Skip to main content
Sabrang
Sabrang
Dalit Bahujan Adivasi

Pathalgadi: Assertion of Adivasi rights over land

The movement which spread in Jharkhand’s Khunti district around 2017-18 sought to end the community’s exploitation by outsiders

Deepanwita Gita Niyogi 14 Jul 2021

Pathalgadi MovementPhoto by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi

The Pathalgadi movement championed the rule of the gram sabha in Khunti. One of the primary reasons behind it was continuous attacks on tribal rights, forcible land acquisition and the weakening of village councils in Fifth Schedule areas. Here is an exclusive photo feature in collaboration with the Pulitzer Center.

Pathalgadi MovementPhoto by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi

A stone slab marks the Munda community akhara or open space used for public events and festivals in Khunti. Erection of stones or pathalgadi is common in the district. However, there are various types of pathalgadi traditions followed by the Munda tribe here.

Munda community AkharaPhoto by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi

Such erect stones are commonly seen across the district. The reporter came across many instances of such slabs standing on the ground, especially during numerous trips to the villages. It is an age-old tradition of Munda Adivasis to erect stones in memory of the dead, to announce important events or to demarcate a boundary. This place looked particularly beautiful as the stones have been erected under foliage.

Erect StonePhoto by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi

A typical village road in Khunti district. About 34 km from state capital Ranchi, the district witnessed the rise of the Pathalgadi movement during 2017-18, which started as an assertion of tribal rights over land and natural resources. This photo was taken in Baridih village where the reporter attended a meeting of the Sati Pati cult which has arrived in Khunti from Gujarat. Followers of this cult consider themselves to be the owners of India and refrain from using any kind of government facility. With cult members spreading in the villages of Khunti, tension is simmering between the Adivasis and the Sati Pati followers.

Pathalgadi MovementPhoto by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi

Munda tribals enjoy a break during a hot afternoon at Lamlum village in Khunti. “We did not want to erect the stones initially, but followed in others’ footsteps,” says resident Sunil Munda. He adds that supporters of the Pathalgadi movement ordered huge stones for inscribing sections from PESA and the Indian Constitution. While some are in support of the movement others are opposed to it, he explains. Prem Mardi, an advocate at the Jharkhand High Court, says that the movement started as a result of power vested in gram sabhas in Fifth Schedule areas.

Pathalgadi MovementPhoto by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi

A green stone slab erected in 2017 under the heading Indian Constitution prohibits the entry of outsiders in the villages. The Pathalgadi movement was severely dealt with by the state and several supporters were thrown into prison or accused of sedition. However, a process to withdraw these cases has been initiated.

“The withdrawal process is still going on in a slow manner. The cases will not be withdrawn from the Jharkhand High Court, but from the lower courts as trials are on in lower courts. It is going through a legal process. There is a committee looking into the matter. The public prosecutor will have to submit an application in the court for withdrawal of the cases,” explains Md Shadab Ansari, advocate, Jharkhand High Court.

Pathalgadi MovementPhoto by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi

Mostly painted in green, this stone slab of Dariguttu panchayat is in grey. There are six blocks in Khunti district of Jharkhand. The major affected blocks during the Pathalgadi movement were Khunti, Murhu and Arki.

Pathalgadi MovementPhoto by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi

Etawah Munda, the headman of Lamlum village, says that this grey stone slab contains a list of the names of all those who have died in the village.

Pathalgadi MovementPhoto by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi

A row of stone slabs clicked during a previous assignment in Khunti’s Torpa block. In case of natural death, Munda tribals inscribe the deceased’s name on a stone slab. This is the original pathalgadi. However, when someone dies accidentally, such stone slabs are erected outside the village limits.

*This photo feature was produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center

Related:

Under the shadow of coal mining
Adivasi identity at stake
Save the Sarnas!
Stone quarrying, development projects threatening Jharkhand’s sacred groves

Pathalgadi: Assertion of Adivasi rights over land

The movement which spread in Jharkhand’s Khunti district around 2017-18 sought to end the community’s exploitation by outsiders

Pathalgadi MovementPhoto by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi

The Pathalgadi movement championed the rule of the gram sabha in Khunti. One of the primary reasons behind it was continuous attacks on tribal rights, forcible land acquisition and the weakening of village councils in Fifth Schedule areas. Here is an exclusive photo feature in collaboration with the Pulitzer Center.

