Basics of tribes

    A small or large group of persons residing in geographical isolation usually having primitive agricultural practices, and low level of infrastructure facilities can be termed as a tribe. Adivasi term is believed to be originated in the 1930s in Chhota Nagpur region of Bihar.

    The Merriam Webster Dictionary  defines “a social group made up of many families, clans or generations that share the same language, customs and beliefs" as a tribe.

   A tribe is defined as "a group of people, often of related families, who live together and share a common language, culture, and history, especially those who do not dwell in town or cities" by the Cambridge Dictionary.

    The tribe is a well-bounded and self-sufficient group with its own distinct language, culture, history, territory etc. Tribes have generally no or little contact with outside societies. 

    Earlier tribes wholly depended on hunting and gathering but now they are seen doing agricultural activities, animal husbandry, traditional business and other manual work. 

    There are more than 700 tribes notified under Article 342 of the Constitution of India. Some special privileges are given to the tribes to enable them to use their rights as citizens of India.

   As per the Census 2011, there are 1210568 numbers of tribal persons which make 8.61 % of all people in India. They are among the most marginalised and vulnerable communities in the nation, with a high level of poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, sickness, and landlessness.

    Spread across the country, the tribes of India represent a diversity of the nation. They are different from not only the non-tribal persons but also within tribes there are many clans, sub clans and races. Their variegated culture consists of many languages, colloquial, ethnic rituals and social practices. 

    The tribes are one of the most underprivileged sections of Indian society.