Tribal Identity: Ancient cultures in Modern India

‘Tribe’ is a modern term for communities that are very old, referring to some of the earliest inhabitants of the Indian subcontinent. 

In India, these tribes were characterized by not adhering to religions with written texts, not having traditional state structures and not exhibiting class divisions, contributing to the rich diversity of tribal identity in India.

Tribal Identity in Hindu Society: Assimilation Mechanisms:

• Exploring Assimilation:  A Deep Dive into Caste-Tribe Dynamics: The discussion about caste-tribe distinction prompted extensive literature exploring how tribes were assimilated into Hindu society over time.
• Mechanisms of Assimilation: Tracing the Integration of Tribes into Hindu Society: Various mechanisms were proposed, including Sanskritisation, acceptance into the Shudra fold following conquest by caste Hindus, and acculturation.
• Perspectives on Assimilation: Journey into Hinduism: This process is viewed either as a natural assimilation parallel to the incorporation of all groups into Hinduism as sects or as an exploitative endeavor.
• Scholarly Shifts: The Evolving focus on Tribal absorption into Hindu Society: Early anthropologists focused on the cultural aspects of tribal absorption, while later scholars concentrated on the exploitative and political nature of the incorporation.

Tribal Identity: Challenging Misconceptions and Historical Dynamics:              

• Deconstructing Tribal Narratives: Rethinking Origins, Tribalism, and Identity: Some scholars have argued that there is no coherent basis for treating tribes as “pristine” – i.e., original or pure – societies uncontaminated by civilisation.
  • Reassessing Tribal Origins: They propose viewing tribes as “secondary” phenomena arising from contact between pre-existing states and non-state tribal groups.
  • Ideology of ‘Tribalism’: This generates an ideology of “tribalism” as tribal groups define themselves as tribals to distinguish themselves from newly encountered groups.
• Breaking Stereotypes: Evolving Tribal Realities Beyond Stone Age Perceptions: Despite this perspective, the idea that tribes are like Stone Age societies still persists, even though this has not been true for a long time
• Historical Dynamics: Adivasi Empowerment and Kingdoms of Influence: Historically, Adivasis were not always oppressed; 
  • Gond Kingdom: There were Gond kingdoms in Central India such as that of Garha Mandla, or Chanda. 
    • They held power and exercised dominance over the plains people.
  • Rajput Kingdoms: They actually emerged through a process of stratification among Adivasi communities themselves.
• ‘Adivasi’ Influence and Militias in the Plains: Adivasis often exercised dominance over the plains people through their capacity to raid them, and through their services as local militias. 
• Adivasi Trade Niches and Capitalist Exploitation: They occupied unique trade niches and had a long history of contact with mainstream society through the capitalist economy’s exploitation of forest resources, minerals, and labor.

Tribal Identity: Impacts, Challenges, and Future Trajectories

Table: Tribal Identity Today