Tribals in Orissa have created stir, which has attracted the attention of national and international media. It has accentuated a serious debate on the present development paradigm pursued in the state. The resistance from the tribals demonstrates that the industrialization as an index of development is not acceptable to them when they are threatened with the displacement. The demand, today, for land by the tribals who were displaced fifty years ago for the establishment of Rourkela Steel Plant is a loud expression of the conclusion that such mega projects on the tribal lands have hardly benefited the tribals/locals. Such resistance by the tribals, which is based on their experience certainly calls for a fresh look at the development policy that our rulers hoist on the state ostensibly (claimed to be) in the interest of the people.

    The mainstream intellectuals attribute the recent uprising amongst tribals to instigation by the elements opposed to the government or current political establishment or ‘development’. They in disgust say that no development is allowed to happen by those elements. They believe that the peace loving simple-minded tribals can be herded to any place to make room for development. They believe that the tribals can not perceive wrong done to them or contemplated to be done to them unless pointed out. In short the tribals can not rise in protest without being instigated. It is a fact that they had not risen against such displacements in the early days of post independent India though in the pre independent India many tribal uprisings had been witnessed as a confirmation of tribals’ love for freedom and liberty and contempt for any alien intervention, interference and encroachment. This calls for rethinking; is it that the expectations of the tribals have been belied in the post-independent India?; is it that they perceive no difference between present ruling class and the British rulers?