Conclusion a.

Defining the Tribes in India

b. Tribal Studies in India
c. Historical Significance
d. Academic Significance
What is a tribe? e. Administrative Significance
f. Anthropological Significance
g. Classical Socio-Cultural Studies of Tribal
Before we delve into the specifics, let’s understand the general notion of a
Communities in India
tribe. A tribe is often seen as a group of people who share common ancestry,
language, and cultural practices. They usually have a strong sense of identity 5 Tribal Organisation
and social cohesion, often living in geographically isolated areas. However, this
definition is just the tip of the iceberg. Various anthropologists have provided a. Tribal Social Organisation
b. Tribal Economic Organisation
more nuanced definitions that consider multiple aspects of tribal life.
c. Tribal Political Organisation
d. Law in Tribal Society
W.H.R. Rivers’ perspective e. Tribal Religion
f. Tribal Literature and Art

W.H.R. Rivers, a prominent British anthropologist, emphasized the importance

6 Tribe-Caste Continuum in India
of social structure in defining tribes. According to Rivers, a tribe is a social
group comprising families that share common ancestry, live in a specific a. Tribe-Caste Continuum
territory, and have a common dialect. b. Social Mobility
c. Hinduisation
d. M. N. Srinivas on Social Mobility and
Key aspects of Rivers’ definition Sanskritisation
e. F. G. Bailey and Tribe-Caste Continuum
Common ancestry: Rivers highlighted that tribes often trace their lineage
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Territorial a!iliation: He believed that tribes are usually associated with g. D. N. Majumdar’s Cultural Transformation
a specific geographic area, which they consider their homeland.
7 Tribal Monographs on Social Change
Common dialect: Language plays a crucial role in unifying the tribe and
preserving its cultural heritage. a. Definitions and the Concept of Social
Change

D.N. Majumdar’s viewpoint b. Tribal Monographs in Formative Phase

c. Tribal Monographs in Constructive Phase
d. Tribal Monographs in Analytical Phase
Indian anthropologist D.N. Majumdar provided a more localized perspective on e. Tribal Monographs in Evaluative Phase
tribes. He emphasized the socio-political unity and cultural homogeneity of
tribes in India. According to Majumdar, tribes are distinct social units with 8 Globalisation among Indian Tribes
unique cultural practices, often governed by their own traditional institutions.
a. What is Globalisation?
b. Globalisation and Change
Key aspects of Majumdar’s definition c. Globalisation and its Impact on Tribals
d. Dams
Socio-political unity: Majumdar noted that tribes often have a well- e. Mining
defined social hierarchy and governance system, which helps maintain
9 Tribal Displacement and Rehabilitation
internal cohesion.
Cultural homogeneity: He highlighted that tribes usually have unique a. Displacement
cultural practices, rituals, and traditions that set them apart from other b. Tribal Displacement
communities. c. Rese!lement and Rehabilitation
Traditional institutions: Majumdar emphasized the role of traditional d. Impacts of Displacement on Tribals
e. Social-Cultural Impacts
institutions, such as tribal councils, in maintaining social order and
f. Psychological Impacts
resolving conflicts within the tribe.
g. Economic Impacts
h. Health Impacts

Lucy Mair’s insights i. Environmental Impacts

10 Development of Forest Policy and

Lucy Mair, another renowned British anthropologist, focused on the cultural
Tribes
and social aspects of tribes. She defined tribes as small-scale societies
characterized by cultural homogeneity, strong social cohesion, and a lack of a. Tribal Economy, Livelihood and Forest
b. Forest Policy in Colonial India and Tribal
centralized political authority.
Livelihood
Key aspects of Mair’s definition c. Forest Policy in Post-Independence India
d. Some Flaws in Forest Policy in Recognising
Tribal Property Rights
Cultural homogeneity: Mair emphasized that tribes typically have a
e. Forest Rights Act
uniform culture, with shared beliefs, practices, and values. f. New Initiatives for Enhancing Tribal
Strong social cohesion: She noted that tribal communities often have Livelihood
strong social bonds, which help maintain internal unity and stability.
Lack of centralized political authority: Mair highlighted that tribes 11 Tribal Movements
usually do not have a centralized political system, relying instead on a. Definition, Characteristics and
traditional institutions and informal social structures for governance. Classification
b. Tribal Movements in Pre-Independent

