Tribal woman who helped Haimendorf passes away in Asifabad

Final rites of Raju Bai were held as per tribal customs. Her demise left a void, said the locals. K Ambaji Rao, a tribal teacher, said she was affable and supportive, and was one of the oldest tribal women from the village.

Kumram Bheem Asifabad: Kanaka Raju Bai — the wife of Hannu Master, the first tribal teacher — passed away due to prolonged illness at her residence in Marlavai village in Jainoor mandal on Friday. She was 115.

The Raj Gond couple was known for assisting famous anthropologist Professor Christoph von Fürer-Haimendorf and his wife Elizabeth Bernardo Betty, who researched on Raj Gonds of Adilabad way back in the 1940s.

Final rites of Raju Bai were held as per tribal customs. Her demise left a void, said the locals. K Ambaji Rao, a tribal teacher, said she was affable and supportive, and was one of the oldest tribal women from the village.

Many Collectors and project officers of the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA)-Utnoor, foreigners, and successors of Haimendorfs who visit the village would meet Raju Bai. They used to recollect accounts of the anthropologist with the help of the woman, who was regarded as one of the founders of Marlavai village in the 1900s.

The Haimendorfs, who lived together with dwellers of the village, were extended hospitality by Hannu and Raju Bai. They had learnt the language of tribals besides studying the customs and the culture of Adivasis.

Haimendorf, who was appointed adviser to the Nizam’s government, studied the problems of the tribals following the martyrdom of tribal legend Kumram Bheem at Jodeghat in Kerameri mandal in the 1940s.

By staying in the interior Marlawai village for quite a long time, Prof Haimendorf researched and documented the lifestyle, culture and traditions of Raj Gond, with matchless precision. He had named his son after Lachchu Patel, the Adivasi elder of Marlawai. Haimondorf passed away on June 6, 1995, while his wife expired on June 11, 1987. He wanted his body to be cremated in this habitation. Accordingly, the mortal remains of the anthropologist and his wife were entombed at Marlawai.

Raj Gonds, Kolams and Pardhans residing in this village and neighbouring hamlets flock to Marlawai to pay rich tributes to the Austrian anthropologist every year. They commemorate his contributions to the uplift of their communities. They ceremonially recount the Haimendorfs on every January 11.

 

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