Encyclopaedia of Indian Tribal Culture and Folklore Traditions (Anthropology of Indian Tribes)

Introduction to Tribal Culture in India

The tribal culture of India and their traditions and practices pervade almost all of the aspects of Indian culture and civilization. One has to love tribal culture in India to understand the uniqueness of their culture. Warm hospitality, simple ways of living and sincere judgment of the opinions are some of the traits that mark the tribal cultures of India. Their custom depicts their belief in simplicity. Most of the tribes in India have their own gods and goddesses that reflects the dependence of Tribal people on nature.

Except for the few most of the tribes in India is sociable, hospitable, and fun loving along with strong community bonds. Some of the tribes shares patriarchal cultural ties and some of the tribal societies are women oriented. They have their own festivals and celebrations.

The tribal people are clinging to their identity despite of the external influences that threatened the tribal culture especially after their post independence turbulent period. However it is seen that Christianity has bought a change that can be termed as a total transformation in the tribal lifestyle and outlook particularly in the North Eastern states of India.

Of late it has been discovered that the efforts of the missionaries were not at directed in changing the basic customs of the tribal society. The present title is a comprehensive study of tribal ethnicity and evolution of tribal eco-culture. The book gives a critical analysis of identification of tribal ethnicity, social contact and cultural interaction in changing scenario, myths of tribes and tribalism and evolution of tribal eco-culture.