Tribal scene in India and Tribes | Forestry Optional Indian Forest Services (IFoS)

Introduction:

India is a diverse country with a rich cultural tapestry, and one of the fascinating aspects of this diversity is the presence of various tribal communities.

These tribal communities, often referred to as Scheduled Tribes, play a crucial role in India's social, cultural, and historical fabric.

Among these tribes, there is a distinct category known as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) that require special attention and protection due to their unique characteristics and vulnerabilities.

Definition of Tribes

Tribes in India, also known as Scheduled Tribes, are indigenous communities that have their distinct socio-cultural, linguistic, and historical identities.

They often reside in geographically remote or hilly areas, maintaining traditional lifestyles and practices.

There are over 700 scheduled tribes in India, each with its own distinct culture and way of life.

PVTGs in India:

Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) represent a subset of scheduled tribes in India.

These are the most marginalized and vulnerable tribal communities facing extreme socio-economic and educational deprivation.

PVTGs are identified based on specific criteria, including low population, pre-agricultural level of technology, stagnant or declining population, and extremely low literacy rates.

Characteristics of PVTGs:

1. Low Population: PVTGs typically have very small populations, making them vulnerable to genetic and cultural erosion.

2. Pre-Agricultural Lifestyle: Many PVTGs continue to follow a hunter-gatherer or subsistence agriculture lifestyle, often devoid of modern farming techniques.

3. Isolation: These groups are often geographically isolated, living in remote and inaccessible areas, which contributes to their marginalization.

4. Low Literacy Rates: PVTGs generally have very low literacy rates, often below the national average, due to limited access to education.

5. Dependency on Forests: Many PVTGs depend on forests and natural resources for their livelihoods, which can lead to conflicts over land and resources.

6. Distinct Culture and Language: They have unique cultural practices, languages, and traditions that are often at risk of being lost.

7. Economic Vulnerability: PVTGs often lack access to mainstream economic opportunities, leaving them economically vulnerable.

Tribal Religion

Characteristics of Tribal Religion:

1. Oral Tradition: Tribal religions are typically passed down orally from generation to generation. There is often no written scripture or religious texts.

2. Ancestral Worship: Many tribal religions involve the veneration of ancestors. Ancestors are believed to play a crucial role in the spiritual and social life of the tribe.

3. Animism: Tribal religions often embrace animism, the belief that spirits inhabit natural elements such as trees, rivers, and animals. These spirits are considered powerful and must be respected.

4. Communal Rituals: Rituals and ceremonies are communal events where the entire tribe participates. These rituals strengthen social bonds and connect the tribe to the spiritual world.

5. Cyclical Cosmology: Tribal religions often follow a cyclical view of time, with events repeating in a continuous cycle. This can be seen in seasonal rituals and agricultural practices.

6. Shamans and Medicine Men: Tribal communities typically have individuals who serve as intermediaries between the spiritual and physical realms. These individuals, often known as shamans or medicine men, play a central role in tribal religious practices.

7. Close Connection to Nature: Tribal religions emphasize a deep connection to the natural world. Nature is not only a source of sustenance but also a realm inhabited by spirits and deities.

Theories on Tribal Religion:

1. Animism by Edward Tylor:

Belief that all natural objects and phenomena have souls or spirits.

Central to many tribal religions, as they worship and communicate with these spirits.

2. Totemism by Émile Durkheim:

Focuses on totems, which are symbols or animals that represent a tribe or clan.

Totems serve as a source of identity, reverence, and connection to the divine.

3. Mana and Taboo by Bronisław Malinowski:

Mana is a spiritual force or power present in all things.

Taboos are restrictions or prohibitions placed on certain actions to avoid disrupting the balance of mana.

4. Structural Functionalism by Émile Durkheim:

Argues that tribal religions serve as a social glue, reinforcing group cohesion and values.

Rituals and ceremonies promote solidarity and maintain social order.

5. Collective Consciousness by Émile Durkheim's concept:

Tribal religion creates a collective consciousness, uniting members through shared beliefs and values.

This collective consciousness strengthens social integration.

6. Psychological Function:

Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung explored this aspect.

Suggested that tribal religion provides an outlet for psychological needs and desires.

Rituals and myths help individuals cope with anxieties and conflicts.

