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Warli Tribe's Battle for Land: Clash with Shivaji Museum Project in Mumbai

Published: 5th Jan, 2024

Context

The Warli tribe in Mumbai is facing a threat to their ancestral land due to the construction of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj War Art Museum.

Background

  • The project, initiated by the Maharashtra Department of Tourism, has sparked concerns among the Warlis, who fear the loss of their homes and forests in Gorai.
  • The clash highlights the ongoing struggle between development projects and indigenous communities.
  • In June 2023, the Maharashtra Department of Tourism announced the construction of the Shivaji museum on 136 acres of land in Gorai with a budget of Rs. 50 crore.
  • The Warli tribe, with a population of about 1,300 in Gorai, resides in six tribal hamlets, including Babar Pada and Chotadongari Pada.
  • The project has led to the demolition of houses and raised concerns about the displacement of tribal communities.

Need for Project and backlash by the tribes:

  • The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj War Art Museum aims to celebrate the historical and cultural significance of the Maratha warrior king, Shivaji Maharaj.
  • However, the choice of land for the museum has triggered opposition from the Warli community, who argue that the land is crucial for their livelihoods and cultural practices.
  • The Warlis argue that the sanctioned land for the museum is the same land they have depended on for generations.
  • They express concerns about losing not only their homes but also the forested area they have populated with fruit trees.
  • The conflict has intensified as the government proceeds with the construction, leading to protests and discussions about the impact on the tribal hamlets.

Legal Battles and Community Mobilization:

  • In 2011, the Bombay High Court rejected the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation's (MTDC) tourism proposal to construct hotels and resorts in and around Gorai and Manori
  • The court highlighted the ecological sensitivity of these areas.
  • Currently, the Warli tribe, along with fisherfolk, is in the process of filing an interim application against the Shivaji museum project.
  • The tribal community has mobilized, with around 6,000 people gathering to mark the Tribal Community Festival 2023, emphasizing their traditions and addressing the crisis.

Government's Response:

  • Collector, Mumbai Suburban, assures that tribal communities practicing agriculture on sanctioned land will not be displaced.
  • He believes that even if a particular place is affected, the tribes will be rehabilitated safely.
  • However, the Warli community remains skeptical, emphasizing their connection to the land and their determination to resist any illegal occupation.

About the Warli Community:

  • The Warli, an indigenous tribe of western India, reside in mountainous and coastal areas along the Maharashtra and Gujarat border.
  • Their animistic beliefs, customs, and traditions are intertwined with their unique Warli language.
  • Known for their Warli paintings, the community has a rich cultural heritage, and their mural art tradition dates back to 2500 or 3000 BCE.
  • The Warli paintings, characterized by a basic graphic vocabulary, have become a distinctive representation of their cultural identity.
  • The Warli painting is recognized as the cultural intellectual property of the tribal community, with efforts made to preserve this traditional knowledge through initiatives like the Warli Art Foundation.
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