17.0 Introduction
Religion is broadly defined as a set of beliefs practised by a person, group, or community of people. As defined by Clifford Greetz in his essay ‘Religion as a Cultural System’, religion is “(1) a system of symbols which acts to (2) establish powerful, pervasive, and long-lasting moods and motivations in men by (3) formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and (4) clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality that (5) the moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic” (Greetz 1993: 90).
Every religion has its own system of beliefs, practices, and values. The way of worship, rituals, and practices differ from religion to religion. It is generally believed that religion is a way of life. India is a pluralistic nation, where people of different religions, languages, and beliefs live together in harmony. Vivekananda’s speech at the World’s Parliament of Religions, Chicago, is explicit in describing religious plurality of India. He states,I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth.
(Advaita Ashrama 1989:75)
India has accepted and treated all religions equally, irrespective of their origins and belief systems. All of them co-exist with Hinduism, the traditional religion of India, and flourish. Not only world religions, but religions of tribal communities in India also have been coexisting with Hindu religion since time immemorial. However, in India, religious traditions and practices undergo changes as there are more and more incursions of scientific, technological, and more so, economic changes. Tribal religions are not exceptions to it. Some of the changes in traditions can be for the betterment of the community while simultaneously some may be for the detriment. When unscrupulous and selfish persons are given charge of implementing the progressive measures in tribal areas, the changes in all aspects of life are for the worse. The traditional religious outlook gets new meaning. The changes that have
taken place among the Bonda in general and in the sphere of religion in particular have been portrayed in Pratibha Ray’s novel The Primal Land.
17.1