Question

Answer briefly the following question :

Write a brief note on the educative functions of dormitories in tribal India.

Answer 1

The functions of the tribal dormitories are mostly educative in nature. The young tribals in these dormitories enjoy their collective life with dance and music, telling stories to each other and sharing their life experiences. Dormitories are the places that provide opportunities for the young tribals to learn about their tribal customs and traditions, culture, language, religion, beliefs and ritual practices. The tribals are also given sex education so that they are able to lead a happy married life in the future.

The young tribals in these dormitories are divided as seniors and juniors, and the senior members take care of the juniors and teach them about a tribal way of life and tribal etiquette.

According to the famous Indian Anthropologist, Surat Chandra Roy, ‘the dormitories help the young tribals in the gathering of edible things from the forest making them economically organized’. The dormitories also provide the young people with training to serve their community by involving them in agricultural operations, food gathering, hunting, assisting the community during a marriage or during the harvest Self-discipline, social justice, respecting law and order, reward and punishment of the society are also taught in these dormitories. Since dormitories work under strict codes of discipline, the young tribals learn to live a life of discipline and self-control. Thus, tribal dormitories play a very important role in tribal society.