Mundas and Their Country : A Century After

In the present volume the author has discussed about what had happened in Chotanagpur since the publication of S. C. Roy's monumental book titled The Mundas and Their Country. The present book discusses on the socio-political changes that have had taken place in the Chotanagpur region of Bihar after the publication of S. C. Roy's book in the year 1912. A brief and sweeping political history of the region have been portrayed by the present author on the background of the happenings that have taken place up to the end of the century. The political movements of the adivasis and the sadans that ultimately led to the formation of the State of Jharkhand in the year 2000 have been presented. Democracy is a game of number. Nine Chief Ministers and three times President's rule in a span of thirteen years in Jharkhand. This reflects the unique political culture of the region. Development cannot take place when there is scrambling for the chair. There is a general feeling among the people that something is missing in our Constitution. How to stop the scrambling for the chair by the elected politicians. We have ethics in many things but not in politics. In a complex socio-political situation in India as we find now, we need to find out a way so that a democratically elected government remains stable, even in a minority position, for a full term to deliver the goods promised to the people and aspired by the people. The mantra, Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas of Sri Narendra Modi, needs to be actually translated into action by his own party so that the people of the region realize the gifts of the government's development programmes. 

cover photographs by author