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Chharanagar

Chharanagar, a small ghetto of DNTs (Denotified tribes) was once situated in the outskirts of Ahmedbad, a western city in the Gujarat state of India. Now as the city grows, chharangar has become a part of the Metropolitan city. Chharas, the poeople residing in chharanagar are still living with the stigma of Criminal Tribes, the one which British gave them in 1871. The famous writer and social activist of India Smt.Mahasweta Devy says,"There are two birth year for a child born to any DNT family." One is the real birth year and the other one is 1871, in which the Criminal Tribes Act was passed to 'Rehabilitate' tribes like Sansi(Also known as chhara, aadodiya, kanjar, kanjarbhat, manesh and bhedkut),Daffer, Vaghri, Bhamta(Also known as kaikadii) etc. There were around 191 such tribes that were forced to live in the settlements. Settlements were a type of open jail in which whole tribe was kept under the eye of British officers. These tribes were kept in such settlements till 31st August, 1952.

Chharanagar is now situated near one such settlement. The people of Chharanagar are still fighting for their identity. The yougsters are still deprived of jobs. Even in such situations, a wave of positive change is blowing in chharanagar. It happened because of some of the concerned citizens like Mahasweta devi, the lady who came out strogly on the issue of Denotified Tribes.(DNT).

But still there is lot of work to be done in chharanagar. I will go on posting some of the articles on The Denotified Tribes of India. Just watch this space.

Roxy Gagdekar.