HIDAYATULLAH NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY

RAIPUR, CHHATTISGARH

Sociology Project

Tribal society, their culture and welfare in India

Submitted by; Submitted to;

Rahul Sawadia, Mr. Uttam Kumar Panda,

Sem-1, sec- A, Roll no. - 111 Faculty, Sociology,

H.N.LU. Raipur
 i

DECLARATION

I hereby declare that this research work titled Tribal society, their culture and welfare in
India is my own work and represents my own ideas, and where others ideas or words have
been included, I have adequately cited and referenced the original sources. I also declare that
I have adhered to all principles of academic honesty and integrity and have not
misrepresented or fabricated or falsified any idea/data/fact/source in my submission.

Rahul Sawadia

Semester-1 Roll No.-111

B.A.LLB (Hons.)
 ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I feel highly elated to work on the topic Tribal society, their culture and welfare in India.
The practical realization of this project has obligated the assistance of many persons. I
express my deepest regard and gratitude for Dr. Uttam Kumar Panda. His consistent
supervision, constant inspiration and invaluable guidance have been of immense help in
understanding and carrying out the nuances of the project report. I would like to thank my
family and friends without whose support and encouragement, this project would not have
been a reality. I take this opportunity to also thank the University and the Vice Chancellor for
providing extensive database resources in the Library and through Internet. I would be
grateful to receive comments and suggestions to further improve this project report.
 iii

CONTENTS

METHODS AND OBJECTIVES IV

REVIEW OF LITERATURE V

INTRODUCTION 1

TRIBES AND TRIBAL SOCEITIES 3

IN INDIA

DISTRIBUTION AND FEATURES 5

OF TRIBAL SOCIETIES IN INDIA

CULTURE, ACCULTURATION AND 8

CHANGES IN TRIBAL CULTURE IN
INDIA

TRIBAL WELFARE IN INDIA 11

TRIBAL PROBLEMS, MOVEMENTS 12

AND TRANSITION IN INDIA

CONCLUSION 15

REFERENCES 16
 iv

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The Research conducted is Descriptive and Analytical in nature. Books & other references
(including various websites) as guided by faculty of Sociology were primarily helpful for the
completion of this project. Footnotes have been provided wherever necessary.

OBJECTIVES

The Project seeks to answer the following questions-

1. What are tribal societies and more particularly, who, where and how are the tribal
societies in India?
2. What is meant by tribal culture and acculturation? ; And what are the changes
happening in tribal culture in India
3. What is tribal welfare? ; And what are the problems faced by it?
 v

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Ram Ahuja, Society in India, Rawat Publications

Tribe is a Society with a linguistic, cultural and political boundary, Nadel

The term tribe is derived from the Latin word 'tribes' meaning the 'poor or the masses'. In
English language the word 'tribe' appeared in the sixteenth century and denoted a community
of persons claiming descent from a common ancestor.

Tribalism has a very adaptive effect in human evolution.

Tribal societies are small in scale are restricted in the spatial and temporal range of their
social, legal and political relations and possess a morality, a religion and world view of
corresponding dimensions., L.M.Lewis

Tribes use forms of subsistence such as horticulture and foraging which cannot yield the
same number of absolute calories as agriculture. This limits tribal populations significantly,
especially when compared to agricultural populations

Humans are social animals, and ill-equipped to live on their own. Tribalism and social
bonding help to keep individuals committed to the group, even when personal relations may
fray. This keeps individuals from wandering off or joining other groups.

Indian tribal society can be underlined as a social group with strict territorial affiliation,
possessing characteristics of endogamy, with no specialisation of functions ruled by tribal
officers hereditary or otherwise, united in language or dialect recognising social distance with
other tribes.
 1

INTRODUCTION
Tribe is a social group with territorial affiliation, endogamous with no specialized functions

ruled by tribal officers hereditary tribal officers or otherwise, tribes have a united language or

dialect recognizing social distance with other tribes or castes.

