India 50 Years of Independence: 1947-97 Status, Growth & Development- Scheduled Tribes (Part-14)

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About The Book

The term 'tribe', though widely used, has no precise definition and the lack of general consensus in this respect has resulted in its application to suit certain interest. In India, as a whole the tribal population is about 8.1 per cent of the total population.

In this book Scheduled Tribes an attempt is made to present the enthnography and change in some of the major tribes in order to record the state of tribal affairs on the eve of 50 Years of Independence.

About the Author

Syed Hasan Mujtaba Rizvi (Ph.D., University of Delhi) is a research anthropologist and has carried out empirical studies in the field of bio cultural anthropology among the tribes, and Muslims of northern, western, north-western and north eastern India. He along with Dr. Shibani Roy has written eleven books based upon original research. One of the Professor Emeritus (Anthropology) while reviewing his books stated that "..... this indicates his understanding of the subject of anthropology in totality and in modern anthro pological world, works of such nature are always encouraged."

Shibani Roy (Ph.D., University of Delhi) is engaged in research since 1969. She has written eleven books concerning various aspects of anthropology. She has conducted field work in northern, north-western, western and north-eastern India among the tribes, castes and religious minorities. Her books Status of Muslims Women in Northern India, Koli Culture, Muslims: Bio-cultural Perspective, Dawoodi Bohras: Anthropological Perspective, Dhodia Identity, Nicotine Water to Heroin, In Search of Roots, and Tribal Customary Laws of North-East India have been well received by the reviewers. Her 50 research papers published in Indian and Foreign journals encompass the holistic approach in Anthropology. She is currently holding the post of Superintending Anthropologist in Government of India.

Preface

The term 'tribe', though widely used, has no precise definition and the lack of general consensus in this respect has resulted in its application to suit certain interests. The term is probably derived from the Roman word tribua used to define a political unit and was applied to refer to social groups defined by territory they occupied. The term later passed into general usage as a synonym for 'primitive', social group.

In India, the concept of tribe is largely a British Colonial creation and influenced by the colonials' experience in Africa wherein the tribal divisions and tribal consciousness were largely an invention of colonial rulers to impose order and supralocal unity upon previously autonomous local communities having contextually relative sense of ethnic identity. This was a gross over simplification as validated by the studies of anthropologists. Their study showed that the colonial concept of the tribe as an ethnically, linguistically. culturally and politically autonomous and self conscious unit was complex panorama of inter-ethnic and regional social relations of pre-colonial Africa.

Prior to the birth of Republican Constitution of India in 1950, terms such as 'Aboriginals', 'Adivasi', Forest tribes' 'Hill tribes', 'Primitive tribes' were in use. Moreover, tribe was a value loaded term since it designated a particular stage of socio-political evolution of a community within a given territory and language area. The British colonials, used the term tribe for the people who were 'primitive' in comparison to their own culture. Hence we find mention of 'Brahmin tribes', 'Rajput tribes' and 'Muslim tribes' in the earlier works of British administrators turned anthropologists.

Introduction

Unity in Diversity

In the Indian context unity in diversity was part idyllic thinking and to some extent illusory recapitulation for the intellectuals. India had been rife with feuds within the people living in India and with the outsiders. The tribal and non tribal demarcations had prominence in our proto-history as is evident from the literary works. Religion which is abundantly given importance as a factor for cohesion of the country, is only applicable theoretically, since, many other religious groups are thriving on Indian soil. Besides, Hinduism in India as practised by the people, varies from one village to the other. Another feature which is to be noted that the basic tenets of Hinduism which are common to all remain confined to the religious elites who attempt to retain their supremacy at the cost of religious illiteracy of the majority of the people. Further, language, ecology, physical forms, patterns of attire enhanced the cultural diversity of the people. Over a hundred years' of British Colonial rule was a factor making their common plight, woes and oppression under alien hands. Thus India's fight for Independence unified all the diversified forces for the sole cause of attainment of freedom. The people attained freedom but along with it the last axe fell on the people in the form of Partition of India. The Hindu-Muslim conflict which was cleverly manipulated by the British and substantially supported by the political parties specially the Muslim League etched out in India issued based on socio-cultural diversity having political and administrative support. The intense violence and hatred which was unleashed during Hindu Muslim riots made the leadership to strongly resolve for preserving and securing national unity: and for the first time the vibrant statement by a historian 'unity in diversity' was put to acid test. The law and order situation was so grave that the leadership after attaining the power to rule had to make an important decision. Whether to have an authoritarian structure or a democratic structure based upon general consensus. It is commendable that it was decided to opt for a system based upon an open and democratic framework. The main motive behind this was to bring some semblance of order within this vast diversity through adult franchise, periodic elections and open competition between a number of political parties hailing from different corners of the country. The achievement was viewed with the attainment of a centre having a united front whose authority was legitimate and beyond question. Yet, it was open and subject to periodic rectification. For serving this centre, emerged All India Civil Services and All India Party. In the economic front, though, free enterprise was permitted, yet. its framework was laid down by a Central Planning Commission. However, this system gave scope to self government and autonomy at local levels. In North-East India certain areas remained as 'Excluded Area', 'Partially Excluded Area', 'Inner Line Area' and 'Scheduled Area'. Special provisions in the Indian Constitution were made for certain frontier regions such as North-Eastern Frontier Agency Sadiya Frontier Tract, Tuensang Frontier Division, etc.

**Contents and Sample Pages**