About Tribes of India

 

Tribes of India

Who are Tribal Communities?

A tribe is a human social group that mostly inhabits a forested area and makes its living by hunting animals and engaging in nomadic agriculture. They have unique cultural, religious, and traditional customs that vary significantly from those of the majority. A tribe is a distinct cultural, social, and political entity due to a number of features and characteristics it contains.

In India, tribes were often referred to as "Adivasis."

Tribes in India

Schedule 5 of the Indian Constitution recognizes the existence of tribal communities in India. So-called "Scheduled Tribes" are the tribes that the Constitution recognizes.

In India, there are around 645 different tribes. Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, and a few more states also has tribal communities.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs

The general development of India's scheduled tribes is the responsibility of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. With the aim of providing a more focused approach on the integrated socio-economic development of the Scheduled Tribes (STs), the most underprivileged of the Indian Society, in a coordinated and planned manner, this Ministry was established in 1999 following the division of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

5 Major Tribal Communities of India

1.) Bhil Tribe

Bhils are frequently referred to be Rajasthan's bowmen. They make up the majority of India's tribal groupings. They make up the biggest tribe in all of South Asia. Bhils are primarily separated into two groups: the eastern or Rajput Bhils and the central or pure bills. The mountainous areas of the Indian states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan are home to the central Bhils. Additionally, Bhils may be found in Tripura's northeastern regions.

Staple food of Tribe- Maize, Barley, Millet and Rice.

Language- Majorly they speak Bhili Language.

Main Economic activities- Farming and Fishing.

Religion- Hindus by religion, Majorly worship Lord Shiva and Lord Durga.

Clothing- Women wear Sari and Ghagra Choli, while males wear Pagri, Dhoti, and Gammacha.

2.) Gond Tribe

One of the biggest tribes in the world is the Gond. Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Odisha are where they primarily live.

Raj Gonds, Madia Gonds, Dhurve Gonds, and Khatulwar Gonds are the four tribes that comprise the Gonds.

Staple food of Tribe- Kodo Millet and Kutki Millet.

Language- Majorly they speak Gondi Language which is unspoken language.

Main Economic activities-Jhomming Agriculture and Hunting.

Religion- They believe in Cult of the Persa Pen, ancestor spirit worship.

Clothing- Men wear Dhoti and Women wear cotton sari and choli.

3.) Santhal Tribe

Santhal Tribe is India's third-largest tribe. The states of West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Assam are where this group primarily lives. Great warriors under the British Empire, the Santhal Tribe peoples engaged in battle with Lord Cornwallis in 1855. The Santhal tribe is fond of dancing. It runs in their blood to dance.

Staple food of Tribe- Rice and Maize are the main staple food.

Language- Majorly they speak Santhali Language.

Main Economic Activities- Agriculture, Hunting, Fishing and Rearing.

Religion- Hinduism and Sarna Religion.

Clothing- Men's Wear Loom Loin Cloth, Shirt and Gamchha and Women wear Green or blue check saree.

4.) Munda Tribe

The Munda Tribe is a South East Asian tribal group. Most Munda people live in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Bihar. The Munda term often refers to the Headmen of the village. The most respected member of the Munda people is Birsa Munda, a Prophet and also, a freedom fighter in the Indian Fight For independence.

Staple food of Tribe- Boiled rice is the main staple food.

Language- Majorly they speak Mundari Language.

Main Economic Activities- Herding, Weaving and Basketwork.

Religion- Sing Bonga is regarded as the Supreme God.

Clothing- Men wear Pant and Shirt and Women wear cotton saris.

5.) Khasi Tribe

The Khasi tribe is mostly located in the states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, West Bengal, and Jammu and Kashmir, as well as in the Khasi Jaintia hills of Meghalaya. They go by a variety of names, including Khasi Pahris, Kassi, and Khasa In the state of Meghalaya, the majority of the people is Khasi. According to history, the Khasis were among the first tribes to migrate from Myanmar and settle in the east Assam plains. The Khasis formerly had their own kingdom. The Khasi Tribe has an unique culture.

Staple food of Tribe- Rice, Fish and Meat.

Language- Majorly they speak Khasi Language.

Main Economic Activities- Shifting Cultivation is a main activity.

Religion- Mostly were Christians, their Supreme God is U Blie Nong Thaw.

Clothing- Men Wear Jymphong and Women wear Jainsem.

Points to Remember

1.) According to the 2011 Census, there are 10.43 crore Scheduled Tribes in the country, or 8.6% of the total population. 2.8% of Scheduled Tribes live in urban areas, which is a low percentage.

2.) The state with the most scheduled tribes is Madhya Pradesh, followed by Orissa.

3.) Neither Punjab, Delhi, Chandigarh, Pondicherry, nor Haryana have any Scheduled Tribes.

4.) In the Lok Sabha, 47 seats are set aside for Scheduled Tribes.

Reference

1.) Indiamirror.com
2.) Ecoindia.com

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