Ralph Linton the legendary and respected anthropologist of mid-20th century has given a

definition of the term 'Tribe'. According to him a 'tribe is group of bands occupying a

contiguous territory or territories having a feeling of unity deriving from numerous

similarities in culture, frequent contacts and a certain community of interests'.1

Tribalism has been defined in as a 'way of being' based upon variable combinations of

kinship-based organization, reciprocal exchange, manual production, oral communication,

and analogical enquiry.2

Tribal societies are small scale societies restricted in the spatial and temporal range of their

social, legal, ethical and political relations and possess a morality, a religion and socio-

geographical view of corresponding dimensions. Majority of tribal languages are unwritten

and hence the extent of communication both in time and space is inevitably narrow. At the

same time tribal societies exhibit a remarkable economy of design and have a compactness

and self-sufficiency lacking in modern society. This is achieved through one-sided but close

connections that exist between tribal structures or social principles of various society related

organization, and by the concentration of a multiplicity of social roles in the same social

persons or offices. There is a great and sounding unity and coherence in tribal values that are

1
http://www.indianetzone.com/37/indian_tribal_society.htm accessed on 17th September 2016 at 12:00pm
2
Paul James/ Globalism, Nationalism, Tribalism: Bringing Theory Back In/ 2006
 2

intimately related to social institutions and are endowed with an intensity characteristic of all

closed systems of thought. Tribal societies are supremely ethnocentric.3

The isolation and not changing attitude of tribal communities must not be exaggerated;

above all, it should be remembered that knowledge of tribal life comes mainly from

researches and studies made at a particular point in time.

Though there were trade between the adivasis and the mainstream society, any form of social

interaction and relation was discouraged. Caste India has not effort fully tried to include

adivasis to the mainstream caste system and brought them towards modern society.

Scholars like G.S.Ghurye , T.B.Naik, F.G.Bailey and Verrier Elwin has used different criteria
like religion, geographical isolation, language, economic backwardness, and political
organisation for distinguishing tribes from each other.

3
I.M.Lewis/ Tribal Society / http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3045001278.html / accessed on 17th
September 2016 at 12:20pm
 3

TRIBES AND TRIBAL SOCIETIES OF INDIA

India is the home to large number of indigenous people, who are still untouched by the
lifestyle of the modern world. With more than 84.4 million, India has the largest population
of the tribal people in the world. These tribal people also known as the adivasis are the
poorest in the country, who are still dependent on hunting , agriculture and fishing. Some of
the major tribal groups in India include Gonds, Santhals, Khasis, Angamis, Bhils, Bhutias and
Great Andamanese. All these tribal people have their own culture, tradition, language and
lifestyle.4

At present India has the 2nd largest population of tribal people in the world, next only to
Africa. These tribes are spread all over India from Kashmir to Tamil Nadu, Gujarat to
Arunachal Pradesh and even in Andaman and Lakshadweep group of islands.

"Scheduled Tribes" in India are generally considered to be 'adivasis', literally meaning

'indigenous people' or 'original inhabitants', though the term 'Scheduled Tribes' (STs) is not
equally and reasonably similar with the term 'adivasis'. Scheduled Tribes is an constitutional
and legal term used for administration of certain specific constitutional privileges, protection
and benefits for specific sections of peoples considered historically disadvantaged and
'backward'.

Article 341 and 342 on Indian constitution provides the differentiating factors between
Scheduled Castes (the untouchable lower castes) and STs, while Articles 330, 332 and 334
provides for reservation of seats in Parliament and Assemblies. For purposes of specific focus
on the development of STs, the government has adopted a package of programmes, which is
administered in specific geographical areas with considerable ST population, and it covers
69% of the tribal population.

The introduction of the not-so familiar concept of privatization began with the Permanent
Settlement of the British in 1793 and the establishment of the "Zamindari" system that gave
away the control over vast land and forest areas, including adivasi territories, to designated
feudal lords or zamindars for the purpose of revenue collection by the British. This system
forced the restructuring of the relationship of adivasis to their territories as well as the power
relationship between adivasis and others. The predominant external caste-based religion

4
Indian tribes/ http://www.ecoindia.com/tribes/ accessed on 17th September 2016 at 12:35pm
 4

controlled and practiced a rigorous and highly discriminatory hierarchical ordering with a
strong cultural exploitation.

