The variations in Indian tribes can be incredibly intimate and complex. As such it is not possible to accurately classify them into different groups based solely on cultural characteristics. However, considering that numerous tribes in India are essentially non-nomadic in nature, many tribes take residence in forest areas or clusters in villages in the vicinity of forests. As such, regional groupings or more precisely, zonal classifications can be attempted based on the geographical distribution...
In February 2002, the Supreme Court of India passed an order prohibiting state governments and also tribals and other traditional forest dwellers from removing dead, dying trees and grasses and trees felled by winds. This was followed by a handbook being distributed by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) prohibiting tribals and other forest dwellers from utilizing forest produce for their livelihood needs. In 2004, a Central Empowered Committee (CEC) was appointed...
The Naurangia Village of the Tharu | Geography and You field study Phulvati shyly extended a small intricately woven basket full of semi puffed rice, anandi, urging me to eat more. It was a splendid meal - replete with fresh sugarcane juice, thick curd and a dash of garlic-amla (Indian gooseberry) chilli paste, so simple and exquisite that I could not stop myself from asking for several helpings. Washing my fingers near the motif-ladendoor I marvelled at the ingenuity of the Tharu people living...
History of tribal communities in India During the pre-Mughal period in India, tribals, or adivasis, were not considered impure by the upper caste Hindu population, unlike dalits. Even the adivasi origins of Valmiki were recognized. Unlike the dalits, who were subjugated by upper caste populations in Mughal India, tribal communities in India living in remote habitations had control over their lands (S. Meena & N.P.S. Meena, 2014) based on their segmental organization according to descent systems...
Bare, glistening bodies. Colourful, feathered headgear. Menacing, long spears and incomprehensible, muttered incantations. Thanks to the tinsel worlds of Hollywood and Bollywood our image of the tribal inhabitants of this world is complete, though not always correct! Let us set aside this image for a moment and see the world of the tribes in plain black and white. The world of the tribes is a world, which is fast losing its cultural matrix to the struggle for survival and, to the demands of `development...
Breaking away from tradition, The Other Hundred, a photo-book project, tells stories of a 100 people who are not rich or famous, but deserve to be celebrated for their extraordinary lives.
Death is certain—slow or otherwise. Here are the Jarawa, ebony lords of the island realm of Andaman, losing one thing after the other—their land, their forests, their waters, their kinsmen and now even their little left dignity. Reduced to beggary, the naive tribes people are a willing bait for the ‘developed’ society. The argument that I raise here is why does India needs to follow a much loopholed protectionist policy towards the Jarawa? It is imperative to mainstream them if we really...
Even though there is dominance of Islam, the social structure of the islanders is based on the matrilineal kinship and caste system that reflects the Hindu customs of Kerala.
The State of Chhattisgarh is transforming and contrary to the older generation where tribal or non-tribal status impacted the way people would access amenities such as literacy, the disparities in the population are disappearing rapidly.
Home to myriad tribes that trace their ancestry to mythological times, songs, dances and plays of the State of Chhattisgarh are unique and indeed a treat for the senses. The beat of the drums and lilting flutes beckon you to a world of unexplored charm.
