Bhasha Research and Publication Centre is a non-profit, voluntary organization committed to the documentation, promotion and revitalization of Adivasi (tribal, indigenous) languages, arts and culture. ‘Bhasha’ stands for the ‘voice’ of the Adivasi communities and offers spaces to marginalized groups as Adivasis and the Denotified and Nomadic Communities for expression, development and empowerment. Bhasha has established the Adivasi Academy at Tejgadh village in Chhota Udepur district of Gujarat, an institution devoted to the preservation of Adivasi cultural heritage, education, livelihood, healthcare and development. The organization is recognized as a ‘Centre of Excellence’ by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India.  

The podcasts presented here bring together the effect of the pandemic in diverse areas as well-being and healthcare, education, agriculture, migration, livelihood and community life. They bring together vital community voices as that of the badwa (traditional healer) and the response of traditional medicine to Covid 19; of teachers who endeavoured to reach out education to thousands of children who had no access to digital technology; of villages that were ravaged by death and illness; of migrants who lost their jobs and covered thousands of kilometres on foot to reach home; of farmers who could not sell their harvest and forest produce during the lock-down and artists who, in the absence of tourists and public exhibitions, are left with no takers for their artworks.  

The stories are many, of struggle and survival, of devastation and hope. These are brought to you by members of the Adivasi Academy, who produced the podcasts, after undergoing research and technical training. We hope that these podcasts will provide insight into the pandemic’s impact in indigenous and rural areas in small and big ways , on how communities are coping in these extraordinarily difficult times.