7. Structuralism by Claude Lévi-Strauss:

Focuses on the underlying structures of tribal myths and rituals.

Seeks to uncover the universal patterns and themes that underlie diverse tribal religions.

8. Evolutionary Theories by various anthropologists:

Suggest that tribal religions represent an early stage of religious development.

As societies evolve, these religions may transform into more complex belief systems.

9. Syncretism:

Proposed by various anthropologists and historians.

Recognizes that tribal religions often assimilate elements from other belief systems.

Reflects the adaptability and fluidity of tribal religious practices over time.

Totem in Tribal Religion:

A totem is a symbolic representation of a tribe's ancestral or spiritual connection to a particular animal, plant, or natural element. Totems can take various forms, including carvings, masks, or symbols.

Key characteristics

1. Spiritual Significance: Totems are believed to embody the essence and qualities of the represented entity, such as an animal, and are often associated with tribal beliefs and cosmology.

2. Protective Role: Totems may serve a protective function for the tribe. They are believed to offer guidance, strength, and spiritual protection to the community.

3. Cultural Identity: Totems play a crucial role in defining the cultural identity of a tribe. They symbolize the tribe's connection to its heritage and the natural world.

4. Ritual Use: Totems are often central to tribal rituals and ceremonies. They may be invoked to seek blessings, guidance, or spiritual support during important tribal events.

5. Artistic Expression: Totems are often intricately crafted and decorated, showcasing the artistic skills and cultural expressions of the tribe. They can be passed down through generations as valuable cultural artifacts.

Tribal Family in India

a. Characteristics of Tribal Families:

1. Close-knit Communities: Tribal families in India tend to be tightly-knit and closely connected with their extended families and communities.

2. Communal Living: Many tribal families traditionally practice communal living, residing in close proximity to other family members within a village or hamlet.

3. Traditional Lifestyle: Tribal families often adhere to traditional ways of life, including customs, rituals, and beliefs that have been passed down through generations.

4. Strong Oral Traditions: They rely heavily on oral traditions to preserve their cultural heritage, including storytelling, folklore, and songs.

5. Subsistence Agriculture: Agriculture, hunting, gathering, and pastoralism are common livelihoods among tribal families, with a focus on subsistence rather than commercial farming.

6. Matrilineal or Patrilineal: The descent system in tribal families can be matrilineal (tracing ancestry through the mother's line) or patrilineal (tracing ancestry through the father's line), depending on the specific tribal group.

b. Types of Tribal Families:

In Short Explanation:

Tribal families in India exhibit diverse forms of marriage, including monogamous, polygamous, and polyandrous arrangements.

Ancestry and property inheritance can be patrilineal (through the male line) or matrilineal (through the female line), with corresponding property distribution.

Children may inherit either the father's name (patronymic) or the mother's name (matronymic).

The residence pattern after marriage can be patrilocal (wife moves to husband's family) or matrilocal (husband moves to wife's family).

1. Based on the Form of Marriage

(a) Monogamous: 

In a monogamous tribal family, there is one husband and one wife.

This is the most common form of marriage among tribal communities in India.

It promotes a single marital partnership.

(b) Polygamous:

In a polygamous tribal family, there is one husband and more than one wife.

The Bhil tribe is an example of a polygamous family structure.

Polygamy can be practiced for various reasons, including economic or social factors.

(c) Polyandrous:

In a polyandrous tribal family, there is one husband and one wife.

Unique to certain tribes like the Toda of Nilgiri and Khasa of Jaunsar (Uttarakhand).

Multiple husbands may share responsibility for the wife and children.

2. Based on the Nature of Ancestry and Property Inheritance

(a) Patrilineal Family:

Ancestry is determined by the male line or father.

Property rights are inherent and distributed among males.

This is the prevailing family structure in most tribal communities in India.

(b) Matrilineal Family:

Ancestry is determined by the female line or mother.

Property rights are inherent and distributed among females.

Example: The Khasi tribe follows a matrilineal family structure.

3. Based on the Inheritance of Name

(a) Patronymic Family:

Children inherit the name of their father.

This is the common practice in many tribal societies.

(b) Matronymic Family:

Children inherit the name of their mother.

The Khasi tribe is an example of a matronymic family.