Little is known about the relationship between the adivasis and non-adivasi communities
during the rule of Hindu and Muslim rulers. There are some references to wars and
associations formed between the Rajput kings and tribal chieftains in central India and in the
North-East between the Ahom Kings of Brahmaputra valley and the hill Nagas. They are
considered to be ati-sudra meaning lower than the untouchable castes. Even today, the upper
caste people refer to these peoples as jangli, a derogatory term meaning "those who are like
wild animals" - uncivilised or sub-humans.5

In the Hindu caste system, the adivasis have no place. The so-called mainstream society of
India has evolved as an agglomeration of thousands of small-scale social groups whose
identities within the larger society are preserved by not allowing them to marry outside their
social groups.6

The related and familiar groups became castes which were forced to perform less desirable
menial jobs like sweeping, cleaning of excreta, removal of dead bodies, leather works etc -
the untouchables. Some of the earliest small-scale societies dependent on hunting and
gathering, and traditional agriculture though is not that predominant but it is present. These
are the adivasis of present day. Their automatically ouster from the mainstream led to the
preservation of their socio-religious and cultural practices and values, most of them retaining
also their distinctive languages. Widow burning, enslavement, occupational differentiation,
hierarchical social ordering etc are not prevalent. Though there were trade between the
adivasis and the mainstream society, any form of social interaction and relation was
discouraged. Caste India has not effort fully tried to include adivasis to the mainstream caste
system and brought them towards modern society.7

5
C.R. Bijoy / The Adivasis of India -A History of Discrimination, Conflict, and Resistance /
http://www.pucl.org/Topics/Dalit-tribal/2003/adivasi.htm / accessed on 17th September 2016 at 01:15pm
6
Mohammad Abbas Khan (2005)/ Social Development in Twenty First Century/ Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd
7
C.R. Bijoy / The Adivasis of India -A History of Discrimination, Conflict, and Resistance /
http://www.pucl.org/Topics/Dalit-tribal/2003/adivasi.htm / accessed on 15th September 2016 at 02:15pm
 5

DISTRIBUTION AND FEATURES OF TRIBAL SOCIETIES IN INDIA

The tribes in India are spread over the length and breadth of the country. About 2/3 of the
total tribal population of the country are found in the five states Madhya Pradesh, Orissa,
Bihar, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

The tribes live all over the country from the foot-hills of Himalayas to the land tip of
Lakshadweep and from plains of Gujarat to the hills of North-East. There are the tribals in
chamba and Mahasu; and in Dehradun and Darjeeling.8

The peninsular region has Bhils, Gonds, Santhals, Ho, Kols, Kondh, Kharia and Mundas
among the prominent. In the North-Eastern region the prominent tribals are Nagas, the Mizos,
Mikris and Kukis.9

Dr. B. S. Guha has divided the county into three tribal Zones:

1. The North and North-Eastern Zone,

2. The central or the Middle Zone and

3. The Southern Zone.

1. North-North-Eastern Zone:

Eastern Kashmir, Eastern Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Northern Uttar Pradesh, Nagaland,
Assam etc. constitute this zone. The Aka, the Mishmi, the Chulikata and the Naga are some
of the tribes of this zone.10

2. Central Zone:

8
Indian tribes/ http://www.ecoindia.com/tribes/ accessed on 17th September 2016 at 12:65pm
9
Rajendra K. Sharma (2004)/ Indian Society, Institutions and Change: Institutions and Change/ Atlantic
Publishers & Distributors
10
http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/tribes/tribal-welfare-and-development-in-india/39248/ accessed on 17th
September 2016 at 05:15pm
 6

Bihar, Bengal, Southern U.P., Southern Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa come under
this zone. The Kondh, the Santhal, the Bhil, the Gond, the Muria and the Baiga are only a few
of the large number of tribes of this zone. The bulk of the tribal population lives in this zone.
There is a very high concentration of tribal population in central India. Over 85 per cent of
the total tribal population inhabits the eight States that constitute this zone.

3. Southern Zone:

The Southern zone is consisted of four Southern States Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu,
Karnataka and Kerala. The Toda, the Chenchu, the Kadar and the Koraga are some of the
important tribes of this zone.

