The call for removal of the Sarna Code from the India Census is spreading and will reach its peak on a planned mass rally at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on February 28, 2025. This current initiative is being spearheaded by the Rashtriya Adivasi Samiti of Jharkhand, who aims to officially categorize something that is practiced by several tribal groups, which is the Sarna religion. A competitive examination candidate must recognize, understand, and analyze the bygone context of paradigm, significance, and socio-political impact of such modification.
The February 28th Protest at Jantar Mantar: A Significant Rallying Point.
- The Rashtriya Adivasi Samnvay Samiti is the registered name of the association of the entire country of Scheduled Tribes who are on protest and have formed the body.
- The civically organized multiple Adivasi groups including the Kendriya Sarna Samiti have subscribed to the demand for breakdown caste Indian religious identity in the Federal mobilization.
- The phenomenon of attending massive gatherings for protest at Jantar Mantar, an important location in the Indian capital brings the issue at hand to the forefront of the federal government.
- Core Demand: that of a unique Religion/Sarama column for devout adherents followers of the Sarna faith in the Indian census.
Chronological context of the Sarna code movement.
- The decade of 1990 has been the era of armed violence in many tribal areas and religion bordering on the Naxalite movement due to its requirement of validating ethnicity and religion on paper.
- Impact of census 2011 4.9 million people which mostly belong from Jharkhand claimed their religion to be ‘Sarna’ in the ‘Others’ category during the 2011 Census, thus fueling the movement.
- As it stands people from Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal have more intensified the campaign for Sarna Code since 2011.
The Sarna Religion: Nature Worship Religion
- Nature Worship: Sarna believers worship mother nature, hence adore trees, rivers, and hills world over.
- The Sarna religion incorporates aspects of idol worship, a deviation from most religions.
- Use of distinct Social Structure: Followers of Sarna religion do not believe in the Varna system or caste hierarchy.
- One of the important features of Sarna tradition is the celebration of Sarhul, which marks the new year.
Importance of the Sarna Code Issue for Competitive Examinations
- The topic of the Sarna Code holds great significance for students seeking to take competitive examinations for particular regions.
- Interpersonal and communal issues, the duty to be a core communal and cultural issue concerning tribal entitlements, religion, individualism, and social ethics. Appreciating the significance of the problem in the context of the interpersonal dimension of the competitive exam.
- Specific information about the region Jharkhand is consideration of the high number of Sarna followers which makes this topic of great importance for the State Examination.
- The issue of tribal movement, ethnicity, and land question in Jharkhand has always been problematic.
- The present situation summons recent activities in relation to the Sarna Code such as utterances of policy advisors, demonstrations, government schemes, and professional evaluations.
- The argument in the law and policy section of the Sarna Code speaks to the arguments of administrative, policy, and legal complexities regarding a marginalized people. It is crucial to appreciate the policy consequences that give a new self-defined religious category.
To Remember the Key Points:
- The census of India is a prerequisite for the Sarna religion being accepted, therefore, the Sarna Code also needs formal endorsement.
- There is a need as a desire to allow for the uniqueness of tribes, the safeguarding of tribal rights, and the practice of religion.
- The protest in Delhi on February 28th, played an important role in catalyzing the demand for the Sarna Code.
- The implementation of the Sarna Code poses difficulties in the definition of Sarna and the compilation of data.
- This is very significant for the candidates in this highly competitive examination, especially in regard to the Jharkhand state and sectarian violence.
Summation
- There are two types of socio-political difficulties, which the submission of the Sarna Code and the supporting documents tribal claims religious endorsement and ethnosociological tagging poses.
- To enhance one’s general intelligence and analytical abilities, the candidate needs to be aware of their ethnicity, ancient roots, and ongoing innovations.
- The continuation of the February 28th protest and so called related updates under the evolving socio-political scenario of Bharat will provide some degree of contentment.
