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Unit 2: Major Segments of Indian Society

themselves in the caste frame, e.g., Santhals, Oraon, Munda, Gonds; (iii) negatively oriented towards Notes
the Hindu social order, e.g., Mizos, Nagas; and (iv) indifferent towards the Hindu social order,
e.g., some tribes of Arunachal Pradesh.

2.1 Tribal Life in India

The tribals living in different states belong to various racial groups (e.g., proto-australoid, which
include Santhals, Munda, Oraon and Bhumij, and Mangoloid which include Garo, etc.), linguistic
groups (austric like Santhals, Munda, Bhumij, Dravidian like Oraon, and Tibeto-Chinese like
Garo, Bhutia, etc.), economic (food-gatherers, cultivators, labourers), social and religious categories.
There is also a wide range of variation in their level of development and their level of socio-
cultural integration. But there are also certain similarities. The tribals as a whole are technologically
and educationally backward. Though the majority of the tribals follow patrilineal system of social
organisation, yet there are quite a few who have matrilineal systems (like Garo, etc.). A sizeable
proportion of Nagas, Mizos, Santhals, Oraon, and Munda, etc., have embraced Christianity. Some
(like Bhutia, Lepcha) are largely identified with Buddhism.
Distinctive Features of Tribal Communities
Tribes are relatively isolated from larger cultural influences, have a relative cultural homogeneity
and a simple technology. They believe in spirits, magic and witchcraft. They have their own
taboos which prohibit ‘certain”actions that are punishable by the community, by the supernatural,
or by magical consequences. Large number of the tribes believe in animism, according to which all
objects—both animate and inanimate— are permanently or temporarily inhabited by spirits or
souls. Often, an activity is believed to be caused by these spirits. Some spirits are worshipped and
treated with fear and respect. Some scholars have maintained that animism was the earliest form
of religion of the tribes. Many tribes believe in ancestor worship too.
Some important features of tribes in India are:
1. Common name: Each caste has a distinct name of its own through which it is distinguished from
others.
2. Common territory: Tribes generally occupy common geographical areas.
3. Common language: Members of one tribe speak the same language. Each tribe has its own
dialect, if not the script.
4. Common culture: Each tribe has prescribed patterns of behaviour and festivals and deities to
worship.
5. Endogamy: Each tribe has the practice of marrying members within their own tribe.
6. Political organisation: All tribes have their own political organisation. They have councils of
elders which control members.
7. As against the national average of 43 per cent, 57 per cent of the tribals are economically active.
8. As regards the nature of work, against 73 per cent national average, 91 per cent tribal workers
are engaged in agriculture. About 3 per cent tribals are engaged in manufacturing (against 11%
of general population) and 5 per cent in servicing (tertiary) sector (against 16% average of
general population). About 1 per cent tribals are engaged in forestry and food-gathering.
Some other features of the tribals are: most of them live in isolated terrains; the main sources of
their livelihood are agriculture and gathering of forest produce; they do not cultivate for profit;
they still largely rely on barter system; they spend a greater part of their earnings on social and
religious ceremonies; and a large number of them are illiterate and are victimised by unscrupulous
forest contractors and moneylenders.
Definition of Tribe
There are no specific criteria by which we may distinguish a tribe from a caste. In broad terms, a
tribe is defined as “a community occupying a common geographic area and having a similar
language and culture or beliefs and practices”. Nadel has described tribe as “a society with a

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