Connected Struggles by Amira Altamimi

     As a Palestinian student interested in the Arab world, more specifically Palestine, naturally I approach most of my work through this lens and indigenous rights are deeply important to me. Before visiting India, I had never realized how similar our struggles were but towards the end of our trip my various encounters with people and organizations truly opened my eyes.

In our last week, we had the privilege of meeting with one of Dr. Reddy’s graduate students, Sravanthi, and her former roommate Charanya. Both individuals were not only remarkably kind but also exceptionally intelligent with Charanya guiding us through concepts surrounding food sovereignty and Sravanthi sharing her knowledge on social movements in India. The meeting with Charanya and  Sravanthi was a nice change of pace. For starters, they came to visit us and we didn’t have to travel. After jumping from place to place, this felt incredibly refreshing. The activity we did was much more hands on and felt more familiar to us, utilizing flashcards and maps to teach us. We began by sharing our earliest childhood memory about food. For me, this was my first memory of an azuma which is a gathering and an important part of Arab culture. Someone would invite you to their home for a big meal and you would all gather and socialize. This helped truly illustrate the power food had for all of us. We all shared memories not just about the food itself but also of family and friends and culture.

This power was also important to the indigenous tribes of India. One of the most shocking things I learned during our conversation was the existence of restrictions placed on these communities regarding agricultural practices. Specifically, there were certain crops that the indigenous peoples were prohibited from cultivating and harvesting yet the government and other institutions are allowed to grow them without facing any repercussions. Reflecting on this situation, I couldn't help but draw parallels with the restrictions on agriculture in Palestine with certain crops being similarly regulated and permission to grow them rarely ever granted. This places a heavy restriction on food sovereignty, preventing local farmers from growing crops that are vital to their livelihoods and culture. Just as in the case of the indigenous tribes in India, these restrictions exist to undermine the right to self-sufficiency and continue a form of economic and cultural dependency. 

These restrictions aren’t just an infringement on individual rights but also a significant obstacle to achieving food sovereignty and economic independence. For both the indigenous people of India and Palestine, regulations like this are just part of a larger struggle for control over resources and further prove the urgent need for change that respects the rights of indigenous communities, allowing them to take control of their own land.

In Wayanad | Photo by Amira Altamimi