From Margins to Headlines

Role of Media in Pathalgadi Movement in Shaping Public Opinion for Indigenous Rights and Autonomy

Abstract

The Pathalgadi Movement, a tribal based movement primarily originated in Jharkhand, India, for asserting indigenous autonomy and protect their resources and land. Pathalgadi means carving a stone slab inscribed with constitutional provisions and tribal rights. This emerges as symbols of protest captured the interest of journalists and news outlets. The movement focus on asserting tribal autonomy, protecting land and resources, and preserving indigenous customs and traditions resonated with the media and the public. This emerged as a movement that is political, ethnic and ecological which is all about “Jal, Jungle aur Zameen” (Water, Forest and Land) to safeguard their land rights and resources, where the tribal populations in the Scheduled Areas are becoming active citizens for the assertion for Tribal self-rule. This movement gathered significant media attention due to its unique form of protest and its impact on indigenous communities. With the help of news coverage, documentaries, and social media, the media brought visibility to the movement and shed light on the historical, cultural, and socio-economic factors underlying it. And also got international attention, leading to solidarity and scrutiny from human rights organizations and global communities. Overall, the role of media in the Pathalgadi movement was very crucial in shaping public opinion, promoting accountability, and facilitating a broader discussion on indigenous rights and autonomy. This study wants to explore the current scenario, structure, characteristics and identity assertion of the Pathalgadi Movement and where the media stands for them at present. In which the ethnographic technique will be used in terms of data collection, including; purposive sampling, observation, focused group discussion, and semi-structured interviews.