The Tribal Research & Development Institute Bhopal / List of scheduled tribes by the Commissioner of Tribal Development – Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh has the largest Tribal population of all the states. […] Due to the varied socio-cultural and geographical environment and its parameters, the diverse tribal world of Madhya Pradesh not only has been largely cut-off from the mainstream of development but has, on this account, also been a cause of concern and special effort … Read more

Anthropological Museum in Mysore – Karnataka

Anthropological MuseumManav Bhawan, BogadiMysore, Karnataka Anthropological Survey of Indiawww.ansi.gov.in The Anthropological Museum is a treasure trove of objects and weapons used by the South Indian communities, primarily the tribal communities, of India. Established in 1965 by the Anthropological Survey of India, the museum has over 1,000 exhibits collected from the tribal and ethnic groups of … Read more

Is “brick house” the only sign of development? – West Bengal

Dr. Boro Baski; translated from Bengali to English by Asha BaskiOriginally published in Anandabazar Patrika (India’s most widely read Bengali daily) I was born in a Santal village in Birbhun District. In my childhood I saw how my mother cleaned the courtyard every morning with cow-dung mixed with black charcoal and water, and how she … Read more

Celebrating victory over unjust authority together with non-tribal communities: The Sammakka-Sarakka Jatara festival – Telangana

The Sammakka-Sarakka Jatara has got bigger, with believers from various non-tribal communities participating enthusiastically, writes Manjula Kolanu Manjula Kolanu, The Hindu, February 25, 2016 | To read the full article, click here >> Assertion of independence, pride in one’s identity and an open defiance of unjust authority have long been hallmarks of Telangana history. Heroes of … Read more

An inspiration to many young girls from the Koya tribe: Jayanti Buruda, “the first female voice from the tribe to enter the mainstream media” –  Odisha

Girls among the Koya tribe have a staggeringly low literacy level. “Girls hardly go to school, the literacy rate among girls is below 15 percent,” she adds. With little infrastructure for education and a strong tradition of early marriages within the community, most girls are bereft of any formal education. However, encouraged by their father, … Read more