Padma Shri Bhiklya Dhinda and a lifetime of keeping the Tarpa tradition alive

Some traditions survive because they are written down. Others survive because someone chooses, day after day, to practise them, teach them and keep their meaning intact.

Padma Shri Bhiklya Dhinda is being widely saluted for doing precisely that for the Tarpa tradition—an Adivasi cultural art form that lives through community memory, performance and participation. His story is a gentle reminder that heritage is not only a matter of the past; it is also a promise to the future.

A guardian of a living Adivasi tradition Bhiklya Dhinda’s recognition with the Padma Shri has brought national attention to a form of cultural knowledge that has long thrived in India’s Adivasi communities. While many people encounter folk traditions only through festivals or short videos, the real work of preservation happens far from the spotlight—through repetition, discipline and the patience to pass learning forward.

According to the account shared by *The Better India*, Dhinda has spent a lifetime sustaining the Tarpa tradition, carrying its “soul” from one generation to the next. The words used to describe him—devotion, humility and tireless work—suggest a kind of leadership that is rooted not in fame, but in service.

It is also worth noting what such a lifetime involves. Preserving a folk tradition is rarely limited to a single performance or an occasional celebration. It often means showing up consistently, encouraging younger people to participate, and keeping the practice connected to its original cultural context rather than turning it into a mere display item.

Why the Tarpa tradition deserves attention The Tarpa tradition is closely associated with Adivasi culture and tribal heritage. Like many folk arts, it is not only about an “art form” in the narrow sense—it is also a way communities share stories, identity and belonging.

When traditions like Tarpa continue to be practised, they create space for inter-generational connection. Elders pass on skills and values; young people gain a sense of pride and continuity. In an era when livelihoods, education and migration can pull communities in many directions, such cultural anchors matter.

Importantly, recognition of tradition-bearers can broaden the way we understand India’s cultural wealth. Too often, the mainstream imagination focuses on a few well-known classical forms while overlooking the depth of Adivasi and tribal contributions. When a practitioner like Bhiklya Dhinda is honoured, it becomes an opportunity to learn with respect—without romanticising, and without reducing living communities to museum-like images.

A model for cultural continuity—without losing authenticity Bhiklya Dhinda’s journey is being framed as a lesson in how cultural traditions truly survive: not simply through documentation, but through people who practise, protect and transmit knowledge.

For institutions, educators and cultural organisations, the takeaway is constructive. Support for folk traditions can be designed to strengthen, not flatten, the original practice—by creating respectful platforms, encouraging community-led teaching, and ensuring that recognition reaches the practitioners and their cultural ecosystem.

For citizens, the action can be simpler: curiosity with humility. Watching, listening, and acknowledging the custodians of heritage can help build a wider culture of respect. As the source material asks, it is also a moment to reflect on which Indian folk traditions deserve more recognition—and how that recognition can translate into meaningful support.

**Why it matters:** Preserving heritage is not only about remembering where we came from; it is about giving the next generation something valuable to carry forward, with dignity and continuity.