A book release, Bastar 1862

When  D A Prasanna  invites us for a program, we do not miss it. It is very well organised, we get to meet him, also Mukund Rao and Gayathri; and Lakshminarayan and Raji. In fact, we met Prasanna and Rajani through them. 

 It was in honor of Professor D S Achuta Rao, Mysore University.
An endowment initiated by his family in his name.
The endowment gives Research Grants, publishes DSA History Series books
with Manipal Universal Press of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE)

To mark the launch of the book, a symposium,
 titled Challenges of Tribal Development
and the curious case of Bastar
was quite absorbing.

Bastar 1862, edited by Uma Rao and K S Ram is it's 10th publication. The endowment has many more activities. DSA memorial conferences, performances, lecture series, celebrating scholars, and DSA History Channel on YouTube.

The book, which actually is 'two books in one', is brilliantly conceived. It is a labor of love as the editors lived in Bastar for many years and loved it.  

The first book, 'A Colonial Report' received by them in 1980, being lovers of English literature thrilled the editors. In fact, Glasfurd's report was in typescript, not in a book form. They thought to publish it in a book form. Unfortunately the typescript was full of errors and had no seal of authenticity.  The book remained in their mind. However, they persisted and researched about the report. 

Pravir Krishna, IAS, posted in Bastar, like minded, helped them to get the report from government records, the foreign department. The editors began working on it and after 45 years of persistence the book is now published!

The second book is about Bastar Adivasi resistance after a passage of hundred years in 1961! The book, I, Pravir, the Adivasi God, Maharaj Pravir Chandra Bhanjdeo Kakatiya. It is an interesting story how the  editors managed to get a copy. Reads like a detective story. The book did not please, the new rulers, the local politicians,  and all the copies were bought and destroyed!

We did enjoy the introductions to the book the editors gave, about the way the book came to be published. The book is very thought provoking! In fact, shocking! 

I was a boy when India became independent, I do remember the excitement. It was indeed a miracle of sorts. The people were perhaps were very emotional at the prospect of independence and were  too easily convinced.  I believe the new generation should read this book to understand better what India went through in the aftermath.

Chiranjiv Singh while he spoke about the book was very happy that the editors had indeed produced this book, a book one should read. A book to keep! I like to quote one sentence. 'What do we do with the tribals? Treat them as a Museum Piece?' 

He also said that the princely state he came from was a much better run place than the present day states. Many during the discussions asked 'Who is more civilized? Us or the tribals?'

If one wondered about the many kings who merged to form the Republic of India. This book tells us about one such king. We Kannadigas know about the story of Mysore. We have heard about a few more, like Hyderabad. There are many more! 

I guess India needs to find a different way to deal with Adivasis. It is easy to come to a conclusion after reading a book, like I did reading about  Nagaland, that the people from plains should not be allowed to live in the hill tribe areas! Almost impossible!

A huge task if they are to be given a better deal. There are Tribal populations in USA and Australia. Their numbers are around 5 million each. While about 110 million adivasis are spread all over India.  Bastar was surely the largest. North East the other. The estimate for the world is anywhere between 350 million to 600 million. They cannot be herded together and dealt with. 

Surabi Gurkar, granddaughter
of the famous painter 
K K Hebbar is the designer

Another incentive was that the book released, "Bastar 1862" felt like a continuation for me! I had helped a friend of ours from Pune, Bhagyashree Ranade with the publishing of a book on Nagaland written by her father Col. Pandit. He was posted there during the very turbulent times in Nagaland. The book 'Angels and Fairies of Nagaland'  was an eye opener!  The Tribal  issue is very complex!

As I read through the book, I also saw and learned more about D A Prasanna! I knew him as the President of Wipro GE.  Elpro is where I had worked before it was merged with Wipro GE. 

 I guess it should be a different blog! Author, Entrepreneur and so on!

A comment shared by Prasanna.

"Uma Ram knew the book from page one to three hundred. Rarely do you get a chance to hear such a good speaker . The function was well conducted and went as per schedule. Chiranjeev Singh as usual was knowledgable of the subject. As a moderator raised relevant questions. An elevating session."

 He adds: 

Our main aim is for historians to remember our father and his work. 15 copies of Anna’s thesis was bought!! Dr. Aruni remembered that Settar was DSA student. From this yard stick it was a successful event.

 The symposium stirred enough interest. From authors side it is a success.