The Sarna Code refers to the religious and cultural practices of certain tribal communities who are nature worshippers.
These communities revere natural elements like trees, mountains, and forests and have religious practices distinct from mainstream religions such as Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, and Jainism.
Recently, there has been a push for the official recognition of the Sarna code to protect the constitutional rights and unique religious identity of these tribes, particularly in the context of discussions around a Uniform Civil Code in India.
The code gained prominence when a resolution was passed for its inclusion as a separate religious category in Census records.
The potential fallout of this recognition is significant.
It could lead to special policy considerations aimed at preserving the unique culture and practices of these tribes.
Moreover, it could set a precedent for the recognition of other unique religious and cultural practices, thereby upholding the principle of social justice and diversity.
Sarna Code and the Uniform Civil Code
The push for recognizing the Sarna code as a separate religious category comes into sharper focus when viewed against the backdrop of discussions around a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in India.
The UCC aims to replace personal laws based on scriptures and customs of each major religious community in India with a common set of rules governing every citizen.
While the UCC is touted as a measure to ensure equality among citizens, it has also raised concerns about the erasure of cultural and religious specificity.
For communities adhering to the Sarna code, the lack of formal recognition leaves them vulnerable to being subsumed under broader categories in a UCC, thus erasing their unique religious and cultural practices.
Official recognition of the Sarna code could serve as a protective measure, ensuring that these communities are not inadvertently marginalized or their practices homogenized under a UCC.
It highlights the need for any implementation of a UCC to be sensitive to the diverse religious and cultural tapestry of India.
Sarna Code and Tribals
The Sarna code is primarily associated with various Adivasi and tribal communities in the Indian state of Jharkhand and other parts of India. Notable tribal groups that follow the Sarna faith include the Santhals, Ho, Munda, Oraon, and Kharia, among others.
These communities often revere nature and engage in animistic practices(Read on), venerating trees, mountains, and forests.
The push for the recognition of the Sarna code gains added significance when seen in the context of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
Acknowledging the Sarna code as a separate religious category would ensure that these specific tribal groups and their unique religious and cultural practices are not subsumed or marginalized under a more generalized civil code.
Thus, the recognition serves as a safeguard for the cultural and religious autonomy of these tribes.
Animism
Animistic practices are a type of religious or spiritual beliefs that attribute a soul or spiritual essence to natural entities such as animals, plants, and even inanimate objects like rocks or rivers.
In animistic worldviews, it is believed that these natural entities possess some form of consciousness, spirit, or life force.
The practices often involve rituals, prayers, or ceremonies aimed at communicating with, pleasing, or appeasing these spirits.
These can include offerings, dances, or the use of sacred objects and totems. Animistic practices are often deeply rooted in a community's understanding of the natural world and their place within it.
In the context of tribes following the Sarna code, animistic beliefs may manifest in the veneration of trees, mountains, and forests as sacred entities deserving of respect and protection.
