Introduction
Sadri speaking community, often called Sadan or Nagpuri, is a language-based community, which mainly lives in the Chhota Nagpur Plateau region. This area is spread in Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and some parts of West Bengal. The mother tongue of the people of this community is Sadari (Nagpuri), which is used as a connecting language among many tribal communities.
Language and Literature
Sadri is an Eastern Indo-Aryan language belonging to the Bihari group. Historically, the language has been the common medium of communication between different tribal communities such as the Munda, Kharia, and Kurukh. The Sadari language has a rich literary tradition dating back to the 17th century. Poets such as Raghunath Shah and Dalel Singh have contributed to the strengthening of this literature. Even today, the Sadari language is a medium of expression of literature and culture, and efforts are being made to preserve and propagate it.
Cultural Tradition
The Sadri speaking community has a very rich cultural heritage. Traditional festivals, music and dance are the identity of this community. Festivals like Sarhul, Sohrai and Karma are an important part of their culture, which are connected to nature and the cycle of agriculture. Folk dances like Jhumair and Domkach are performed during these festivals, which shows their deep connection with the land and tradition.
Social Structure and Occupation
Traditionally, many of the Sadri speaking people were engaged in agriculture and weaving. Communities like the Chik Baraik, who are adept at weaving, play a major role in the making of traditional textiles. With time and due to socio-economic changes, people of this community are now engaged in various types of employment, especially as labourers in the tea gardens of Assam and Bengal.
Religious Beliefs and Tradition
The Sadri speaking community has a diverse religious belief system. They practice Hinduism, Sarna (tribal religion based on nature worship), and Christianity. Many still practice nature worship, deifying natural elements such as the sun, moon, and sacred forests. Conversion to Christianity has increased in recent years, especially in Assam.
Contemporary Challenges
In recent times, the Sadri language and culture are facing challenges due to modernization and linguistic changes. For example, in Assam, there has been a decline in the use of indigenous languages among the tea garden communities, where the younger generation is adopting Assamese, Hindi or English. Efforts are being made by various organizations to preserve and promote the Sadri language and culture through education and cultural programs.
The rich cultural structure and resilience of the Sadri speaking community is a testimony to their enduring heritage despite changing socio-cultural scenarios.
