 Taps with no water, a school with no schooling, the harsh reality of life for the soligar tribals of Karnataka's Chamrajnagar district in Maghubinahalli on the outskirts of Bandipur tiger reserve. Living on the edge of the forest comes with its challenges. But the forest is not half as big a challenge as the apathy of those in power. Only when it was time for a refill that the cruel mockery of the Narendra Modi government hit home. The forest is not a place for the people of Karnataka, the forest is a place for the people of Karnataka. It's not a problem, sir. It's a problem for the Gyaasthamsa. If we pay Rs.100, we don't know what Gyaasthamsa is doing in Rs.100. We don't know what to do in Rs.100. Though they've lived here for generations, they are now being told the land isn't theirs. The Bilagiri Ranga Hills are a wildlife sanctuary. The Mali Mahadeshwara Hills are a reserve forest. And Bandipur is now a national park. Their rights on harvesting non-timber forest produce is being sought to be withdrawn, citing conservation concerns. This has left these indigenous people fuming. The extent of the current dispensation's cruelty came across last month when a bus service to this tribal hamlet was started. Soon after the photo op, the bus never came back. The official apathy raises its ugly head when it comes to other essentials too. What the solikas don't lack is empathy and compassion for each other. Soon after a neighbouring couple died in an accident, this widow took their three children under her wing to raise with two of her own. The Indian travel passing through Gondlupet has brought hope in its wake. When members from the Adivasi community met Rahul Gandhi, they were jubilant and thankful for the forest rights act brought in by the Congress regime. The Congress leader heard them out patiently and lauded their evolved indigenous expertise. You are the original inhabitants of this land. I don't like the language that primitive or backward. There's nothing backward about you. Modern society has to learn from you. Like for example, look at the violence and hatred that is being created in modern society. But in your system and in your culture, that hatred does not exist. In many ways, your modern society is more primitive than you are. The Bharat Churu Yatra's Karnataka lab began with underlining once again its core idea of taking everyone along, even India's indigenous people.