Context:

• In December 2019, the state government of Jharkhand had decided to drop “all cases” related to the Pathalgadi movement of 2017-2018.
  • Almost a year later, the government is still to send a requisition to the court to withdraw the cases, many of which involved charges of sedition.

Pathalgadi

• The Pathalgadi movement originated in the Khunti area of the state.
• ‘Pathalgadi’ literally means ‘carving a stone’ — it is an ancient tradition in the tribal communities of Jharkhand.
• Adivasis usually erected engraved stones to mark the birth or death of a person.
• It is also done in honor of their ancestors, to announce important decisions regarding their families and villages, or to simply mark the boundary of their villages.
• The practice is still being followed even today in the Munda areas of Khunti.
• Pathalgadis have their presence in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and parts of West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh.
• This was first used to create political awareness when the Panchayat (Extension of Scheduled Area) Act (PESA) came into force in 1996.
  • That Act empowered the gram sabhas or panchayats to safeguard and preserve their traditions, community spaces, and culture and gave them the right to mandatory consultation in land acquisition.
• The Fifth Schedule of the Constitution deals with the administration and control of Scheduled Areas.
• Revival of the movement
• The Pathalgadi movement was to save tribal land rights when the Jharkhand government introduced amendments to the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act 1908 and the SanthalPargana Tenancy Act 1949.

The Pathalgadi movement ‘inspired’ by the Satipati movement

• It is widely believed that the Pathalgadi movement is “inspired” by Gujarat’s Satipati movement that denounces the government of India and doesn’t believe in its laws.
  • Satipati followers believe that they have the sovereign right over the forest and other natural resources.
  • They are known for boycotting votes and government benefits, among others.
  • However, the Satipati movement has remained non-violent in the state, which originated from Vyara in Tapi district by KunwarKeshri Singh.

Stone Plaques

• Stone plaques and signboards dismiss the authority of the central or the state governments on their villages.
• These are meant to serve as warnings to the outsiders.
• The stone plaques and signboards also contain “orders” prohibiting outsiders from entering the tribal village.
• They proclaim allegiance to the Constitution but reject any authority except their gram sabhas (village assemblies).
• They claim to be the real “Bharat Sarkar” (the government of India).
• Their fight is aimed to reclaim their rights over “jal, jangal and zameen (water, forest, and land)”.

Chota Nagpur Tenancy Act and Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act

Since both Chota Nagpur and the Santhal Pargana are tribal-populated regions in Jharkhand, these Acts contained elaborate rules to protect their land rights. Together, these Acts granted special protection and land rights to the tribals and prohibited the transfer of tribal land to non-tribals or the commercial use of the land without the permission of the concerned gram sabha.