The album ‘Our Forest Lives,’ is about the struggles of the Adivasi community in the Nilgiris
Songs of alienation, displacement and conflict permeate through the music album, ‘Our Forest Lives,’ produced by a group of Adivasi youth in Gudalur, the Nilgiris. The ten tracks, which were released to highlight the struggles of Adivasis, also express their hope for a better future through reclaiming rights to land, forest and traditional livelihoods.
“Oh rise bravely! It’s time we raised our voice to make history,” sings K. Lakshmi, a member of the Paniya tribal community in Gudalur, one of the main vocalists on a number of songs in the album. “What we are trying to achieve through the launch of this album, and also a story book, Our Forest Dreams is to tell the tale of Adivasis in the Nilgiris, about how we were alienated from our land and forests by the government, and also how we can reclaim them, so that we don’t lose touch with our culture and traditions, which…