C. B. Mamoria has added to this list the fourth zone consisting of Andaman and Nicober
Islands.11

4. The Small Zone consisting of Andaman and Nicobar Islands:

Besides these main zones, there is another isolated zone constituting the Andaman and
Nicobar Island in the Bay of Bengal. The Jarawa, the Andamanese and the Nicobarese are the
important tribes of this zone.

11
http://www.indianetzone.com/37/indian_tribal_society.htm accessed on 17th September 2016 at 06:43pm
 7

Distinctive features of tribes in India are:

1. Common territory: Each tribe has its own and common geographical area. Tribes are
particularly very sensitive towards the territory in which they reside.
2. Common Language: Every member of a tribe speaks the same language. Every tribe
has its own dialect, though it doesnt matter whether it is written or not.12
3. Distinct name: Every tribe has its own distinct name.13
4. Endogamy: Each tribe has a culture of marrying within the tribe.
5. Political organisation: Each tribe has a leader who manages the affairs and disputes
within the tribe.
6. Distinct food habit and clothing: Usually different tribes has a distinct type of food
taboo and has different types of clothes according to the environment they live.

7. Work habit: About 90% of tribes in India are engaged in agriculture. While only 3%
are engaged in manufacturing, 5% are involved in services and just 1% are doing
forestry or forest product gathering. They rely largely on barter system for daily
affairs.
8. They usually live in isolated terrains , away from the contact of other tribes.
9. They are mostly illiterate and just try to focus on religious and ceremonial part of life
10. They also domesticate animals.

12
Ram Ahuja/ Society in india/ Distinctive features of Tribal society(pg no.-276)
13
I.M.Lewis/ Tribal Society / http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3045001278.html / accessed on 17th
September 2016 at 12:20pm
 8

CULTURE, ACCULTURATION AND CHANGES IN TRIBAL

CULTURE IN INDIA

Tribal culture in India

Tribal culture of India factually presents about the diversity of the country. 'Unity in diversity'
is one of the most spectacular feature of India and its ever growing population. Among the
diversified population, a large section constitutes the tribal people, the aboriginal inhabitants
of the forest and backward land. Tribal culture of India, their customs, religion and practices
interpenetrate almost all the aspects of Indian culture and civilisation.

To understand the tribal culture in India one has to love the uniqueness of their culture.
Simple ways of living, warm hospitality and sincere judgment of the opinions is some of the
features that represent the tribal cultures of India. Their custom depicts their belief in
simplicity. Most of the tribes in India have their own gods and goddesses that reflect the
dependence of Tribal people on nature.14

There is no specific criterion by which we may distinguish a tribe from a caste. In reference
to religion; it is said that tribes are basically animist and that of the people with caste system
is Hinduism, it basically means that all animate and inanimate things are temporarily or
permanently occupied/ inhabited by spirits; all activities are done by these spirits. These
spirits control and regulate men behaviour. They believe in magic and have a rigorous
culture and custom to follow. Differentiation between caste and tribe cannot be done on the
basis of religion.15

In caste individuals generally pursue their own definite occupations because functions are
divided under the caste system. In the tribe individuals can indulge in whatever profession
they prefer as there is no fixed relation between them and occupation.

In the north-eastern states where tribal embraced Christianity, there happened an erosion of
their cultural heritage which they now try to retrieve16

The tribes in India have been influenced by certain traditions and customs of the communities
around them, which has greatly influenced their culture. Major neighbouring community in
14
Indian tribal culture/ http://www.indiatourismecatalog.com/india_tribal_rural/tribal_rural_culture.html /
accessed on 18th September 2016 at 02:25pm
15
Ram Ahuja/ Society in India/ TRIBE AND CASTE(pg no.-277)
16
C.R. Bijoy / The Adivasis of India -A History of Discrimination, Conflict, and Resistance /
http://www.pucl.org/Topics/Dalit-tribal/2003/adivasi.htm / accessed on 15th September 2016 at 02:15pm
 9

all the areas has always been Hindus. As a result from the very period there have been several
points of contact between the Hindus of the area and tribal communities living within it. The
nature and extent of contact the pattern of mutual participation and characteristics of
revitalization movements have been different in different parts of India.

