Strategy of Containment-Dangi Darbar Drama

DANGI DARBAR is generally held just before Holi. This year it was held on March 13, 1995. Five Bhil (tribal) rajas (kings) of Dangs were given their political pension'by the Dangs district adminisiration at a public function. This practice is 153- ycars old and was started by the British. The idea was to co-opt and appease the Rajas in exploiting Dang's resources The logic for continuing this institution alter independence remains the same. Following is a report of this year's Dangi Darbar followed by some comments on Dangs and on the nature of development in general, DANGI DARBAR Ahwa is the district headquarters of the Dangs. It is situated on a small plateau on the hills. It mainly houses government offices, and residential quarters mostly for non-tribal officers. The largest fair of the year in the area is set up mostly by the non- tribals. The most prominent items of the fair are the giant wheel, grocery shops, cloth, electronic items and other household items. A few forest products were also seen. The area gets crowded at the bazzar and the fair site. On the periphery of the fair a large number of Dangis, mostly Bhils, camp with their bullock carts. With small fires lit women prepared 'rotli' Others were eating, smoking and drinking, Just below the government circuit house a large 'shamiana' with a stage was set up for holding the darbar.