Based on his work of more than a decade, senior journalist Jaysingh Rawat has authored a book on the tribes of Uttarakhand titled “Uttarakhand-Janjatiyon ka Itihas”. The author states that he is not an anthropologist so he has written the book from the view point of a journalist, presenting the past of tribals of Uttarakhand and making an attempt to discuss the present and future of the various tribes of Uttarakhand.
The eight chapters in the book dwell on various issues like the threat to national security due to the large-scale migration of people from the Indo-Tibet border region in Uttarakhand, lands of tribals in the Terai region being snatched away from them, apathy of the authorities towards the Forest Rights Act 2006 and formation of tribal advisory council in observance of the spirit of the schedule V of Constitution of India and other relevant issues.
The books also analyses the demand for declaring the Rawain, Jaunpur and the Indo-Tibet border area being declared scheduled areas. “I have also tried to elicit focus on the risk of Naxalism rising due to the continued exploitation of the tribals. Every society has some negative traditions which should not be concealed but should be exposed to be resolved. If I have written about some such anomalies in the tribal world, it should not be taken in the wrong sense,” states Rawat.
Noted environmentalist and Magsaysay award recipient Chandi Prasad Bhatt has written the foreword of this book which will not only present a glimpse of the rich cultural heritage of Uttarakhand but also inform the reader about the history of tribals in the State.
“As a journalist I have tried to write about the present and future possibilities of all the five tribes living in Uttarakhand so that the policy makers and administrators may also open their eyes to realities and probabilities,” added the author.