Pathalgadi MovementPhoto by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi

A stone slab marks the Munda community akhara or open space used for public events and festivals in Khunti. Erection of stones or pathalgadi is common in the district. However, there are various types of pathalgadi traditions followed by the Munda tribe here.

Munda community AkharaPhoto by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi

Such erect stones are commonly seen across the district. The reporter came across many instances of such slabs standing on the ground, especially during numerous trips to the villages. It is an age-old tradition of Munda Adivasis to erect stones in memory of the dead, to announce important events or to demarcate a boundary. This place looked particularly beautiful as the stones have been erected under foliage.

Erect StonePhoto by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi

A typical village road in Khunti district. About 34 km from state capital Ranchi, the district witnessed the rise of the Pathalgadi movement during 2017-18, which started as an assertion of tribal rights over land and natural resources. This photo was taken in Baridih village where the reporter attended a meeting of the Sati Pati cult which has arrived in Khunti from Gujarat. Followers of this cult consider themselves to be the owners of India and refrain from using any kind of government facility. With cult members spreading in the villages of Khunti, tension is simmering between the Adivasis and the Sati Pati followers.

Pathalgadi MovementPhoto by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi

Munda tribals enjoy a break during a hot afternoon at Lamlum village in Khunti. “We did not want to erect the stones initially, but followed in others’ footsteps,” says resident Sunil Munda. He adds that supporters of the Pathalgadi movement ordered huge stones for inscribing sections from PESA and the Indian Constitution. While some are in support of the movement others are opposed to it, he explains. Prem Mardi, an advocate at the Jharkhand High Court, says that the movement started as a result of power vested in gram sabhas in Fifth Schedule areas.

Pathalgadi MovementPhoto by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi

A green stone slab erected in 2017 under the heading Indian Constitution prohibits the entry of outsiders in the villages. The Pathalgadi movement was severely dealt with by the state and several supporters were thrown into prison or accused of sedition. However, a process to withdraw these cases has been initiated.

“The withdrawal process is still going on in a slow manner. The cases will not be withdrawn from the Jharkhand High Court, but from the lower courts as trials are on in lower courts. It is going through a legal process. There is a committee looking into the matter. The public prosecutor will have to submit an application in the court for withdrawal of the cases,” explains Md Shadab Ansari, advocate, Jharkhand High Court.

Pathalgadi MovementPhoto by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi

Mostly painted in green, this stone slab of Dariguttu panchayat is in grey. There are six blocks in Khunti district of Jharkhand. The major affected blocks during the Pathalgadi movement were Khunti, Murhu and Arki.

Pathalgadi MovementPhoto by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi

Etawah Munda, the headman of Lamlum village, says that this grey stone slab contains a list of the names of all those who have died in the village.

Pathalgadi MovementPhoto by Deepanwita Gita Niyogi

A row of stone slabs clicked during a previous assignment in Khunti’s Torpa block. In case of natural death, Munda tribals inscribe the deceased’s name on a stone slab. This is the original pathalgadi. However, when someone dies accidentally, such stone slabs are erected outside the village limits.

*This photo feature was produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center

Related:

Under the shadow of coal mining
Adivasi identity at stake
Save the Sarnas!
Stone quarrying, development projects threatening Jharkhand’s sacred groves

Related Articles

Hate Speech

Hate a political tool, now a state project: India 2023

There is a chance to make Meta Facebook accountable for its hate generating content on May 31, by voting YES for Proposal 7 titled “Assessing Allegations of Biased Operations in Meta's Largest Market” which is to be presented at Meta's AGM on May 31, 2023. It highlights allegations against Facebook for disseminating hate speech, its failure to address risks and political bias, voices concerns around inadequate content moderation and lack of transparency in platform practices. The writer calls on readers to participate in this campaign on social media to make our republic hate-free