Due to lack of clear classifications of adivasis as a homogenous social-cultural category and

the highly volatile nature of non-adivasis are evident in the no compressible difficulty in
arriving at a clear anthropological definition of a tribal in India, be it in terms of ethnicity,
race, language, social forms or modes of livelihood.17

Acculturation and changes in tribal culture in India

Acculturation is the process of change in culture and psychology that results following
meeting between cultures. The acculturation effects can be seen at many stages in both
interacting cultures. At the group level, acculturation usually results in cultural change,
change in tradition and customs, and social structures.

Cultural change is change in knowledge, attitudes, ideas, behaviour, relig-ious beliefs, and
moral doctrines of individuals who compose the community or the society. Thus, cultural
change is a multi-factorial process.18

Factors that bring changes in the tribal culture are: policies of the government, infrastructure
for communication, access to education, effect of modernisation, westernisation,
urbanisation, movement acc. to occupation, projects of community development, frequent
contacts with the neighbouring Hindus in the urban areas, industrial and hydro-electrical
project construction in the tribal areas, effect of emergence of Chris-tianity, facilities for
financial credit, medical facilities, cooperative societies, laws and acts of parliament,
economy of money and market, and revolution and movements for reforms.19

The adivasis are adopting Hindu culture, traditions and customs as time is passing, but it is
not sanskritisation because adivasis are doing this to get respect and high status in the Indian
society and not for getting any type of economic benefits.

17
C.R. Bijoy / The Adivasis of India -A History of Discrimination, Conflict, and Resistance /
http://www.pucl.org/Topics/Dalit-tribal/2003/adivasi.htm / accessed on 17th September 2016 at 02:35pm
18
Ram Ahuja/ Society in India/ ACCULTURATION AND CHANGES IN TRIBAL CULTURE(pg no.-289-90)
19
Puja Mondal/ Acculturation and Changes Occurring in Tribal Culture! /
http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/society/indian-society/acculturation-and-changes-occurring-in-tribal-
culture/39250/ accessed on 17th September 2016 at 02:50pm
 10

Examples of effects of change in culture on tribes in India:-

Many tribes face the problem of maladjust-ment. Baiga tribe according to R. Joshi
(1984) is one such tribe whose members earlier were fun-loving and contented, who
spent evenings in dancing and drinking mahua, who owned land but had no
demarcated pattas, whose women wore gold and silver ornaments without worry
and fear but have now become very fearful and have come to be cheated by people
with vested interests. Happiness has given place to suffering.20
The changes among tribal people from Chotanagpur working as la-bourers in tea
gardens of Assam and North Bengal are more visible in their material life than in their
religious beliefs and practices. Those who work in industries have developed
individualistic outlook due to the economic security provided to them which in turn
has made them indifferent towards their traditional life.
change in the socio-cultural life of Juangs and Irula tribes in Orissa who traditionally
were accustomed to hunting, food-gathering and shifting cultivation but have now
become settled cultivators and labourers on plantations. They have attained
progressive outlook and have started using modern facilities of schools, banks,
cooperative so-cieties, Medicare, etc.

The above examples prove that the effect of acculturation and change in culture has changed
the outline of tribal society in India, somewhere it is positive and for societies it has been
negative. While it is not wanted by anyone that the tribal culture should be destroyed, at the
same time, we do not want that tribes should remain backward and not get benefit of
industrialization and modernisation, occupational mobility, education and government
schemes of benefits. The condition of the tribes has became isolated and segregated which
resulted in their poverty, superstitious nature, unemployment etc., cannot be tolerated in this
era. Their movement towards education, justice, help and cooperation is essential.21

20
Puja Mondal/ Acculturation and Changes Occurring in Tribal Culture! /
http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/society/indian-society/acculturation-and-changes-occurring-in-tribal-
culture/39250/ accessed on 17th September 2016 at 02:55pm
21
Ram Ahuja/ Society in India/ ACCULTURATION AND CHANGES IN TRIBAL CULTURE(pg no.-290)
 11

