Yeh Toh Ulto Hi Ho Gayo! Juxtaposing Educational Discourse on Forests and Conservation with Everyday Discourses of Adivasi Communities of Central India.

This article focuses on the disconnect between mainstream school education and the lived experiences of Adivasi students in Central India, particularly regarding their knowledge of forests and conservation. Using a participatory, critical ethnographic approach, the study documents the rich ecological knowledge, cultural values, and sustainable practices of Adivasi communities such as the Gond and Korku, highlighting their view of forests as interconnected social and natural spaces essential for livelihood and ecological balance. In contrast, the analysis of state science textbooks reveals an anthropocentric and utilitarian portrayal of forests that marginalizes Adivasi epistemologies and excludes their cultural and spiritual relationships with nature. The study advocates for developing contextually relevant, culturally sensitive, and transformative educational materials that integrate indigenous knowledge to bridge the gap between school curricula and Adivasi students’ life-worlds, thereby promoting social, environmental, and epistemic justice.