Who Are the Dongria Kondh?
The Dongria Kondh are an Adivasi (tribal) people of the Niyamgiri Hills in Odisha, eastern India. Numbering approximately 8,000-10,000, they inhabit the forested mountains they consider sacred, particularly Niyam Dongar, the seat of their deity Niyam Raja (God of Law). They speak Kui, a Dravidian language, and practice shifting cultivation (dongar), growing over 100 varieties of crops including millets, turmeric, and fruits. The Dongria Kondh gained international attention for their successful campaign against the Vedanta mining company, which sought to extract bauxite from their sacred mountain—a David-versus-Goliath struggle that became a landmark case in indigenous rights and environmental justice.
Mountain of Law
Niyamgiri, the "Mountain of Law," is the spiritual and physical center of Dongria Kondh life. Niyam Raja, the god residing on the mountain's summit, is believed to govern all aspects of life, ensuring cosmic and social order. The mountain's streams provide water; its forests provide food, medicine, and materials; its soil supports cultivation. The Dongria Kondh do not merely live on the mountain—they are the mountain's people, its guardians. Their religious practice involves offerings and ceremonies at mountain shrines; hunting rituals, harvest festivals, and life transitions all connect to Niyam Raja. Disturbing the mountain through mining would not just destroy resources but would constitute religious desecration, an assault on Dongria Kondh existence itself.
The Vedanta Campaign
In 2003, the UK-based mining company Vedanta Resources received permission to mine bauxite from Niyamgiri. The Dongria Kondh organized resistance with support from Indian and international allies including Survival International. They argued that mining would destroy their sacred mountain, water sources, and way of life. The campaign involved protests, legal challenges, and international advocacy. In 2010, India's Environment Ministry rejected the mining project, citing forest rights violations and environmental damage. A 2013 Supreme Court ruling required referendum among affected communities; in an unprecedented process, all 12 village councils (gram sabhas) unanimously rejected mining. This victory demonstrated that indigenous peoples could defeat powerful corporations when legal and advocacy tools were effectively combined.
Contemporary Dongria Kondh
The mining victory brought international attention but did not solve all problems. Development pressures continue; other extractive projects threaten adjacent areas. The Dongria Kondh remain economically marginalized; health and education access is limited. Some younger Dongria Kondh seek education and opportunities outside the hills, raising questions about cultural continuity. Climate change affects forest ecosystems and agricultural cycles. Despite challenges, the Niyamgiri campaign strengthened Dongria Kondh organization and identity. Their victory became a global symbol of indigenous resistance to destructive development. The Dongria Kondh demonstrate both the vulnerability of small indigenous communities and the possibility of successful resistance when sacred lands and community organization mobilize against corporate extraction.
References
- Padel, F. & Das, S. (2010). Out of This Earth: East India Adivasis and the Aluminium Cartel
- Venkateswar, S. (2004). Development and Ethnocide: Colonial Practices in the Andaman Islands
- Survival International (2009). Dongria Kondh Campaign Report