Exclusion Discrimination and Stratification : Tribes in Contemporary India

Contents: Preface. Introduction. 1. Authority pattern hybridization process and emerging inequality in Nicobar islands/A. Justin. 2. Economic deprivation occupational innovations and growing social stratification among the Lalungs of Assam/G.C. Ojha. 3. Inter-ethnic competition deprivation and changing power configurations: the Maans of Garo hills/Sarit Kumar Chaudhury. 4. Chieftainship, Vaishnavism and new political system among the notes of Arunachal Pradesh/R.P. Athparia. 5. Immigrant encroachment economic deprivation and cultural squeezing: the lepchas of Sikkim-Darjeeling/J. Chakraborty. 6. Matriliny Christianity and economic inequality: the khasis of Meghalaya/Bibhash Dhar. 7. Changing village economy religious conversion and social exclusion: the mech-bodo of North Bengal/Krishna Mandal. 8. Primitive economy politicization process and emerging stratification among the riangs of Tripura/Goutam Kumar Bera….

Discourses on social exclusion discrimination and inequality have emerged as defining characteristics of the 21st century social sciences. Tribes of India are subjected to various forms of exclusion and discrimination. Tribes living in the midst of castes encounter even more deeply embedded exclusion and deprivation.

Based on fieldwork 24 in depth village studies elucidate these issues in terms of collapse of livelihood opportunities and multiple practices of discrimination and denial rooted in economic social and ritual spheres in this volume. In order to clarify concurrently intra-tribe, inter-tribe as also tribe-caste discrepancy, tribes are studied in numerous locations in rural India, including plains hills and islands.

Articles in this volume explain how the tribes people have steadily resisted the persistent repression and adopted strategies to defy ill treatment. Affirmative action programmes strengthening of statutory councils and electoral politics diffusion of secular values and democratization processes have all facilitated tribes people to show determination and fight for their rights. The rising trend of Adivasi awakening is a defining characteristic of contemporary India. Tribes people are no longer silent spectators of coercion. (jacket)