The tribe-caste continuum in India India

c. Tribal Movement in Post-Independent
India
d. Impacts of Tribal Movements

In India, the concept of a tribe is closely intertwined with the caste system, 12 Problems of Tribes
leading to the notion of a tribe-caste continuum. This continuum blurs the rigid
distinctions between tribal and non-tribal communities, highlighting the a. Migration
b. Liquor Consumption
cultural exchanges and interactions that occur between them.
c. Development Induced Displacement
d. Rese!lement and Rehabilitation
Key aspects of the tribe-caste continuum e. Alienation of Land
f. Indebtedness and Debt-Bondage
Cultural exchanges: Tribal and non-tribal communities often engage in g. Health
cultural exchanges, adopting each other’s practices, rituals, and h. Employment
traditions.
13 Problems of Tribal Women
Intermarriage: Intermarriage between tribal and non-tribal individuals is
not uncommon, further blurring the boundaries between these groups. a. Status of Tribal Women
Economic interactions: Tribes often engage in economic activities with b. Health and Nutrition
non-tribal communities, such as trade and labor exchanges, which foster c. Education
mutual dependence and integration. d. Role of Women in Tribal Economy
e. Agriculture and Employment

The debate on the appropriateness 14 Constitutional Provision and

Safeguards
of the term “tribe” a. Constitutional Provisions
b. Constitutional Safeguards
Despite the various definitions and perspectives provided by anthropologists,
c. Constitutional Role to Preserve and
the term “tribe” remains a subject of debate. Some scholars argue that the Conserve Tribal Culture
term is outdated and carries colonial connotations, while others believe it is still d. Welfare Programmes
relevant in understanding the unique social and cultural characteristics of these e. Legislation
communities. f. Reservation Policy

Arguments against the term “tribe”

Colonial connotations: Critics argue that the term “tribe” has colonial
connotations, as it was often used by colonial administrators to categorize Learn more

and control indigenous populations.

Overgeneralization: The term “tribe” can be seen as an Replay
overgeneralization, as it encompasses a wide range of communities with Learn more

diverse cultures, languages, and social structures.

Stigmatization: Some scholars believe that the term “tribe” can be
stigmatizing, as it may imply primitiveness or backwardness.

Arguments in favor of the term “tribe”

Recognition of uniqueness: Proponents argue that the term “tribe” helps
recognize the unique social, cultural, and political characteristics of these
 communities.
Legal and administrative use: In countries like India, the term “tribe” is
used in legal and administrative contexts to identify and provide special
protections for indigenous communities.
Scholarly relevance: Some scholars believe that the term “tribe” remains
relevant in anthropological and sociological studies, as it helps categorize
and analyze the distinct features of these communities.

Conclusion
Understanding the anthropological definitions of tribes provides valuable
insights into the social, cultural, and political characteristics of these unique
communities. While scholars like W.H.R. Rivers, D.N. Majumdar, and Lucy Mair
have o"ered various perspectives on what constitutes a tribe, the concept
remains fluid and context-dependent. In India, the tribe-caste continuum
further complicates the definition, highlighting the dynamic interactions
between tribal and non-tribal communities. Despite the ongoing debate on the
appropriateness of the term “tribe,” it remains a useful tool for recognizing and
studying these communities’ unique a!ributes.

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What do you think? Do you believe the term “tribe” is still relevant in today’s
context, or should we adopt a di"erent terminology? How can we be!er
understand and appreciate the diversity of tribal communities in India?

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