Traditional Wisdom of a Tribal Entrepreneur and Sustainable Livelihood: Case Study - An Experience with Techno-Managerial Skills of an Illiterate Multi-Skilled Personality

Abstract

Here, researcher has tried to learn a lesson from traditional wisdom of a tribal artisan in the light of sustainable livelihood. It is very interesting that in poorest situation, how a person moulds his life towards creativity and entrepreneurship. They way of acquiring technomanagerial skills is differ, courage level is high, honesty and dedication is centre part of his endless efforts. Various limitations, unfavorable situation could not prevent the flow of his entrepreneurial practices. In spite of very little margin or profit, he never been disappointed, but search another way of doing things in better way without harming others. So, where there is will, there is way is motivational saying was the part of his integral life. So, this is the story of an illiterate tribal entrepreneur Vanyabhai Mahla who has multi-skilled personality like carpenter, blacksmith, animal caretaker and meson etc. He has traditional wisdom and techno-managerial know-how about operational affairs of their livelihoods. He belongs to Konkani tribe of Garakhadi. It is a small village of Subir taluka in the dang district of Gujarat state. The area is known as tribal belt, hilly terrene, heavy rain & comparatively dense forest in the state. By using traditional wisdom in the field of livelihood, he could stable his family life by satisfying the local needs without harming the nature and without exploitation of people of the society. It is the sustainability that assures survival of all in earning and living practices. He has not earned more money and not has large scale business but he develop his hunner (art), refined gradually by hard work, learning ethics and continuous practice with desired improvement. His target was not to collect excess money but he assured its limit to satisfy fundamental needs of his family in better accordingly work opportunity. He never desire for unjustified profit. His customer relationship is excellent. His customer may cheat or may delay in payment after work but he never thing to cheat them. On the ground of entrepreneurship development, he identified his inner strengthen, developed will power, self-confidence and motivational spirit regarding the ability to manage his entrepreneurial affairs according to available resources. Since last 20 years, he is working with a same team where his work is main activity part. As opportunity seekers, he learned various skills time to time through observation and by self-practice continuously and never disappointed in unfavourable situation.