From criminal by birth to citizens of India: unmuting India’s nomadic and denotified tribes
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In this powerful episode of Unmute, hosts Gagan Sethi and Minar Pimple are joined by Deepa Pawar, a leading activist from India’s Nomadic and Denotified Tribes (NT–DNT) communities and founder of Anubhuti Trust. Deepa reflects on the historical criminalisation of nomadic and denotified tribes under colonial rule and its continued impact in independent India. She challenges dominant development, feminist, and social justice narratives that often exclude NT–DNT voices, despite their deep contributions to freedom struggles, ecology, healing, and survival economies. Deepa also shares her journey of founding Anubhuti Trust, her work on youth mental health, and her insistence on dignity, imagination, and community-led knowledge as foundations for justice.
The episode explores how lack of residential proof undermines citizenship, how caste, patriarchy, and capitalism intersect to marginalise nomadic communities, and why representation, storytelling, and leadership from within the community are essential.
Key Highlights
Criminalisation Beyond Colonialism – how NT–DNT communities remain treated as “suspect” even after denotification.
Citizenship Without Proof – the impossible demand for documents from communities without fixed residence.
Invisible Contributions – NT–DNT roles in India’s freedom struggle, healing traditions, logistics, and resistance.
Intersectionality & Caste Hierarchies – why NT–DNTs remain outside even Dalit and Bahujan movements.
Gender & Mental Colonisation – how oppression begins psychologically before becoming physical.
Media, Film & Narrative Control – how stories often criminalise communities even when discussing reform.
Knowledge From the Margins – questioning who is seen as an intellectual and whose feminism counts.
Leadership From Within – the absence of NT–DNT leadership in NGOs and movements, and why that must change.
State, Market & Community – why anti-capitalist, mobile communities are excluded from development models.
Imagination & Dignity – reclaiming creativity, culture, and self-worth from market and caste control.
Key Resources & References
Deepa Pawar Profile: https://www.ashoka.org/en/fellow/deepa-pawar
Anubhuti Trust: https://www.anubhutitrust.org/
The Better India Feature on Deepa Pawar: https://thebetterindia.com/278791/women-led-deepa-pawar-anubhuti-uplifts-nomadic-tribes-rights-mental-health/
Draft List of NT-DNT Tribes: https://socialjustice.gov.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/Draft%20List%20of%20Denotified%20Tribes%20for%20Mail.pdf
Unveiling the World of the Nomadic Tribes and Denotified Tribes: https://www.epw.in/sites/default/files/engage_pdf/2021/08/30/2675-1630336958.pdf
Idate Commission Report (2017): https://socialjustice.gov.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/Idate%20Commission.pdf
Present Status of Idate Commision Recommendations: https://sansad.in/getFile/loksabhaquestions/annex/182/AU1692_fsZklt.pdf?source=pqals
Renke Commission Report (2008): https://www.indiaspend.com/h-library/2022/04/05/NCDNT2008_v1.pdf
Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNT Communities (SEED): https://dwbdnc.dosje.gov.in/content/seed-scheme
‘People are Trapped in History and History is Trapped Inside Them’1: The British Journal of Criminology | Oxford Academic : https://academic.oup.com/bjc/article/63/4/811/6668265?login=false
Poladi Baya, a book by Deepa Pawar: https://amzn.in/d/cFX4LBB
Who were the Shudras by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar: https://amzn.in/d/7s6G4ul
Denotified Tribes of India: Discrimination, Development and Change by Kompalli H.S.Sundar Malli Gandhi : https://amzn.in/d/buQyWw9
Basic Rights and Living Conditions for NT-DNT: https://idronline.org/article/water-sanitation/the-missing-piece-in-sanitation-access-for-nomadic-and-denotified-tribes/
NT–DNT exclusion in development policy: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/union-budget-2020-21-denotified-nomadic-semi-nomadic-tribes-left-out-once-again-69110
TRIBAL LIVELIHOOD MIGRATION IN INDIA: https://shramshakti.tribal.gov.in/Docs/Tribal%20Migartion%20Study-%20Full%20Report%202020%20(wecompress.com).pdf
Tichi Kahani | Deepa Pawar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMzGLp_KiOw
"Shudra Purvi Kon Hote" by Dr. B.R.Ambedkar https://amzn.in/d/aPfAkMa
Guest
Deepa Pawar - An activist, writer, and educator from India’s Nomadic and Denotified Tribes (NT–DNT) communities. She is the founder of Anubhuti Trust, working on youth leadership, mental health, and dignity with marginalised communities.
Hosts
Gagan Sethi – Development practitioner with 40+ years of experience in organisational development, policy advocacy, and minority rights.
Minar Pimple – Founder of YUVA (Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action), and former senior Director at Amnesty International, Regional Director- Asia Pacific (UN Millennium Campaign) and Founding Chair, Oxfam India.