TRIBAL WELFARE IN INDIA

Tribal transition is tribal welfare and tribal development. The programmes implemented by
the government of India for the upliftment and rehabilitation of tribals have not achieved their
aims properly and tribal exploitation and miserable life has remained the same since
independence.22

The strategies adopted by the British administrators for solving the prob-lems of the tribals
included acquiring tribal land and forests and declaring certain tribal areas as excluded or
partially excluded. But, the British gov-ernment had also established a number of schools and
hospitals in the tribal areas with the help of Christian missionaries who converted many
tribals to Christianity. Thus, by and large, during the British period, the tribals remained
victims of colonial-feudal domination, ethnic prejudices, illiteracy, poverty, and isolation.23

Reasons for programmes launched by Indian government for tribal welfare are:-

Raising the productivity levels in agriculture, animal hus-bandry, forestry, cottage and
small-scale industries, etc., to improve the economic conditions,
Rehabilitation of the bonded labour,
Educa-tion and training programmes, and
Special development programmes for women and children. But various evaluation
studies on all these pro-grammes for the integrated development of the tribals have
brought out the inadequacies of these programmes.24

After the Fifth Five Year Plan, the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) strategy was designed in 1980
which consisted of two things:

(i) Development of social and economical life of the STs, and

22
Indian tribal culture/ http://www.indiatourismecatalog.com/india_tribal_rural/tribal_rural_culture.html /
accessed on 18th September 2016 at 02:55pm
23
http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/tribes/tribal-welfare-and-development-in-india/39248/ accessed on 17th
September 2016 at 05:15pm
24
Puja Mondal/ Tribal Welfare and Development in India/ http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/tribes/tribal-
welfare-and-development-in-india/39248/ accessed on 17th September 2016 at 05:00pm
 12

(ii) Tribal protection against exploitation. The funds for Tribal sub-plan are given by state
governments and the central ministries.25

However, TSP results have not been commensurate with the expectations and the investments

made so far as heavy emphasis is laid in several states on infrastructural development without

corresponding emphasis on the development of the STs. The TSP schemes are supposed to

lay emphasis on family-oriented income-generating schemes in sectors like agriculture,

animal husbandry, cooperatives, tribal crafts and skills, etc., besides laying emphasis on
education, health, and housing.26

TRIBAL PROBLEMS, MOVEMENTS AND TRANSITION IN

INDIA

Tribal problems in India

Land problem:-Since British came land has been the biggest reason of exploitation
of tribal people. The British interfered in the tribal region for the purpose of
exploiting the tribal natural resources. Coupled with this tribal lands were occupied by
moneylenders, zamindars and traders by advancing them loans etc. Opening of mines
in the heart of tribal habitat and even a few factories provided wage labour as well as
opportunities for factory employment.

Poverty and Indebtedness:-most of the tribal population in India is under poverty

line. . Most of the occupation falls into the primary occupations such as hunting,
gathering, and agriculture. The technology they use for these purposes belong to the
most primitive kind. There is no profit and surplus making in such economy. Hence
there per capita income is much lesser than the Indian average.27

25
Ram Ahuja/ Society in india/ tribal culture(pg no.-290)
26
Puja Mondal/ Tribal Welfare and Development in India/ http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/tribes/tribal-
welfare-and-development-in-india/39248/ accessed on 17th September 2016 at 05:00pm
27
http://www.sociologyguide.com/tribal-society/problems-of-tribal.php / accessed on 17th september 2016 at
05:17pm
 13

Education:-One of the biggest problem with tribes in India is that they are illiterate.
There are many reasons for low level of education among the tribal people: Formal
education is not considered necessary to discharge their social obligations.
Superstitions and myths play an important role in rejecting education. Most tribes live
in abject poverty.

Culture:-The tribal culture is changing day-by day. The tribal people are imitating
western culture in different aspects of their social life and leaving their own culture. It
has led to degeneration of tribal life and tribal arts such as dance, music and different
types of craft.

