Keraleeyam program has come under fire for insulting the tribal folks in Kerala. During a cultural event held as part of the Keraleeyam program at Kanakakunnu in Thiruvananthapuram, the tribal people were presented as exhibits. So called progressive Kerala were seen running human exhibitions in a program which was meant to showcase Kerala as a cultured state, protecting values and principles. Such a human exhibition took place under the oversight of the Folklore Academy.
The showcasing of the tribal group as if they were objects of exhibition has sparked much criticism, with comparing it to the display of animals in a zoo. People from tribal communities hailing from five districts were put on display.
The state government’s actions have been criticized for demeaning individuals based on their caste, without valuing their dignity and existence. Spectators at the Keraleeyam program were seen taking photographs alongside the human exhibits presented on display.
The leftist government is greatly condemned to have turned the tribal people into a spectacle and an object of ridicule.
ABVP to launch protest against government for insulting Tribal community
Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad to launch protest against the Keraleeyam event, which insulted the tribal community. The display of tribal people in Keraleeyam has upset many people, and ABVP State Secretary NCT Sreehari noted that the showcasing of forest dwellers during the Keraleeyam program evokes memories of the past when Africans were exhibited human in Europe-zoo many years ago. In response, ABVP plans to hold protests in colleges across the state to show their support for the tribal community.
ABVP State Secretary Sreehari expressed concern that despite the teachings of unity found in educational textbooks, which encourage the belief that all human beings are one, such incidents could create divisions in society. ABVP firmly believes that the government’s portrayal of the tribal community as lacking in self-respect in the Keraleeyam event, will be met with rejection by the people of Kerala.