4. Based on the Nature of Couple's Residence after Marriage

(a) Patrilocal Residence:

After marriage, the wife lives in her husband's family residence.

This is typical in patrilineal tribal families.

(b) Matrilocal Residence:

After marriage, the husband lives in his wife's family residence.

The Khasi tribe practices matrilocal residence.

Functions of Tribal Families:

1. Economic Support: Tribal families work collectively to meet economic needs, such as farming, hunting, and gathering, often sharing resources and labor within the family unit.

2. Social Cohesion: Tribal families play a vital role in maintaining social cohesion within their communities, often organizing and participating in cultural events and rituals.

3. Education and Socialization: Elders in tribal families are responsible for passing on knowledge, skills, and cultural values to the younger generation through oral traditions and informal education.

4. Health and Welfare: Tribal families often provide care and support for members in times of illness or crisis, relying on traditional healing practices and community networks.

5. Rituals and Ceremonies: Families are central to tribal rituals and ceremonies, which mark significant life events such as births, marriages, and deaths, reinforcing cultural identity.

6. Land and Resource Management: Many tribal families collectively manage and protect their ancestral lands and natural resources, reflecting their deep connection to the environment.

7. Decision-Making: Tribal families often participate in community decision-making processes, with elders and respected members influencing local governance and dispute resolution.

Tribal Marriage in India

a. Characteristics of Tribal Marriage:

1. Endogamy: Tribal marriages in India typically involve the practice of endogamy, where individuals marry within their own tribal community. This helps in preserving the cultural and social identity of the tribe.

2. Arranged Marriages: Tribal marriages are often arranged by the families, with parents playing a significant role in selecting suitable partners for their children. Love marriages are relatively less common.

3. Rituals and Ceremonies: Tribal marriages are marked by elaborate rituals and ceremonies that vary from one tribe to another. These rituals are a crucial part of preserving tribal culture and heritage.

4. Community Involvement: Tribal marriages are community affairs, involving the participation of the entire tribal community. The ceremonies often include traditional dances, songs, and feasts.

5. Bridal Price or Dowry: Some tribal communities follow the custom of giving either a bride price (groom's family pays the bride's family) or a dowry (bride's family provides gifts and assets to the groom's family).

6. Multiple Marriages: In some tribal societies, particularly among polygamous tribes, a man may have multiple wives. This practice is more prevalent in certain tribal regions.

b. Types of Tribal Marriage:

1. Monogamy: Many tribal communities in India practice monogamy, where an individual is allowed to have only one spouse at a time.

2. Polygamy: Some tribes permit polygamy, where a man can have multiple wives simultaneously. This practice is often associated with tribes in less developed and remote regions.

3. Polyandry: Polyandry, where a woman may have multiple husbands, is rare but exists among certain tribal groups like the Toda in Tamil Nadu.

4. Cross-Cousin Marriage: In some tribes, particularly in South India, cross-cousin marriages are common. This involves marrying a cousin from the maternal side.

5. Hypergamy and Hypogamy: Certain tribes follow the practice of hypergamy (marrying someone from a higher social or economic status) or hypogamy (marrying someone from a lower status), often with the aim of maintaining social balance.

c. Thinkers' Views on Tribal Marriage:

1. B.R. Ambedkar: Ambedkar, a prominent Indian social reformer, emphasized the need to reform tribal marriage customs to ensure gender equality and protect the rights of tribal women.

2. Verrier Elwin: An anthropologist and missionary, Verrier Elwin studied various tribal communities in India and advocated for the preservation of tribal cultures, including their unique marriage customs.

3. G.S. Ghurye: A renowned sociologist, Ghurye conducted extensive research on Indian tribes and their marriage practices. He highlighted the diversity of tribal customs and their importance in understanding Indian society.

Tribal Kinship in India

Types of Kinship:

1. Consanguineal Kinship:

Consanguineal kinship refers to blood relationships within a tribal group.

It includes relationships between parents and children, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

These relationships are based on shared genetic ties and are fundamental to tribal identity.

2. Affinal Kinship:

Affinal kinship refers to relationships formed through marriage within a tribal community.

It includes relationships between spouses and their respective families.

Marriage is an important institution in tribal societies, and it often strengthens social bonds and alliances.

