"It was a wonderful experience interacting with you and appreciate the way you have planned and executed the whole publication process within the agreed timelines.”
Subrat SaurabhAuthor of Kuch Woh Pal
There are 32 scheduled tribes in Jharkhand, out of which eight are listed in Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Birjia tribe being one of them. Birjia is a very small community of only 5,356 persons according to 2001 census. It is also known as one of the vanishing tribes. Birjias are in small pockets four districts of Jharkhand and have a very rich culture. They have still maintained their language known as Birjia.
“Birjias and Their Culture” is the first detailed written book. It has recorded various unique customs and practices. No one knows how long the tribe will survive in this fast changing world. The government and some NGOs are trying their best to preserve them but the result is far behind the expectation. We hope more and more people that are generous come forward to their aid.
Read and learn interesting information about them before they disappear.
FR. GAUDENTIUS KONGARI S. J. ,DR. Lawrence Tirkey S. J.
Gaudentius was a Jesuit priest a malty talented person and well read man. As a pastor he worked in Maheshmunda, Hazaribag and Mahuadanr. As a media person he worked in Vatican Radio in Rome. As an educationist he served St. Robert High school Hazaribag as Principal. He was also an able administrator. He was superior in major houses and was provincial superior of Hazaribag Jesuits.
After his long active years towards the evening of his life he started writing down life and culture of Birjia tribe with whom he had been long squinted. Unfortunately he succumbed to the first wave of corona virus before he could finish the wonderful work he had started.
Dr. Lawrence Tirkey was born on 6 June 1953. He completed his graduation from St. Xavier’s college Ranchi. After clerical studies he joined Poona University and obtained from there master’s and Ph. D. degrees Cultural Anthropology. His thesis was; Ethnic Political Mobilization: A study of Jharkhand Movement in Bihar.
Later most of his time he worked in various educational institutional: in schools, Teachers’ college and retired as a principal from St. Xavier’s college Mahuadanr, Latehar – Jharkhand. At present he is engaged in research and rural developmental works.
