The Sabar people (also Shabar and Saora) are one of the scheduled tribes in India who live mainly in Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal. During the British Raj they were classed as one of the 'criminal tribe' under Criminal Tribes Act 1871, and still suffer from social stigma and ostracization in modern times. [1][2].
Also known as Saora, the Sabar tribe, finds mention in the Hindu epic Mahabharata [3], while in some parts of East Singhbhum district mainly in Musabani, they are known as in Kariya [4]. Noted writer and activist Mahasweta Devi is known for working with these forest tribals [5].
This reclusive tribe, is are found primarily in East Singhbhum district in Jharkhand [6] and in Midnapore District of West Bengal.
In June 2008 the Sabar suffered severe flooding in many of their West Bengal villages, and then received large amounts of aid from Catholic missionaries.
[edit]Further reading
The Book of the Hunter, by Mahasweta Devi, translated by Sagaree and Mandira Sengupta, Seagull, 2002. ISBN 81-7046-204-5.
Hated, Humiliated, Butchered by Mahasweta Devi, Tehelka, October 12, 2007
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