Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durga Das Uikey today said that the contribution of tribal communities has been significant in every era and must be preserved and promoted. He was addressing the inaugural session of the 10th National Tribal and Folk Culture Literary Festival in New Delhi. Mr Uikey described tribal literature and culture as an integral part of India’s civilisational consciousness. He said tribal narratives reflect philosophical insights, ecological balance, and social values and called for their integration into mainstream discourse. He also highlighted the role of tribal communities in the freedom struggle, recalling leaders like Birsa Munda.
The two-day festival is being organised by Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts in collaboration with Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya. The festival, themed Celebrating Tribal Literature, Languages, Knowledge Traditions and Cultural Expressions, will feature discussions, lectures and cultural performances with participation from scholars, researchers and artists from across the country.
