Achanakmar -Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve: Development and traditional knowledge of Baiga

Abstract

An anthropological survey was carried out in the Achanakmar - Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve (AABR) core zone to analyse the impact of government development schemes on tribal culture and indigenous knowledge. For this purpose, three non-rehabilitated villages from the core zone of AABR having maximum Baiga population according to the census 2011 viz., Sarasdol, Tilaidabara and Chhirhatta were selected. The Baiga population of the chosen village was divided into three age groups and interviewed to compare and observe the changes in the traditional culture and customs with time. The data was analysed by comparing the adaptability among the generations. The survey result indicates that indigenous knowledge and tradition have been altered significantly. Due to the influence of outer culture and new technologies introduced in the area through various governmental schemes, the preferences of all generations have shifted towards modern trends. Further, it has resulted in the deterioration of traditional knowledge of the Baiga tribe by introducing facilities. This study has examined the change in the age-old traditional practice of the Baiga tribe of the core zone. The major identified reasons were the interference of the outside culture and the conversational gaps between the two successive generations. The new generation was not ready to adopt their traditional knowledge because they had discovered the ease of life through modern culture. This has resulted in the loss of knowledge of traditional healing techniques and the identification power of various valuable plants that were not passed down to their next generations.