Well, after yesterday’s exhausting online tug of war over "India vs Bharat" and the eternal debate of “who colonised whom” (Europeans, Mughals, Martians?), I thought it’s time we shift our attention to those who were "actually" colonised the real OGs of the land: the tribal communities.

While some of us cry foul about being colonised by the British, we might have conveniently overlooked how the so called “mainstream” society steamrolled over indigenous people for centuries. A sobering, but necessary thought. And that brings me, somewhat serendipitously, to today’s book: "Tryst with the Tribes" by Pravir Krishna.

I picked up this signed copy back in 2022 from my ever trusted treasure trove of books 'Midland Bookstore'. To be frank, I didn’t know what I was getting into. I assumed it’d be some charming folk tales and tribal myths (which would’ve been great too). But what I got instead was a bureaucrat's memoir meets field report story. And I’m not mad about it.

Turns out, Pravir Krishna, an IAS officer, was the brain (and heart) behind the transformation of TRIFED; an organisation I now realise I’ve been quietly loyal to for years. Under his leadership, TRIFED went from a dusty government department no one had heard of, to a spirited, tribal-run venture that works directly with artisans across Bastar, Dantewada, Odisha, Jharkhand, the North-East etc.

As someone whose home now looks like a lovingly curated TRIFED showroom (thanks to my wife, who could be their brand ambassador), this book hit home, literally. From mahua to tamarind, from sal leaves to tendu, the book shares anecdotes on how these humble forest products, when marketed well, changed lives.

More than just stories of artisans, it's also a look at the not so glamorous part: how tough it is to bring change inside a bureaucratic machine that resists movement like an old rusted tractor in monsoon mud. But somehow, they made it work and how!

It made me value every bamboo lamp, silk stole, and Dokra art piece in our home a little more. These aren't just "ethnic looking" items from a government store. They're the result of a system where tribal communities lead, earn, and grow with dignity.

So yes, whether or not you read the book (you should!), I 'highly' recommend checking out the TRIFED online store (Tribes Inda). Great stuff, no middlemen, and heartwarming customer care that feels more like calling your friend than a helpline.

And no, this is not a sponsored post. Just an overenthusiastic reader going gung ho after discovering the backstory of an organisation he already loved. Now if only all books made me appreciate my shopping choices this much!

Signed Book 167: From Colonised to Colonisers... to Conscious Consumers: My Gung-ho Ride with TRIFED and Its Tales!