Ethnography of A Denotified Tribe : The Laman Banjara

Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. The concept of ex-criminal tribes: denotified tribes. 3. Laman Banjaras: the people. 4. Culture. 5. Religion. 6. Economy. 7. Social organisation. 8. Health care, disease and treatment. 9. Social problems--controversy of scheduled tribe status. 10. Social change and conclusion. Index.

During the British colonial period many of the nomadic, semi-nomadic tribes and peripatetic groups received a severe jolt owing to the rules imposed upon them. Their loss of control over forests and lands caused severe alienation from the society and traditional livelihood system. This compelled many of them to take to theft, robbery and other crimes.

They were one of the first groups in India to oppose the colonial rule and were branded as criminal tribe. Many other sedentary groups and people belonging to Hindu high castes too were similarly branded after opposing the British. The traditionally nomadic Laman Banjaras trading in salt and merchandise similarly faced severe crisis with the advent of roadways and railways and were forced to lead a criminal life.

In the post-Independence period along with other ex-criminal tribes, they have been put under the category of denotified tribe. In Maharashtra they are popularly known to fall within the category of VJNT. While some of the Lamans have prospered in life, the majority of them are still languishing in  a state of utter poverty though they have been able to overcome the tag of criminality to a large extent. (jacket)