IN THE decade that Samvaad has been held, it has become a happy and special space for tribal people to come together.

More than 2,500 showed up this year, asserting their unique identities through music, dance, prayer, sport, literature, films and more.

As tribal cultures get wiped out, it is an achievement to be able to bring them to one focal place to reenergize and keep them alive.

Making it possible is Tata Steel, which hosts Samvaad at Jamshedpur each year. The 11th edition was held in November. A passionate young team led by Sourav Roy at the Tata Steel Foundation works all year round to make Samvaad a huge celebration, perhaps the only one of its kind in India. 

The modern world recognizes that its future lies in the balance to be found in these ancient cultures. Samvaad helps tribal people grasp their own importance in the survival of the planet.

Over the years, Samvaad has not only brought people to an event, it has reached out to them as well. There are small regional Samvaads too.

When people come to Jamshedpur for the event it is because they know from others in their communities that this is a place where they can safely express themselves, Roy explains.

“They come in trust and over the years that trust has only grown,” he says.

Ashoke Chakraborty of Civil Society was there to shoot these pictures 

Homage to Birsa Munda with the traditional beating of drums

Enthralling women dancers from the Paraja tribe in Odisha

T.V. Narendran, managing director of Tata Steel, inaugurates Samvaad

A fusion band from Meghalaya

All the way from Ladakh’s Nubra Valley

A tribal healer’s stall

Traditional sports had their moment under the floodlights

A range of cuisines were on offer