Hate Speech

Hate a political tool, now a state project: India 2023

There is a chance to make Meta Facebook accountable for its hate generating content on May 31, by voting YES for Proposal 7 titled “Assessing Allegations of Biased Operations in Meta's Largest Market” which is to be presented at Meta's AGM on May 31, 2023. It highlights allegations against Facebook for disseminating hate speech, its failure to address risks and political bias, voices concerns around inadequate content moderation and lack of transparency in platform practices. The writer calls on readers to participate in this campaign on social media to make our republic hate-free


Sunday

03

Jan

Pan-India

Saturday

05

Dec

05 pm onwards

Rise in Rage!

North Gate, JNU campus

Thursday

26

Nov

10 am onwards

Delhi Chalo

Pan India

Theme

Stop Hate

Hate and Harmony in 2021

A recap of all that transpired across India in terms of hate speech and even outright hate crimes, as well as the persecution of those who dared to speak up against hate. This disturbing harvest of hate should now push us to do more to forge harmony.
Taliban 2021

Taliban in Afghanistan: A look back

Communalism Combat had taken a deep dive into the lives of people of Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. Here we reproduce some of our archives documenting the plight of hapless Afghanis, especially women, who suffered the most under the hardline regime.
2020

Milestones 2020

In the year devastated by the Covid 19 Pandemic, India witnessed apathy against some of its most marginalised people and vilification of dissenters by powerful state and non state actors. As 2020 draws to a close, and hundreds of thousands of Indian farmers continue their protest in the bitter North Indian cold. Read how Indians resisted all attempts to snatch away fundamental and constitutional freedoms.
Migrant Diaries

Migrant Diaries

The 2020 COVID pandemic brought to fore the dismal lives that our migrant workers lead. Read these heartbreaking stories of how they lived before the pandemic, how the lockdown changed their lives and what they’re doing now.

Campaigns

Sunday

03

Jan

Pan-India

Saturday

05

Dec

05 pm onwards

Rise in Rage!

North Gate, JNU campus

Thursday

26

Nov

10 am onwards

Delhi Chalo

Pan India

Videos

Communalism

Bastar violence: Anti-Christian Campaign causes breach in Adivasi unity

Hundreds of Adivasi church-goers across villages in Narayanpur and Bastar, Chhattisgarh have been experiencing boycott, intimidation and violence since December last year, forcing them to leave their homes and live in refugee camps. Reportedly, Adivasi districts across Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh is seeing a rise Hindutva mobilisation against Christians .

Communalism

Bastar violence: Anti-Christian Campaign causes breach in Adivasi unity

Hundreds of Adivasi church-goers across villages in Narayanpur and Bastar, Chhattisgarh have been experiencing boycott, intimidation and violence since December last year, forcing them to leave their homes and live in refugee camps. Reportedly, Adivasi districts across Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh is seeing a rise Hindutva mobilisation against Christians .

IN FACT

Analysis

Stop Hate

Hate and Harmony in 2021

A recap of all that transpired across India in terms of hate speech and even outright hate crimes, as well as the persecution of those who dared to speak up against hate. This disturbing harvest of hate should now push us to do more to forge harmony.
Taliban 2021

Taliban in Afghanistan: A look back

Communalism Combat had taken a deep dive into the lives of people of Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. Here we reproduce some of our archives documenting the plight of hapless Afghanis, especially women, who suffered the most under the hardline regime.
2020

Milestones 2020

In the year devastated by the Covid 19 Pandemic, India witnessed apathy against some of its most marginalised people and vilification of dissenters by powerful state and non state actors. As 2020 draws to a close, and hundreds of thousands of Indian farmers continue their protest in the bitter North Indian cold. Read how Indians resisted all attempts to snatch away fundamental and constitutional freedoms.
Migrant Diaries

Migrant Diaries

The 2020 COVID pandemic brought to fore the dismal lives that our migrant workers lead. Read these heartbreaking stories of how they lived before the pandemic, how the lockdown changed their lives and what they’re doing now.

Archives