3. Social Kinship:

Social kinship encompasses relationships that are not based on biological or marital ties but are socially constructed.

It includes relationships like godparents, tribal leaders, and other individuals who play significant roles in a tribal member's life.

These relationships are important for social cohesion and support within the community.

Degree of Kinship in Tribal Society:

1. Lineal Kinship:

Lineal kinship refers to direct blood relationships in a linear fashion, such as parents, children, and grandchildren.

These relationships are considered the most significant and are central to the individual's identity and social status within the tribe.

2. Primary Kin or 1st-degree Kin:

Primary kin includes close relatives beyond the lineal kin, such as siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

While not as central as lineal kin, primary kin still play essential roles in an individual's life and social interactions within the tribe.

3. Secondary Kin or 2nd-degree Kin:

Secondary kin are more distant relatives, such as second cousins, great-aunts, and great-uncles.

They may have less influence on an individual's life and status but are still recognized as part of the extended kinship network.

4. Tertiary Kin:

Tertiary kin includes relatives who are even further removed from the individual, such as third cousins and beyond.

While these relationships exist, they often have limited impact on an individual's social interactions and obligations.

Kinship Behavior:

1.. Lineage and Clan Systems: Lineages and clans based on common ancestry organize tribal communities.

2. Marriage Practices: Marriage plays a central role in tribal societies, often strengthening alliances.

3. Extended Family Structures: Extended families living together support daily survival and resource sharing.

4. Inheritance and Property Rights: Inheritance rules reflect cultural values regarding property ownership.

5. Kinship Terminology: Complex systems of kinship terminology distinguish family relationships.

6. Social Roles and Responsibilities: Kinship dictates individual roles and responsibilities within the tribe.

7. Ceremonies and Rituals: Rituals celebrate kinship ties and reinforce cultural identity.

Tribal Demography in India

Introduction

India is home to a significant tribal population, also known as Adivasis, who inhabit various regions across the country.

These tribal communities have diverse cultures, languages, and lifestyles.

Key points

1. Tribal Population Size: India's tribal population was estimated at around 104 million people, accounting for about 8% of the country's total population.

2. Geographical Distribution

Tribal communities are primarily concentrated in the northeastern, central, southern, and western regions of India.

States like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh have a significant tribal population.

3. Ethnic Diversity

India's tribal communities consist of various ethnic groups, each with its own distinct language, customs, and traditions.

Prominent tribal groups include the Gond, Santhal, Bhil, Munda, and many more.

4. Lifestyle and Occupation

Historically, most tribal communities have been dependent on agriculture, hunting, gathering, and forest-based livelihoods.

However, urbanization and modernization have led to shifts in their occupations.

5. Social Structure

Tribal societies often have a hierarchical social structure with chieftains or leaders at the top.

Some tribes follow matrilineal descent, while others have patrilineal systems.

6. Education and Literacy

Historically, tribal communities have had lower literacy rates and limited access to education.

Government initiatives have aimed to improve literacy and educational opportunities for tribal children.
 
7. Healthcare and Development

Tribal populations have faced health disparities and limited access to healthcare facilities.

Government programs have been implemented to address these issues and promote tribal development.

8. Land Rights and Displacement

Land rights have been a significant issue for tribal communities, with many facing displacement due to development projects.

The Forest Rights Act of 2006 aimed to secure land rights for tribal and forest-dwelling communities.

9. Political Representation

Efforts have been made to provide political representation to tribal communities through reserved seats in legislative bodies.

Tribal leaders and activists have also played crucial roles in advocating for their rights.

10. Cultural Preservation

Efforts have been made to preserve and promote tribal cultures, languages, and traditions.

Tribal festivals, art forms, and rituals are recognized and celebrated.

11. Challenges

Challenges facing tribal communities include poverty, lack of infrastructure, health issues, and the preservation of their unique identities.

Encroachment on their traditional lands and resources remains a critical concern.

12. Government Initiatives

Various government programs, such as the Integrated Tribal Development Program (ITDP) and Special

Central Assistance (SCA), have been initiated to uplift tribal communities.

Conclusion

The tribal demography in India is characterized by diversity, with numerous distinct communities facing both challenges and opportunities for development and cultural preservation. Efforts continue to ensure their well-being and empowerment.