It's said that any entity who is submissive to nature, his protector and provider is nature herself.

In the lush green forests of Mayurbhanj district in Orissa, there exists a tribe known as the Mankirdia. This tribe has mastered the art of coexisting harmoniously with the forest, which they consider to be a maternal figure and their protector and provider.

MANKIRDIA: THE DENIZENS OF FOREST

Mankirdia are semi-nomadic people who have been residing in forests for centuries. They are one of the critically vulnerable indigenous tribes of Orissa. In a documentary, a local named Mankirdia said that when his forefathers came to the forest, there were only wild boars in these areas.

The word Mankirdia translates to the people who live on monkey catching. They have developed their unique skills to trap the monkeys and sell them in the market. This was one of their traditional occupations. However, ever since the Indian government banned such activities the tribe has given up on the age-old tradition of monkey catching.

Although people call them Mankirdia they prefer being identified as Birhor, which means the denizens of forest.

A SUSTAINABLE AND AMPHIBIOUS ARCHITECTURE

They are nomadic people and live in transient settlements called TANDA. Each Tanda comprises 10 to 12 Kumbha which means temporary huts. These sustainable houses are made with forest products. The kumbhas are truly remarkable in their versatility. They remain completely waterproof during the monsoon season, offering warmth and comfort during the chilly winters, and a refreshing coolness during the scorching summers. The people employ a special indigenous architectural technique to create these structures. As they move from one region to another in search of natural resources, they construct these transient settlements, showcasing their adaptability and resourcefulness.

HANDICRAFTS MAKING: A ZERO WASTE APPROACH

The Siali fiber found abundantly in the forests of the Mayurbanj district is a potent resource and is skilfully used by the Mankirdia tribes to earn a livelihood.

They are skilled in making various kinds of ropes, nets, baskets, etc from these surface fibers. Here is how they do it as explained by Gobardhan Mankirdia

• The process starts with the chopping of the native Siali trees and only mature trees are chosen to ensure regrowth and minimum harm to the forest cover.
• After collecting enough branches, they start tearing apart the Bark
• They carry these torn barks to the makeshift workshops set in the front yard of their houses.
• Here fibers are stripped by hand, soaked in water and dried in the sun. This is much like the processing of jute fiber.
• Then they make Sikha, Pagha and other kinds of ropes out of it and sell them in the markets for livelihood.

The manufacturing process adheres to a zero-waste policy, ensuring that every part of the plant is utilized efficiently. Even the broader strips are repurposed to create TOPAS, specialized baskets employed for oil extraction. By immersing half of the fibers in mud and dyeing them black, a distinctive chessboard-like pattern is achieved when these black fibers are woven together with the uncolored ones. This enhances the product's aesthetic appeal and augments its market value.

However, rope and net making were the primary sources of their income. With the rise in the sale of plastic ropes, they have lost their market value.

INDIGENOUS MEDICINAL KNOWLEDGE

The tribesmen face many occupational hazards while working in various terrains without any protection. However, nature also provides them with healing resources. They have lived in harmony with the jungle for ages, and as a result, they have accumulated a wealth of indigenous medicinal knowledge. This knowledge includes rare natural therapies for various ailments.

A Baiddh is a man who stands with the knowledge of medicinal botany and travels in the forest in the quest for herbs to prepare medicines. Here are some traditional remedies as shared by a local Baiddh, Jaya Mankirdia

• Pathar Garuda (Rauvolfia serpentina), The root of this plant is made into a fine paste and fed to babies suffering from stomach aches.
• Manch Kankda (Pistacia integerrima) is powdered and mixed with rice to feed obese people. It is known to cure obesity.
• Jhinka Putta (dried intestine of porcupine) is mixed with water and taken by babies and adults. It is a medicine for headaches.

"The forest is not just a resource for the people of Manikirdia; it is life itself. It breathes, sustains other lives, and never leaves the Manikirdians starving for food. These people know the forest down to its deepest roots because they are a part of it."

REFERENCES

• https://youtu.be/ARcdQrF6F00?si=7I61QKS3pBRe_8FU
• https://youtu.be/ARcdQrF6F00?si=FkowrS2k0EjC9pWS
• https://youtu.be/Qp3EqLWFGEs?si=CnLyZ39SdnVBFoB5
• https://youtu.be/stldBPwVt_Q?si=E5cbef-G3OoptaHu