J’khand tribes divided over Sarna flag
RANCHI: The controversy surrounding former Chhattisgarh minister Ganesh Ram Bhagat’s remarks on the red-white triangular flag used by the Sarna tribal groups in Jharkhand has intensified, sparking widespread protests and a variety of responses across the state.
The issue first came up earlier this year when former minister of Chhattisgarh and president of Janajati Raksha Manch (JSM), Ganesh Ram Bhagat, during his Ranchi visit on June 23, remarked that the red and white striped flag, which is being regarded as the Sarna flag, has no connection with the tribal Sarna religion. He said the flag instead symbolises Christianity, a foreign religion.
Addressing a tribal group in Angara on the outskirts of Ranchi, Bhagat further said that the colour of the actual Sarna flag is completely white and tribal icon Birsa Munda used a white flag during his Ulgulan (revolution) against the British.
Bhagat said the white flag is the Sarna flag, as those who practice the Sarna religion believe in “Nirakar Brahma” (nature). He also suggested the tribe use the Hanuman flag they traditionally used to be devotees of Lord Hanuman.
Soon after Bhagat’s statements, several organisations which have been using the redwhite striped Sarna flag for religious and cultural programmes started staging protests and demonstrations against Bhagat’s statement. “On June 24, the situation became tense in the Angara area and finally police had to intervene. An FIR under section 107 of IPC was also registered to keep a check on groups opposing and supporting Bhagat’s statement,” Umesh Baraik, who had organised Bhagat’s programme in Angara, said.
On June 27, a tribal organisation, Raji Padha Sarna Prathna Sabha, took out a march from Jaipal Singh Stadium to Albert Ekka Chowk and burnt Bhagat’s effigy to mark its protest against the statement. Its president Champa Oraon sought an apology from Bhagat for his statement. “Bhagat should seek an apology for his misleading information about the flag,” he said. Chief convener of Adivasi Sarna Dharma Sanrakshan Samiti Laksmi Narayan Munda echoed the same sentiment.
“Bhagat is stating on the behest of RSS. All this is rubbish. Bhagat wants tribals to accept the Hanuman Flag as the Sarna flag and talk of Sarna as part of the Sanatan, though the Sarna religion is different from Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam. Those practising this religion have different identities. Those practising Sarna religions worship natural things like forests, water, and mountains unlike other religions,” he said.
Bandhan Tigga, regarded as a tribal guru, echoed Raji Padha Sarna Prathna Sabha and Adivasi Sarna Dharma Sanrakshan Samiti. “Red, white, and black have special significance for tribes. Red symbolizes the earth while white symbolizes the sun. For tribals, the earth is a mother and the sun is the father. The red-white striped flag is the Sarna flag and there is no doubt about it. Sarna followers use it on auspicious occasions. The black flag is not used in the flag as black symbolizes the past. The colour of the flags of different Parha (villages) is different but as far as the religious flag is concerned Sarna flag is one. The white flag is used by those who do not believe in animal sacrifice,” he said.
Rashmi Katyayan, an advocate associated with tribal rights, shared a video on the subject prepared by tribal groups which suggested that in 1961 when the first Sarhul procession was organized from Karam Toli to Sirom Toli under the leadership of famous tribal leader Karma, it was the same white and red striped flag, which was used as the Sarna flag. .
However, state JSM media in-charge Soma Oraon backed Bhagat’s assertions.“White flag is the real Sarna flag. During the recent Sarhul, we used this flag at our welcome stall to welcome the Sarhul procession. The redwhite striped flag has a Christian connection. Only those influenced by Christianity accept the red-white striped flag as the Sarna flag. Those making hue and cry over the statement of Ganesh Ram Bhagat maintain silence when it comes to the conversion of tribals into Christianity or Islam. Before giving any opinion on the Sarna flag, they should speak on this issue.”
Even as the flag has courted controversy, Ram Dayal Munda Tribal Welfare and Research Institute, the premier institute for tribal research in the state, does not have any documented history on the subject.
When contacted, Ram Dayal Munda’s son and a folklorist at Central University of Jharkhand, Ekir Gunjal Munda, said the controversy over the flag is useless.
“The Sarna flag is different in different places. In Ranchi, redwhite striped flags are used by Sarna while in Gumla and Lohardaga white is used. In the Santhal area, the colour is green. Such debates take place among Oraon who use the white flag. The Ho tribe uses white, red, and yellow in their flags. Munda uses Red, White, and Green Flag. During Jatra (fair) people from different Parha come with different types of flags. India is a country of ‘Unity in Diversity’. This is reflected in tribal culture also. Thus all is right in their place,” he said.