No. 1. Need Vs Greed
P. A. Chacko SJ
The Indigenous World is one of promotion of regeneration of nature. That is to say, the indigenous, who are called Adivasis in India have much to teach the outer world in terms of need and greed. First of all, for ages, they have been depending on nature and natural resources. Industrialisation and commercialisation of nature’s resources are not in their genes.
Their dependence on nature manifests itself in their going to nature to look for what they need. Yes, what they need. They do not take way materials from their natural surroundings, be they forests or rivulets, for the sake of accumulation. They take away things for their immediate need. In other words, they do not loot the forest or drain out fishes from rivers or canals at one go. Generally, it is for the day’s need. Such practices are regulated by village sanction so that nature may be helped to regenerate.
My friend and Guru Dr. Peter Paul Hembrom, a noted Ethnobotanist and expert in indigenous medicine, has taught me a beautiful tribal practice as an example of helping nature to regenerate. According to him, when a traditional medicine man goes to pull out a medicinal herb, he takes a deep breath and, in that one breath, pulls out the plant with one jerk. He does not put it slowly and steadily as if to pull out the whole plant will all the roots.
When he uproots with one breath and a jerk, some roots are sure to remain back in the earth. That will help generate the plant. What a beautiful custom. There are many such examples of traditional wisdom the indigenous can teach us. The indigenous world is a wonder world. As Alice got into the rabbit hole with curiosity, one has to get into the tribal world to stumble upon a variety of exciting things as lessons for life.