Tribal movement and transition in India

The establishment of heavy industries, construction of dams and launching of development

plans in tribal zones has necessitated displacement of local population. Thousands of tribal
families were displaced from their traditional habitats Contact situations with outsiders have
been equally detrimental.28

Even during British rule there was movement among tribal rule due to the changes British
tried to bring in their culture, their policy of alienation exploited the adivasis to the extremes.
There are many examples of this like in 1772 the Paharia revolt broke out which was
followed by a five year uprising led by Tilka Manjhi who was hanged in Bhagalpur in 1785.
In the next two decades, revolt took place in Singbhum, Gumla, Birbhum, Bankura
Monbhoom and Palama, followed by the great Koi Rising of 1832 and Khewar and Bhum.j
revolts (1832-34). 29

28
http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/india-2/tribal-movement-in-india-before-and-after-independence-2796-
words/6141/ accessed on 17th September 2016 at 01:17pm
29
http://www.sociologyguide.com/tribal-society/problems-of-tribal.php / accessed on 17th september 2016 at
05:17pm
 14

After independence, tribal movements may be classified into three groups:-

(i) Movement due to exploitation of outsiders

(ii) Movements due to. Economic deprivation (like those of Gonds in Madhya
Pradesh and the Mahars in Andhra Pradesh

(iii) Movements due to separatist tendencies (like those of the Nagas and Mizos).

Rise of tribal consciousness, tribal regionalism, frontier tribalism, etc. gained currency after
the movements in North East Frontier areas. Tribal regionalism, political in nature, has been
said to be a struggle for identity against alienation from basic sources, viz. land, forests and
aspiration for preservation of traditional culture Of late. The newly emerged elites in these
regions prefer to have a share in the power structure.

At the same time, the country can learn much from the beauty of Advise social practices,
their culture of sharing and respect for all their deep humility and love of nature and most of
all their deep devotion to social equality and civic harmony.
 15

CONCLUSION

The struggle for the future, the selfish and imperialistic thinking used to understand the place
of adivasis in the modern world has been made on the basis of feudal, colonial and
imperialistic notion which combines traditional and historical constructs with the modern
construct based on notions of linear scientific and technological progress.

No one of these have a justified argument. That is why, the popular hypothesis of adivasis is
merely that of illiterate and primitive people living in forest, tribal language, their
superstitious faith, forestry and primitive occupation, carnivorous diet, naked or semi-naked,
nomadic habits, love, drink and dance. Contrast this with the self-perception of Adivasis as
casteless, classless and egalitarian in nature, community-based economic systems, symbiotic
with nature, democratic according to the demands of the times, accommodative history and
people-oriented art and literature.

The significance of their sustainable subsistence economy in the midst of a profit oriented
economy is not recognised in the political discourse, and the negative stereotyping of the
sustainable subsistence economy of Adivasi societies is based on the wrong premise that the
production of surplus is more progressive than the process of social reproduction in co-
existence with nature. 30

The source of the conflicts arises from these unresolved contradictions. With globalisation,
the hitherto expropriation of rights as an outcome of development has developed into
expropriation of rights as a precondition for development. In response, the struggles for the
rights of the Adivasis have moved towards the struggles for power and a redefinition of the
contours of state, governance and progress.31

In the end it can be concluded that tribal societies despite being the gem in Indian culture has
suffered the most. They tried to preserve their culture but the impact of modern societies and
westernisation has brought changes in their culture and increased acculturation among them.
Also, the benefits they deserved have not reached them properly. Their welfare has stopped
due to the corruption and selfishness present in our society. Adivasis still are the source of
raw Indian culture and represent the real India.

30
http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/tribes/tribal-welfare-and-development-in-india/39248/ accessed on 17th
September 2016 at 05:15pm
31
http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/tribes/tribal-welfare-and-development-in-india/39248/ accessed on 17th
September 2016 at 05:15pm
 16

REFERENCES

1. Ram Ahuja/ Society in india

2. Paul James/ Globalism, Nationalism, Tribalism: Bringing Theory Back In/ 2006
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Change/ Atlantic Publishers & Distributors
4. Mohammad Abbas Khan (2005)/ Social Development in Twenty First Century/ Anmol
Publications Pvt. Ltd
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