India is a country of more than one billion people, the majority of whom are Hindus. Nevertheless, there are large minority populations — about 150 million Muslims, making India the country with the second-largest Muslim population in the world after Indonesia — and many millions of Christians, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists.
India has always been known for unity in diversity, and Jharkhand is no exception. But in the past couple of years communal incidents have been on the rise in Jharkhand, especially around the question of Sarna tribals and Christian tribals.
Unity across faiths
The larger question is how to defuse division in the name of religion and faith when Jharkhand is already struggling with the question of insiders and outsiders (Adivasis and non-Adivasis). We need to understand that tribal identity is a major unifying factor that binds tribals together irrespective of their religious practices and identities.
In such a situation it is important that Sarna tribals and Christian tribals come together, amicably resolve the divide between them and defeat the dividing forces of the few, whatever their aspirations may be. This is the mandate given to SIGN: to work for the unity of tribals, so that one Jharkhand is created and not a divided Jharkhand.
