Racist Adivasi Stereotypes are as Prevalent as ever on YouTube.

I would like to share a personal story first. I was in London when I met a guy working for WhatsApp. We were walking near the British Library when he asked about my PhD research. I told him that I was looking at how the Adivasi youth are using digital activism to frame climate policies in India. He was flabbergasted and asked me a series of questions: “Do Adivasis use mobile phones?” “Do Adivasis go to school?" and “Do Adivasis use social media?” “Can Adivasis speak English?”I was stunned by his question. He had no idea he was beside an Adivasi! This incident made me wonder how unaware people are around us. 

But recently, while scrolling YouTube, I realized how racist Adivasi stereotypes are as prevalent as ever on social media. 

There are several YouTube videos posted by non-Adivasis that are stimulating the colonial narrative of Adivasis as jungli: people dressed in leaves, half naked, dancing and singing “Jhinga lala ho ho.”.

While the Indigenous communities across the globe are challenging stereotypes by reclaiming their narratives as integral parts of broader society rather than 'others' or exotic entities. Through cultural revitalization efforts, advocacy for rights, and platforms like social media, they assert their identities with pride and resilience. This proactive approach not only combats misrepresentations but also fosters mutual understanding and respect. It underscores their ongoing struggle for recognition, sovereignty, and the right to define themselves in a world that often marginalizes or romanticizes their existence.

Most of the captions of these YouTube videos are:

“Going to meet Adivasis”

“Man vs. Wild: The Adivasi Adventure”

“A day with Adivasi”

These captions suggest Adivasis as “aliens” to the mainstream community. This illustrates the blatant ignorance of the mainstream community about the possibility of an Adivasi sitting beside them in an office, airplane, or bar. These youTube videos depict Adivasis as 'jungli', 'other', or 'exotic objects', positing that a global platform perpetuates the colonial notion that Adivasis solely inhabit forests and serve as objects for observation.