I travelled couple of months in India with the Katajamäki Healing Heritages project (2012-13) documenting the adivasi life, and particularly their traditional healers - "gunis"as they are called in Rajasthan area. Adivasi are the indigenous tribes of India. We visited for example Hasala and Vasava communities and many others. The adivasi are struggling to maintain their traditional livelihoods and rights to their lands.

 

Katajamäki Healing Heritages project supports and collaborates with JJVS, organization from Udaipur, whose aim is to connect gunis, organize certification and collect traditional healing knowledge base. The Indian goverment is validating gunis to keep their practice in the poor rural areas, where people cannot afford the allopathic medicines.

The traditional healing knowledge of the adivasi and dalits, similar to ayurveda has proven to help people to maintain their health.

 

Guni derives from sanskrit term GUNA, which has three meanings:

Knowledge, healing and virtue. Social worker Bhanwar Dhabai was the first to call Rajasthan traditional medicine pratitioners gunis in 1989.

 

Most of the interviews are made with the help of JJVS, Udaipur-based organization, whose aim is to connect gunis, organize certification and collect traditional healing knowledge base. The Indian goverment has shown green light for  validation process of gunis in the poor rural areas, where allopathic medicine is out of reach.

The traditional healing knowledge of the adivasi and dalits, similar to ayurveda has proven to help people to maintain their health.

 

These videos document their practice. Sound recording, video, editing by Mia Makela.