T

he aboriginal (indigenous/tribal) communities across the planet are suffering tremendously due to exploitation, loss of their traditional livelihood, land, forests, traditional socio-cultural practices as well social security.

In many countries around the planet, they have been reduced to significantly low numbers and are threatened with extinction in the next five to six decades. Irrespective of their monumental contribution to the human society and civilizations; in most countries, their roles have never been truly recognized and honored appropriately.

Rich tribal heritage and traditions should make us all equally proud due to the value they have added to our societies over several centuries in the form of rich archaeology, socio-cultural history, arts, handicrafts and literature, traditional science and technology, agricultural innovations, ethnobotany and ethnomedicine, forestry and conservation; and above all tribal philosophy.

The ancient tribal community life inspires me with its basic philosophy of share and care for all members of a tribe, meta- physiological perspective of life and life processes highlighting that all things in nature are sacred and have equal rights to survive with humans side by side in the same ecosystem or habitat; and we should not exploit more than what we need for our basic survival.

The rich diversity of different tribal communities, with varied ethnicities, languages, cultures, dresses and religious practices, is the cornerstone of most civilizations around the globe.

These communities over ages have helped us to evolve as fellow humans enriched in history, tradition, heritage and genetic diversity toward establishing the foundation of our modern human society, plurality as well as democracy.

We must learn to accept and respect aboriginal (tribal) communities as the first human settlers in various remote parts of the world that remained unknown to the modern world for several centuries. We must admire the successful establishment of the first aboriginal (tribal) settlements along coastal areas, river valleys and foothills, laying the foundation of modern human civilization around the planet.

Tribal civilizations provided the basic framework that was used to build and rebuild the world over the past several centuries. We should be proud and learn to recognize this rich heritage of our tribal ancestors and feel strongly for these unfortunate and increasingly marginalized communities as fellow humans.

Saikat Kumar Basu
Lethbridge Canada