Description
Venus Publications Social Structure And Ethnicity In Indian Tribes by Pandit, Namita
India offers astounding variety in virtually every aspect of social life. Diversities of ethnic, linguistic, regional, economic, religious, class, and caste groups crosscut Indian society, which is also permeated with immense urban-rural differences and gender distinctions. Distinctions based on kinship, wealth and power among some tribal villages are as sharp as we find among the non-tribal villages. Tribals are not, theoretically, a part of Hindu social organisation, but they have always been in touch with wider society in India. They have been exploited economically and socially by the non-tribals living in tribal areas. A number of tribes have revolted against their exploitation. In India, 427 groups had been recognised as scheduled tribes in the year 1981.They formed approximately 8.08 per cent of the total Indian population. The tribes have segmentary, egalitarian system and are not mutually inter-dependent, as are castes in a system of organic solidarity. They have direct access to land and no intermediary is involved between them and land. Social structure is closely related with the size of the group. The present book is an account of Indian tribes, their ethnic backgrounds and social structure. This book is useful not only as an ethnographic documentation, but it will help students, social scientists and social workers to understand the problems of the primitive tribe and possible prospects as well.