Mittalben their news, the fields need watering. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/sargvada-ahmedabad-district-74 Sargvada, Ahmedabad District While the rest of the community tell Mittalben their news, the fields need watering. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/basket-weavers-75 Basket Weavers Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/basket-weavers-76 Basket Weavers Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/basket-weavers-77 Basket Weavers Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/basket-weavers-78 Basket Weavers Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vegetable-garden-79 Vegetable Garden The thorns are to protect the precious crops from animals and casual thievery. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/harvest-for-market-80 Harvest for market A small number of vegetables, destined for the market. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/little-used-scales-81 Little used scales Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/bakshipanch-ashram-hostel-school-82 Bakshipanch Ashram Hostel School Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/memadpura-ahmedadbad-district-83 Memadpura, Ahmedadbad District A young couple at the multiple marriage ceremony. 15 couples are getting married here today. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/memadpura-ahmedadbad-district-84 Memadpura, Ahmedadbad District A young couple and their family at the multiple marriage ceremony. 15 couples are getting married here today. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/memadpura-ahmedadbad-district-85 Memadpura, Ahmedadbad District A wedding photographer hired by one of the families. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/memadpura-ahmedadbad-district-86 Memadpura, Ahmedadbad District 15 sets of identical wedding gifts ready for distribution to the 15 couples at a mass wedding. Kitchen utensils and cooking equipment. Traditional across India. Vish Vishvanath