Chronicles of India: Indianness and Siddis

India - a country, a feeling, a sense of identity - is a wonder for some people. An ancient civilization, and a rather tolerant one, this mystic land has fired the imaginations of people all across the globe. For the melting pot culture of the USA, India has claims on a syncretic culture of its own.

In the loose dichotomy of India the nation and India the country, there is a subtle tinge of Indianness that most accept. It keeps being defined. It keeps being pointed out. Here's another attempt at the same.

The Siddis are a lesser known group of Indians. At first, they don't give the impression of being Indian. They are, after all, an Indo-African tribal community that descended from the Bantu peoples of Africa. Their ancestors were largely brought to India as slaves by Arabs, followed by Portuguese, and the British. They settled in India starting from the 7th century and are currently found in isolated pockets of Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. ^[1]

Despite having lived in India for centuries, the Siddi people have managed to retain their typically African features because they marry within their communities. It is extremely rare for a Siddi to marry a person from outside their community. ^[2]

Photo Source: Flickr

Although they still look African, Siddis have completely and wonderfully assimilated Indian culture, traditions, and language. Their dress includes Sari, and chief occupation is farming; and just like other farmers of India, they struggle to meet their ends.

India came to recognize them when in the late 1980s when the Sports Authority of India decided that because of their African lineage, their natural athleticism could be used to win medals for India at world sports competitions. The Special Area Games Project was set up and a number of Siddi children were selected to be coached as athletes. The programme did a lot for both the Siddi people and for the country. It brought acceptance to the Siddis and enabled them to gain jobs and India won medals. ^[3]

Siddis have left their mark in other ways as well. Let's turn the pages of History, to the point where a decorated leader awaits us.

Photo Source: Wikipedia

Malik Ambar was a Siddi military leader in the Deccan region of India. He became a popular Prime Minister of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate, showing administrative acumen. He is also regarded as a pioneer in guerilla warfare in the region. He is credited with carrying out a revenue settlement of much of the Deccan, which formed the basis for subsequent settlements. He humbled the might of the Mughals and Adil Shah of Bijapur and raised the low status of the Nizam Shah. ^[4]

Coming back to the original question, what is Indianness?

This couplet is perhaps the best attempt by someone from amongst us Indians, to describe what lies at the core of it.

Main akela hi chala tha janib-e-manzil magar

Log saath aate gaye aur karwaan banta gaya

- Majhrooh Sultanpuri

मैं अकेला ही चला था जानिब-ए-मंज़िल मगर

लोग साथ आते गये और कारवां बनता गया

- मजरूह सुलतानपुरी ^[5]