Jungu, the Baiga Princess Page 7
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Further Reading
Originally a missionary, Verrier Elwin (1902-1964) became one of India’s greatest anthropologists. A friend and advisor to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of independent India, he was highly influential, and his opinions became the focal point of discussion on tribal policy and economic development. He wrote very many interesting books on Indian tribes and their customs. A good one to start with is Leaves of the Jungle: Life in a Gond Village, which is published by Oxford University Press.
Other famous anthropologists you may wish to read in the years to come would be Sir Wilfrid Grigson and Professor Christoph von Fürer-Haimendorf who wrote famous scholarly works on India’s tribals.
Vithal Rajan
July 2013, Hyderabad
Glossary of Gondi Words and Phrases
Ad bay lange sille It is not very far
Amta a sour tasting red flower, Hibiscus sabdariff a L.
batra dal curry made of peas
Bhinjwari gunia a doctor or wise woman of a high or royal sect among the Baigas
chirota a medicinal plant, the Artemisia vulgaris Linn.
Cokot sille That’s not good
Coss approximately four kilometres
Cubba-cubba anta a dull, dull pain
Daab half a coss, or approximately two kilometres
Donka a Baiga word for ‘man’
Ey! Nimme vagatal vati Hello! Where did you come from?
Harra a bitter-sweet medicinal seed of the Terminalia chebula
Hassia sickle
Hatte mati? Are you tired?
Ho Yes
Khandi a measure of grain, approximately equal to 125 kilograms
kodon roti A roti made of a coarse millet, kodo, Paspalum scrobiculatum, grown by the Baigas
kuro a measure of grain equal to one-twentieth of a khandi
kutki a coarse millet, Panicum psilopodium Trin., grown by the Baigas
loogaee a specific Baiga word for ‘wife’
lugra a short sari worn by Baiga women
mahuwa a liquor made of the flowers of the Mahua tree, Madhuca longifolia
mandia ragi, eleusine coracana
Mi babal sarkari Is your father a government [official]
Nak kare maymaki I don’t understand
Na sanga gondi vadka Speak to me in Gondi
Niva mendol nontaki? Is it a sharp thorn-like pain?
Pej a gruel made of salted ground maize and kodo, also the name of the midday meal
Phag a festival in March when women are allowed to beat their men
Suria a measure of grain approximately equal to one-twelft h of a kuro, or 750 grams
Tadkma! Don’t scratch!
Thuha a medicinal plant, the Euphorbia neriflora
tin paniya a health-giving tuber related to wild arrowroot
toma two handfuls, the smallest measure of grain, approximately equal to 250 grams
Veyne! Quickly!
Yedjal A bear
About the Author
Vithal Rajan grew up in the Baiga districts of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, and holds a doctorate from the London School of Economics. In his long and distinguished career, he has worked as mediator for the church in Belfast in the 1970s, as founding faculty, School of Peace Studies, University of Bradford, UK, senior faculty, Administrative Staff College of India, and as Chair of World Studies at the International School of Geneva and as Director, World-Wide Fund for Nature International. He also served as Executive Director, the Right Livelihood Award Foundation, Sweden (also known as the Alternative Nobel Prize). He is a founding councillor of the World Future Council, and is on the faculty of Transcend Global Peace University. He has founded several Indian NGOs and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada for his life-long service to humanity. His other books include Holmes of the Raj, ‘Not So’ Stories for Older Children, The Year of High Treason, and Mangues de Tara [in French].
About the Illustrator
Srivi Kalyan works at the fluid and exciting intersection of arts, media, education, design and self-reflection. She is the Founder-Director of Fooniferse Arts Pvt.Ltd. She has authored and illustrated several children’s books as well as stories for adults and is an award-winning writer and illustrator. Her work and workshops draw in the rich connections between language, art, performance, thought, and play. In a society that is constantly growing into greater violence, health issues, environmental destruction, her work in education is to build a strong voice for sustainable and compassionate living. Her work can be viewed at www.sriviliveshere.com.