Paper short abstract:

This paper will explore firstly Sanskrit literary descriptions of the relations between ‘forest’ tribal chiefs and ‘Hindu’ kings, and then some past and present ‘tribal’ (Poraja and Kond) representations of the political power and mythical model in Southern Odhisa.

Paper long abstract:

In this paper I aim to explore firstly Sanskrit literary (epic) descriptions of the relations between 'forest' chiefs and Hindu kings. Starting from the colonial sources, reporting the dominant origin legends of tribes in Southern Odhisa (former Jeypore-Nandapur kingdom), I will trace their Sanskrit literary roots. I will then compare such myths with some tribal versions (mostly Joria Poraja and Kond) of the origins of the political power and of the ideal cosmic order, particularly regarding the former king and its mythical model.

Beyond the mythical or religious aspect, I will analyse the enduring political messages within those various discourses.

I will also show the parallel, but also the discrepancy, between both perspectives. I will then deal with the continuity, both with the present representations of the tribes among the urban Odhiya population as well as the perception of the State organisations by the tribal peoples themselves. Taking as an example the Dongria and Desiya Konds facing the imposed industrial projects, I will finally examine some of their discourses both about the State and about their sovereign god Niyamraja.