Paraja is the story ofthe people ofthe rim land, the adivasis. So is Things Fall Apart. The history of these people, their language and culture before the period oftransition to colonialism have been rewritten as a consequence ofthe post-colonial inquiry initiated by the Third World writers and artists. The non-western writers retell the history of unknown tribes in the form of novels giving the people ofthe tribe a status equal to the other members ofthe society. It is certainly a great endeavour of the writers to give a voice to the voiceless. This chapter is devoted to exploring the pre-colonial past as apprehended through their novelistic vision ofrestitution. The chapter is in three sections. The first one is about Gopinath Mohanty’s portrayal ofthe indigenous world ofthe adivasis of Sarsupadar in Koraput. The second section deals with Achebe’s portrayal of the same in his Nigerian setting. The third sets out to highlight the shared ground between them with regard to the pre-colonial past.

Parajas are one of the well known major tribes of Odisha. The population of the tribe as per 2011 census in Nabarangpur district is 74,253. Paraja tribe is found in Nabarangpur, Nandahandi, Tentulikhunti, Papadahandi, Dabugaon, and Jharigaon blocks of the district.

The Parajas seem to have been inhabiting this country from about the 2nd century of the Christian era. (District Gazetteers, Koraput, 1966). They say that their original home is ‘Bastaria’ as they have migrated from Bastar area of Madhya Pradesh (now Chatisgarh). Paraja is conglomeration of various endogamous sections and is not a compact community. Compared with other tribal communities, they show some cultural differences, especially in respect of their settlement pattern, dress and ornament, economic life, belief and worship, manners, customs and folk tradition.

Their mother tongue Porji is a form of Gondi belonging to Dravidian family of languages which varies according to local tongues like Odia or Telugu. Parajas are generally hill cultivators. But in Nabarangpur district settled cultivation is the main stay of their subsistence economy. They are fond of cattle wealth.

The traditional dress of the tribe consists of loin cloth and napkin for men and coarse and cheap Sarees for women. But because of external contact, they now use modern dresses like shirts, banians, blouses, coloured sarees, ribbons etc.

The Parajas are one of the well-known major tribes of Orissa. The name “Paraja” came from Sanskrit and means “common people”. The Parajas in general are strong, stout