Names & communities

Communities with populations spread across state/linguistic borders are often known by different names by local authorities while “some of these communities figure in various classifications in the states” according to the National Commission for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes: “There are many anomalies in terms of identification of these communities, from state to state. Many people also do not know what is denotified tribe and which authority is looking after their grievances. […] In some states they are called ‘tribal settlers’. In some states they are called ‘hidden tribes’ etc.” – Bibek Debroy in “An unfortunate legacy” (Indian Express, 5 January 2017)
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/crime-criminal-act-racial-discrimination-non-bailable-offence-criminal-tribes-act-an-unfortunate-legacy-4459258/
https://indiantribalheritage.org/?p=12284

Provisions for particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG): India’s Constitution guarantees justice “in tune with the customary law” of Scheduled Tribes

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“Primitive, geographically isolated, shy and socially, educationally & economically backwardness these are the traits that distinguish Scheduled Tribes of our country from other communities. Tribal communities live in about 15% of the country’s areas in various ecological and geo-climatic conditions ranging from plains to forests, hills and inaccessible areas.” – National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, … Read more

eBook | The Kunkna: A community with a rich musical heritage and popular for its “Thakrya” dance – Gujarat

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eBook | Tribal population displaced in the Narmada valley

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Ever since the Narmada Control Authority in its Action Taken Report permitted the raising of the Sardar Sarovar dam to 110.64 metres, the entire tribal belt in the Narmada valley came under the submergence zone. The scale of devastation during this monsoon will depend on the extent of rainfall here. | Read the full article … Read more

eBook | Vadu on the Old Woman’s Nose (Dhodia) – A story from Gujarat

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It was an extremely cold winter night. For the cold had decided, “It is my job to spread cold! Let me do it well.” It was so cold that one’s bones would numb …

Video | “Dhuri Daka” (Rice made of Dust): Song 7 from Santali video album “Ale Ato” (Our Village) – West Bengal

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7 Dhuri Daka (Rice made of Dust) [Starting from 5:46] ThemeA boy tells a girl:Oh Muni, you may have forgotten the days when we played together under the banyan tree. Playfully we cooked dust as if it were rice and tree-leaves as if they were curry. How we used to catch fish together in the muddy … Read more