Prof. Avinash Kumar Singh's Foreword in the Book "The Tharus of West Champaran" by Dr. Ajay Kumar Ojha
FOREWORD
This book by Dr. Ajay Kumar Ojha is an outcome of around five decades of his constant engagements with a tribal community called ‘The Tharus’ based primarily on participant observation research technique of field work in the most inhospitable terrain of West Champaran district of Bihar (India) bordering Nepal, infamous as ‘Mini Chambal’ and ‘Lal Salam Region’ in the 20th Century.
Dr Ojha has been active in mobilizing the Tharus of this region to fight for their cause and rights that support their culture protection, habitat protection including that of forest and land. The Tharus of West Champaran, devoid for decades, became a Schedule Tribe in 2003, and in this endeavour, the persistent persuasive efforts of Dr Ojha can never be overlooked, ignored or underestimated.
This rare book on the Tharus of West Champaran is one of its kind in social science research which not only documents various facets of the Tharu society very essential before they are diluted by the rapid process of globalization but also encapsulates their journey spanning over four decades delineating the pattern of changes and developments in this erstwhile most neglected and ignored tribal society.
Apart from being a seasoned broadcaster as he has served in India’s Public Service Broadcaster Doordarshan for around three decades as an officer of Indian Broadcasting Service, Dr. Ajay Kumar Ojha has been sincere and committed public intellectual engaged in highlighting the problems of the disadvantaged groups and this book would certainly not only stimulate the social scientists, intellectuals, students, even a common man but serve as a manual, a guide, an enchiridion to the planners and policy makers.
Prof. Avinash Kumar Singh
Former Dean & Head, Department of Educational Policy
National Institute of Educational Planning & Administration
Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi: 110016
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